Thursday, November 5, 2015

Showing Some International Love: 2018 Olympic Qualification Round 1 - Group L Preview

Round 1 of Olympic Qualification continues tomorrow, as Spain host Group L. This tournament was moved to Spain after originally being scheduled to take place in Serbia. Nonetheless, Serbia is still taking part in this tournament. China and Iceland round out the group.

Note: Most information from the IIHF website.

World Rankings

30. Serbia
31. Spain
35. Iceland
38. China

Rosters

China

Goalies:
Name
Team
Zhiwei Liu
Harbin
Shengrong Xia
Harbin

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Tengyi Fu
Harbin
Tianyi Guan
Harbin
Tianyu Hu
Qiqihar
Longtan Liu
Qiqihar
Qing Liu
Qiqihar
Yungang Na
Harbin
Chao Wen
Harbin
Mingxi Yang
Qiqihar

Forwards:
Name
Team
Jaichang Bao
Harbin
Xijun Cui
Qiqihar
Peng Ji
Harbin
Hang Li
Qiqihar
Xinlei Li
Harbin
Zhengyu Li
Qiqihar
Yidong Qu
Harbin
Tainxiang Xia
Harbin
Xudong Xiang
Harbin
Cheng Zhang
Qiqihar
Hao Zhang
Harbin
Ziyang Zhu
Harbin


Iceland

Goalies:
Name
Team
Snorri Sigurbergsson
Krakene Moss
Omar Skulason
Bjorninn Reykjavik

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Birkir Arnason
Bjorninn Reykjavik
Ingthor Arnason
Motala AIF
Bergur Einarsson
Bjorninn Reykjavik
Andri Helgason
Bjorninn Reykjavik
Steindor Ingason
Almaguin Spartans
Ingvar Jonsson
Skautafelag Akureyrar
Robert Palsson
UMFK Esja

Forwards:
Name
Team
Emil Alengaard
Haninge Anchors
Ulfar Andresson
Bjorninn Reykjavik
Brynjar Bergmann
UMFK Esja
Arnthor Bjarnason
Skautafelag Reyjavikur
Olafur Bjornsson
UMFK Esja
Jon Gislason
Skautafelag Akureyrar
Falur Gudnason
Bjorninn Reykjavik
Robin Hedstrom
HC Backen
Johann Leifsson
Motala AIF
Petur Maack
UMFK Esja
Andri Mikaelsson
Skautafelag Akureyrar
Bjorn Sigurdarson
Imatran Kettera
Egill Thormodsson
UMFK Esja


Serbia

Goalies:
Name
Team
Aleksandar Fat
Vitez Belgrade
Arsenije Rankovic
HASC Jurmala
Petar Stepanovic
Crvena Zvezda Belgrade

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Uros Bjelogrlic
Crvena Zvezda Belgrade
Marko Brkusanin
Partizan Belgrade
Stefan Ilic
HC Valpellice
Dragan Komazec
Partizan Belgrade
Aleksa Lukovic
Partizan Belgrade
Ugljesa Novakovic
Crvena Zvezda Belgrade
Robert Sabados
Crvena Zvezda Belgrade

Forwards:
Name
Team
Dimitrije Filipovic
Partizan Belgrade
Ivan Glavonjic
HASC Jurmala
Nemanja Jankovic
Partizan Belgrade
Nikola Kerezovic
Beostar Belgrade
Marko Milovanovic
Partizan Belgrade
Petar Novakovic
Crvena Zvezda Belgrade
Pavel Popravka
Crvena Zvezda Belgrade
Nenad Rakovic
Partizan Belgrade
Srdjan Ristic
Partizan Belgrade
Dordije Terzic
Partizan Belgrade
Nemanja Vucurevic
Eispiraten Crimmitschau
Andrej Zwick
Crvena Zvezda Belgrade


Spain

Goalies:
Name
Team
Ander Alcaine
CH Jaca
Ignacio Garcia
SAD Majadahonda
Jhon Sebastian Varela
FC Barcelona

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Guillermo Betran
CH Jaca
Alfonso Garcia
SAD Majadahonda
Adrian Ubieto
CH Jaca
Alejandro Vea
CHH Txuri-Urdin
Jorge Vea
CHH Txuri-Urdin

Forwards:
Name
Team
Alejandro Carbonell
CH Jaca
Patricio Fuentes
CHH Txuri-Urdin
Gaston Gonzalez
CH Jaca
Pol Gonzalez
Concordia University
Juan Munoz
CHH Txuri-Urdin
Pablo Munoz
FC Barcelona
Juan Jose Palacin
CH Jaca
Alejandro Pedraz
SAD Majadahonda
Pablo Puyuelo
FC Barcelona
Ignacio Solorzano
CHH Txuri-Urdin


Schedule

November 6
Iceland - Serbia
Spain - China

November 7
Serbia - China
Spain - Iceland

November 8
China - Iceland
Serbia - Spain

Last 5 International Matches

China: 10-3 Win (Bulgaria), 4-3 SO Win (Israel), 7-4 Win (New Zealand), 5-2 Win (Mexico), 7-3 Win (South Africa)

Iceland: 3-0 Win (Belgium), 5-4 Loss (Serbia), 4-2 Loss (Spain), 6-1 Win (Australia), 3-2 OT Loss (Romania)

Serbia: 8-4 Loss (Romania), 5-4 Win (Iceland), 4-3 SO Loss (Australia), 3-2 OT Loss (Belgium), 4-3 SO Win (Spain)

Spain: 6-1 Win (Australia), 6-2 Loss (Belgium), 4-2 Win (Iceland), 7-1 Loss (Romania), 4-3 SO Loss (Serbia)

Predictions

1 (Qualify for Round 2) - Iceland
2 - Serbia
3 - Spain
4 - China

This is the harder of the two groups to predict. Last World Championship, Serbia, Iceland, and Spain all tied in their group (China won Division II Group B and will be facing those three teams in April). Just looking at the rosters, I have to give the edge to Iceland, as they are taking much of their World Championship roster to Spain. Serbia is missing a couple of top guys, which will hurt them in such a short tournament like this. Spain is also playing with a lesser roster. China, while keeping much of the same players, still played at a lower level. While they may keep it competitive, it's hard to overlook how tight the other three teams are.

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