Saturday, December 26, 2015

2016 World Junior Championship Preview: Group A

The World Junior Championship main tournament kicks off later today. Group A takes place at the Helsinki Ice Hall, and is likely the stronger of the two groups. Canada won the tournament last year, and will be looking to defend their title. Projected #1 pick in this year's NHL Draft Auston Matthews headlines what is a pretty strong American squad. Sweden is a strong team on paper, and should have no problem contending for a medal. Switzerland should be fine in this tournament, an upset might be too much to ask though. Denmark has a lot of turnover from last year's roster, and will be in tough to stay afloat at this level.

Note: Most information from the fancy IIHF website.

Rosters

Canada

Goalies:
Name
Team
Mackenzie Blackwood
Barrie Colts
Mason McDonald
Charlottetown Islanders
Samuel Montembeault
Blainville-Boisbriand Armada

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Thomas Chabot
Saint John Sea Dogs
Travis Dermott
Erie Otters
Haydn Fleury
Red Deer Rebels
Joe Hicketts
Victoria Royals
Brandon Hickey
Boston University
Roland McKeown
Kingston Frontenacs
Travis Sanheim
Calgary Hitmen

Forwards:
Name
Team
Mathew Barzal
Seattle Thunderbirds
Anthony Beauvillier
Shawinigan Cataractes
Rourke Chartier
Kelowna Rockets
Lawson Crouse
Kingston Frontenacs
Julien Gauthier
Val d'Or Foreurs
Travis Konecny
Ottawa 67's
Mitch Marner
London Knights
Brendan Perlini
Niagara IceDogs
Brayden Point
Moose Jaw Warriors
John Quenneville
Brandon Wheat Kings
Mitchell Stevens
Saginaw Spirit
Dylan Strome
Erie Otters
Jake Virtanen
Vancouver Canucks


Denmark

Goalies:
Name
Team
Thomas Lillie
Vaxjo Lakers
Lasse Munk Petersen
Spokane Chiefs
Mathias Seldrup
Herning Blue Fox

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Ludvig Adamsen
Surrey Eagles
Morten Jensen
Rogle Angelholm
Lasse Bo Knudsen
Aalborg Pirates
Anders Krogsgaard
Esbjerg Energy
Matias Lassen
Leksand Stars
Christian Mieritz
Hamilton Bulldogs
Nicolai Weichel
Rungsted Ishockey

Forwards:
Name
Team
Niklas Andersen
Spokane Chiefs
William Boysen
Rungsted Ishockey
Emil Oliver Christensen
Rodovre Mighty Bulls
Mathias From
Rogle Angelholm
Jeppe Holmberg
Esbjerg Energy
Kristian Jensen
Lulea HF
Marcus Jensen
Herning Blue Fox
Jeppe Jul Korsgaard
Aalborg Pirates
Nikolaj Krag-Christensen
Rodovre Mighty Bulls
Soren Nielsen
Esbjerg Energy
Thomas Olsen
Malmo Redhawks
Jonas Rondbjerg
Rungsted Ishockey
Alexander True
Seattle Thunderbirds


Sweden

Goalies:
Name
Team
Erik Kallgren
Linkopings HC
Felix Sandstrom
Brynas Gavle
Linus Soderstrom
Djurgarden Stockholm

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Gabriel Carlsson
Linkopings HC
Andreas Englund
Djurgarden Stockholm
Gustav Forsling
Linkopings HC
William Lagesson
UMass Amherst
Jacob Larsson
Frolunda Goteborg
Adam Ollas Mattsson
Djurgarden Stockholm
Marcus Pettersson
Skelleftea AIK

Forwards:
Name
Team
Rasmus Asplund
Farjestad Karlstad
Christoffer Ehn
Frolunda Gothenburg
Joel Eriksson Ek
Farjestad Karlstad
Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson
Boston University
Carl Grundstrom
MODO Ornskoldsvik
Axel Holmstrom
Skelleftea AIK
Anton Karlsson
Frolunda Gothenburg
Adrian Kempe
Ontario Reign
Oskar Lindblom
Brynas Gavle
Jens Looke
Brynas Gavle
Alexander Nylander
Mississauga Steelheads
William Nylander
Toronto Marlies
Dmytro Timashov
Quebec Remparts


Switzerland

Goalies:
Name
Team
Gauthier Descloux
Geneve-Servette HC
Joren van Pottelberghe
Linkopings HC
Ludovic Waeber
HC Fribourg-Gotteron

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Marco Forrer
EV Zug
Andrea Glauser
HC Fribourg-Gotteron
Edson Harlacher
Kloten Flyers
Fabian Heldner
HC Davos
Roger Karrer
GCK Lions Zurich
Simon Kindschi
HC Davos
Jonas Siegenthaler
ZSC Lions Zurich

Forwards:
Name
Team
Chris Egli
HC Davos
Nico Hischier
SC Bern
Auguste Impose
Quebec Remparts
Tino Kessler
HC Davos
Denis Malgin
ZSC Lions Zurich
Timo Meier
Halifax Mooseheads
Dario Meyer
Edmonton Oil Kings
Julien Privet
SC Bern
Damien Riat
Geneve-Servette HC
Noah Rod
Geneve-Servette HC
Kris Schmidli
GCK Lions Zurich
Pius Suter
ZSC Lions Zurich
Calvin Thurkauf
Kelowna Rockets


United States

Goalies:
Name
Team
Brandon Halverson
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Alex Nedeljkovic
Niagara IceDogs

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Louie Belpedio
Miami (OH) University
Will Borgen
St. Cloud State University
Brandon Carlo
Tri-City Americans
Brandon Fortunato
Boston University
Chad Krys
US NTDP U18
Charlie McAvoy
Boston University
Zach Werenski
University of Michigan

Forwards:
Name
Team
Andres Bjork
University of Notre Dame
Brock Boeser
University of North Dakota
Alex DeBrincat
Erie Otters
Ryan Donato
Harvard University
Christian Dvorak
London Knights
Scott Eansor
Seattle Thunderbirds
Ryan Hitchcock
Yale University
Auston Matthews
ZSC Lions Zurich
Ryan MacInnis
Kitchener Rangers
Sonny Milano
Lake Erie Monsters
Nick Schmaltz
University of North Dakota
Matthew Tkachuk
London Knights
Colin White
Boston College


Schedule

December 26
Switzerland vs. Sweden
Canada vs. United States

December 27
Denmark vs. Switzerland

December 28
Sweden vs. United States
Canada vs. Denmark

December 29
Switzerland vs. Canada

December 30
Sweden vs. Denmark
United States vs. Switzerland

December 31
Denmark vs. United States
Canada vs. Sweden

One Line Previews

Canada: Offence and defence look good, question will be in goal, still a contender.

Denmark: No Ehlers, plenty of problems, will be in tough to survive staying up at this level.

Sweden: Probably the best skilled team in the tournament, should be in medal contention.

Switzerland: Can do enough to get to the playoffs, unsure if they have enough to do anything while there.

United States: Matthews and friends look for a medal, not too sure they have the depth.

Predictions

Brad

1 - Sweden
2 - Canada
3 - United States
4 - Switzerland
5 - Denmark

MDK

1 - Sweden
2 - United States
3 - Canada
4 - Switzerland
5 - Denmark

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