Sunday, December 13, 2015

Showing Some International Love: 2016 World Junior Championship - Division II Group A Preview

Lithuania plays host to the Division II Group A tournament, and hope to improve on their second place finish from last year. Returning to the group are Estonia, the Netherlands, and South Korea, all of whom look to find a way to win the group and a promotion. Hungary joins the group after being relegated from Division I last year. On the flip side, Croatia is in the group because they won Group B last year.

Note: most information from the IIHF website.

Rosters

Croatia

Goalies:
Name
Team
Vilim Rosandic
HC 05 Banska Bystrica
Ivan Ruzic
Medvescak Zagreb

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Toni Boric
Mladost Zagreb
Bruno Kegalj
KHL Zagreb
Nikola Kopricanec
Medvescak Zagreb
Luka Matosic
Mladost Zagreb
Dominik Petrinsak
Mladost Zagreb
Martin Plesko
Medvescak Zagreb
Domagoj Poljak
KHL Zagreb
Ivan Puzic
Vitkovice Ostrava
Jan Smolec
Mladost Zagreb

Forwards:
Name
Team
Bruno Ficur
Mladost Zagreb
Fran Gjoni
KHL Zagreb
Luka Jarcov
KHL Zagreb
Leonardo Jovic
KHL Zagreb
Hrvoje Kriksic
KHL Zagreb
Kristian Krnic
Mladost Zagreb
Matija Milicic
KHL Zagreb
Mak Pavicevic
HC Letci Letnany
Renato Platuzic
Medvescak Zagreb
Tibor Stancic
KHL Zagreb
Tomo Trstenjak
Mladost Zagreb


Estonia

Goalies:
Name
Team
Daniil Seppenen
Narva PSK
Anatoli Sizov
Tallinn HC Viking

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Saveli Novikov
Tallinn HC Viking
Jegor Petrov
Tallin HC Viking
Pavel Prokopenko
Viru Sputnik Kohtla Jarve
Ed Slessarevski
Narva PSK
Ruslan Stetski
Tallin HC Viking

Forwards:
Name
Team
Robert Arrak
Espoo Blues
Georg Ermel
HC Panter Tallinn
Daniil Fursa
El Paso Rhinos
Kristofer Jogi
Jokerit Helsinki
Andres Kato
Bracebridge Blues
Nikita Kozorev
Red Wings Helsinki
Nikita Minin
Narva PSK
Vladimir Nestertsuk
Karhu-Kissat Helsinki
Maksim Simonov
Forvard St. Petersburg
Mihkel Sinikas
Espoo Blues
Nikita Smirnov
Espoo Blues
Risto Teppan
Salo Kiekkohait
Vadim Vasjonkin
Boston Jr. Bruins
Dmitri Vinogradov
Tallin HC Viking


Hungary

Goalies:
Name
Team
Gergely Arany
MAC Budapest
Bence Kiss
Miskolci Jegesmedvek

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Zsombor Garat
MAC Budapest
Oliver Herner
MAC Budapest
Andras Herszenyi
MAC Budapest
David Jaszai
MAC Budapest
Attila Kovacs
MAC Budapest
Bence Stipsicz
MAC Budapest
Mark Szaller
Ocskay Academy Szekesfehervar
Roland Vokla
Ocskay Academy Szekesfehervar

Forwards:
Name
Team
Norbert Antal
Borlange HF
Bence Bodok
MAC Budapest
Csanad Erdely
Sioux Falls Stampede
Vilmos Gallo
Linkopings HC
Mate Gaspar
Black Wings Linz
Erik Keresztury
Dusseldorfer EG
Zsombor Kiss
HC Davos
Daniel Mazzag
Ocskay Academy Szekesfehervar
Martin Sagi
Black Wings Linz
Donat Szita
Ocskay Academy Szekesfehervar
Istvan Terbocs
MAC Budapest
Daniel Vizi
Ocskay Academy Szekesfehervar


Lithuania

Goalies:
Name
Team
Elvinas Karla
AIK Harnosand
Artur Pavliukov
Hockey Punks Vilnius

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Daniel Benilov
Colorado Glacier Yetis
Domantas Cypas
Wichita Falls Wildcats
Aurimas Gaidauskas
Energija Elektrenai
Kostas Gusevas
SKA St. Petersburg
Jaunius Jasinevicius
AIK Harnosand
Lukas Jonuska
HK Liepaja
Paulius Macijauskas
Elektrenai SSM
Edgar Protcenko
South Muskoka Shield

Forwards:
Name
Team
Rokas Bazys
Gelezinis Vilkas Vilnius
Dominik Bogdziul
Rochester Ice Hawks
Edvinas Boroska
Energija Elektrenai
Deivid Cetvertak
Altrincham Aces
Ilja Cetvertak
Zemgale Jelgava
Mark Kaleinikovas
HK Liepaja
Emilijus Krakauskas
EHC Biel
Vilius Krakauskas
HK Liepaja
Laisvydas Kudrevicius
Energija Elektrenai
Ernestas Truksnys
Juodupe LRK
Donatas Vitte
ESC Paderborn
Lukas Zukauskas
AIK Harnosand


Netherlands

Goalies:
Name
Team
Ruud Leeuwesteijn
Tilburg Trappers
Bart van Gorp
Tilburg Trappers

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Christian Maier
KAC Klagenfurt
Noah Muller
Dusseldorfer EG
Vince van de Kraak
Eindhoven Kemphanen
Niek van der Meulen
Heerenveen Flyers
Niels van der Vossen
Heerenveen Flyers
Jordy Verkiel
Tilburg Trappers
Giovanni Vogelaar
Tilburg Trappers

Forwards:
Name
Team
Joey Beeren
Eindhoven Kemphanen
Leef Boer
Dordrecht Lions
Jonne de Bonth
Tilburg Trappers
Lars den Edel
Casper Coyotes
Justin Evers
Red Eagles Den Bosch
Joey Geurts
Geleen Smoke Eaters
Lucca Kluijtmans
Eindhoven Kemphanen
Luuk Lambregts
Red Eagles Den Bosch
Niels Lemans
Tilburg Trappers
Jasper Nordemann
Espoo Blues
Jord Smit
Geleen Smoke Eaters
Guus van Nes
Boston Jr. Bruins
Kai Willems
Geleen Smoke Eaters


South Korea

Goalies:
Name
Team
Donghyun Kim
Yonsei University
Junyoung Seo
Hanyang University
Heetae Yang
Kwangwoon University

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Jeongyeon Choi
Yonsei University
Jin Woo Choi
Korea University
Jin Su Kim
Yonsei University
Sehyung Kim
Korea University
Heedoo Nam
Kyung Ki HS
Ingyo Oh
Kyung Bok HS
Jihwan Park
Kyung Bok HS
Hyeongcheol Song
Yonsei University

Forwards:
Name
Team
Jaein Ahn
Gyeong Seong High School
Jihyun Cho
Yonsei University
Seongsik Cho
Yonsei University
Woonjae Choi
Yonsei University
Hyeongsu Jeong
Hanyang University
Byung Gun Kim
Kwangsung High School
Yeajun Kim
Yonsei University
Chonghyun Lee
Port Moody Panthers
Jae Min Lee
Korea University
Je Hui Lee
Kyung Ki HS
Joon Ho Lee
Korea University
Sang Yoon Shin
Kyung Ki HS


Schedule

December 13
Croatia - Netherlands
South Korea - Hungary
Lithuania - Estonia

December 14
Hungary - Netherlands
Estonia - Croatia
Lithuania - South Korea

December 16
Hungary - Estonia
South Korea - Netherlands
Lithuania - Croatia

December 18
Estonia - South Korea
Croatia - Hungary
Netherlands - Lithuania

December 19
South Korea - Croatia
Netherlands - Estonia
Hungary - Lithuania

Prediction

1 (Promoted) - Hungary
2 - South Korea
3 - Lithuania
4 - Netherlands
5 - Estonia
6 (Relegated) - Croatia

Despite being relegated last year, Hungary wasn't over-matched in Division I. They should be able to fend off the rest of the group and find their way back up to the higher division. South Korea should poise a challenge, as they are developing for 2018. Lithuanian will medal on their home soil, but it's likely to be bronze-coloured. The Netherlands is a bit of a dark horse, but will likely settle for fourth place. The battle for relegation will be between Estonia and Croatia. Estonia did enough to stay up last year, and might do just enough this year to stay once again. Croatia will have a fight on their hands, but in the end may end up being sent back to Group B.

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