Sunday, December 13, 2015

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

Austria host the Division I Group A tournament this year after just avoiding relegation last year. Germany joins the group after finishing last in the main tournament last year. Kazakhstan, who won Group B last year, are also newcomers to the group. Returning to the group are Italy, Latvia, and Norway, all of whom look to improve.

Note: most information from the IIHF website.

Rosters

Austria

Goalies:
Name
Team
Stefan Muller
HC Lugano
Thomas Stroj
KAC Klagenfurt

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Lucas Birnbaum
Red Bull Salzburg
Matthias Hagen
HC Davos
Daniel Jakubitzka
Red Bull Salzburg
Erik Kirchschlager
Black Wings Linz
Gerd Kragl
Black Wings Linz
Fabian Nussbaumer
Red Bull Salzburg
Ramon Schnetzer
Kloten Flyers
Bernd Wolf
SC Bern

Forwards:
Name
Team
Sam Antonitsch
Okanagan Academy UK
Florian Baltram
Red Bull Salzburg
Stefan Gaffal
Black Wings Linz
Lukas Haudum
Sodertalje SK
Mario Huber
Victoriaville Tigres
Patrick Kittinger
Red Bull Salzburg
Alexander Lahoda
Red Bull Salzburg
Felix Maxa
Vienna Capitals
Benjamin Nissner
Vienna Capitals
Daniel Wachter
Red Bull Salzburg
Dario Winkler
Everett Silvertips
Dominic Zwerger
Spokane Chiefs


Germany

Goalies:
Name
Team
Danial Fiessinger
Riessersee Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Maximilian Franzreb
Hamburg Freezers

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Maximilian Glassl
Moncton Wildcats
Daniel Haase
Heilbronner Falken
Emil Quaas
Red Bull Salzburg
John Rogl
EHC Red Bull Munich
Simon Schutz
EV Ravensburg
David Trinkberger
Sioux City Musketeers
Gustav Veisert
Starbulls Rosenheim
Kai Wissmann
Eisbaren Berlin

Forwards:
Name
Team
Yannick Drews
EV Regensburg
Andreas Eder
EHC Red Bull Munich
Tobias Eder
EC Bad Tolz
Manuel Edfelder
Starbulls Rosenheim
Maximilian Kammerer
DEG Dusseldorf
Christoph Korner
Red Bull Salzburg
Lukas Koziol
Lausitzer Fuchse
Stefan Loibl
Straubing Tigers
Can Matthas
FASS Berlin
Jakob Mayenschein
Erie Otters
Julian Napravnik
Adler Mannheim
Manuel Wiederer
Moncton Wildcats


Italy

Goalies:
Name
Team
Simone Armand Pilon
HC Valpellice
Hannes Treibenreif
Ritten Sport

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Tobias Brighenti
HC Auer Ora
Gregorio Gios
IHK Helsinki
Antonio Marcello
HC Brno
Gianluca March
HC Auer Ora
Marco Marzolini
SHC Fassa
Ivan Seeber
WSV Sterzing-Vipiteno

Forwards:
Name
Team
Luca Barnabo
HC Lugano
Michele Basso
Asiago Hockey
Davide Conci
HC Pergine
Federico Cordin
HC Valpellice
Alex de Lorenzo Meo
Nacka HK
Michael Delueg
Eisbaren Berlin
Kevin Fink
Ritten Sport
Andrea Maino
Boston Jr. Bandits
Matthias Mantinger
WSV Sterzing-Vipiteno
Samuel Moroder
HC Gherdeina
Simon Pitschieler
WSV Sterzing-Vipiteno
Markus Spinell
Ritten Sport
Elias Thum
Pustertal Bruneck
Alessandro Zanatta
HC Ambri-Piotta


Kazakhstan

Goalies:
Name
Team
Anton Bruyev
Gornyak Rudny
Bakhtiyar Karataev
Altay Ust-Kamenogorsk

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Dmitri Bykov
Altay Ust-Kamenogorsk
Yemur Khassenov
Altay Ust-Kamenogorsk
Ilya Lobanov
Snezhnye Barsy Astana
Nikita Medvedev
Snezhnye Barsy Astana
Kirill Polokhov
Snezhnye Barsy Astana
Denis Sentyuskin
Altay Ust-Kamenogorsk
Anuarbek Tanimov
Snezhnye Barsy Astana
Alexander Tokarev
Snezhnye Barsy Astana

Forwards:
Name
Team
Alikhan Asetov
Snezhnye Barsy Astana
Igor Borovikov
Snezhnye Barsy Astana
Dmitri Demyanov
Gornyak Rudny
Dmitri Grents
Barys Astana
Dmitri Makeyev
Snezhnye Barsy Astana
Nikita Neznamov
Arystan Temirtau
Kirill Panyukov
Snezhnye Barsy Astana
Dmitri Presnov
Snezhnye Barsy Astana
Stepan Shtefan
Altay Ust-Kamenogorsk
Bekmukhanbet Tolepbergen
Arlan Kokshetau
Vladimir Volkov
Arystan Temirtau
Kirill Yadryshnikov
Altay Ust-Kamenogorsk


Latvia

Goalies:
Name
Team
Gustavs Grigals
HK Riga
Matiss Kivlenieks
Coulee Region Chill

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Uvis Balinskis
HK Riga
Karlis Cukste
Chicago Steel
Eduards Jansons
Prizma Riga
Gvido Jansons
Aston Rebels
Vjaceslavs Minajevs
HK Liepaja
Maksims Ponomarenko
Lorenskog IK
Kristians Rubins
VIK Vasteras
Kristaps Zile
HK Riga

Forwards:
Name
Team
Rodrigo Abols
Portland Winterhawks
Rudolfs Balcers
Stavanger Oilers
Filips Buncis
Johnstown Tomahawks
Arturs Buss
HK Riga
Martins Dzierkals
Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
Haralds Egle
Madison Capitols
Kirils Galoha
HK Riga
Rihards Puide
GCK Lions Zurich
Frenks Razgals
HK Riga
Olegs Sislannikovs
HK Riga
Gatis Sprukts
HK Riga


Norway

Goalies:
Name
Team
Jonas Arntzen
Leksands IF
Fredrik Gronstrand
IFK Helsinki

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Kevin Berg
Manglerud Star Oslo
Christian Bull
Storhamar Dragons
Tobias Fladeby
Bismarck Bobcats
Johannes Johannessen
Stavanger Oilers
Christian Kaasastul
Frisk Asker
Jesper Nipe
Stjernen Fredrikstad
Kristian Ostby
Sparta Sarpsborg

Forwards:
Name
Team
Jostein Ekaas
Stjernen Fredrikstad
Martin Gran
Storhamar Dragons
Petter Gronstad
Lorenskog IK
Anders Gulliksen
Storhamar Dragons
Magnus Henriksen
Lorenskog IK
Ludvig Hoff
Lincoln Stars
Fredrik Jorgensen
Manglerud Star Oslo
Henrik Knold
Sparta Sarpsborg
Eirik Lavik
Boston Jr. Rangers
Stian Nystuen
Lillehammer IK
Colin Olsen
Valerenga Oslo
Martin Ronnild
Storhamar Dragons
Emil Sateraas
Tonsberg IHK


Schedule

December 13
Kazakhstan - Germany
Italy - Norway
Austria - Latvia

December 14
Germany - Italy
Latvia - Kazakhstan
Norway - Austria

December 16
Norway - Latvia
Kazakhstan - Italy
Germany - Austria

December 17
Norway - Kazakhstan
Latvia - Germany
Italy - Austria

December 19
Latvia - Italy
Germany - Norway
Austria - Kazakhstan

Prediction

1 (Promoted) - Germany
2 - Latvia
3 - Norway
4 - Austria
5 - Italy
6 (Relegated) - Kazakhstan

This could be a two-tiered group. At the top, Germany, Latvia, and Norway are all likely to earn medals. Germany is most likely to end up at the top, getting to go back to the main tournament net year. Latvia and Norway end up with the silver and bronze respectively. The bottom three teams, Austria, Italy, and Kazakhstan, will be in a battle to stay afloat. Having home-ice advantage, Austria should be fine and stay in the group for another year. Italy's experience at this level might be enough to keep them afloat. Kazakhstan's stay in Group A might be a short one, as they are likely to finish last.

No comments:

Post a Comment