Saturday, January 16, 2016

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

Serbia host this year's Division II Group B tournament, and look to improve from last year's fifth place finish. Newly-promoted China look to stick around in Division II for more than a year. Recently relegated Romania hope to make their stay in Group B a short one, as they look to get back into Group A. Australia, Belgium, and Spain round out the group of hopefuls who look to improve from last year.

Note: most information from the IIHF website.

Rosters

Australia

Goalies:
Name
Team
Stephen McCann
Cockburn Hawks
Alex Tetreault
CBR Brave

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Zachary Boyle
Adelaide Adrenaline
Lachlan Fahmy
Canterbury Eagles
Joshua Hansen
Newcastle Northstars
Harrison Jaunozols
Melbourne Ice
Bayley Kubara
Liverpool Saints
David Mahood
West Coast Flyers
James Marino
Sydney Ice Dogs
Daniel Pataky
Sydney Ice Dogs
Alastair Punler
Perth Thunder

Forwards:
Name
Team
Ellesse Carini
Liverpool Saints
Mitchell Henning
Brisbane Buccaneers
Sam Hodic
Melbourne Ice
Jake Knott
Sydney Heat
Casey Kubara
Atlanta Knights
Lynden Lodge
West Coast Flyers
Liam Manwarring
Newcastle Northstars
Remy McGuiness
Adelaide Adrenaline
Kieren Webster
Perth Lightning


Belgium

Goalies:
Name
Team
Keanu Evers
IHC Leuven
Seppe Stroobants
Olympia Heist op den Berg

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Billy Denis
IK Grastorps
Quinten Franckx
IHC Leuven
Antoine Janssen
EV Zug
Arnaud Ramet
Red Ice Martigny
Stefaan Swennen
IHC Leuven
Arne van Espen
Olympia Heist op den Berg
Brian Vandenberk
HYC Herentals

Forwards:
Name
Team
Tanguy Auger
Rouen Dragons
Matthias Balhan
Liege Bulldogs
Stef Coolen
Turnhout Tigers
Loris Darques
Liege Bulldogs
Virgil Delbrassine
Valence Lynx
Emiel Goris
HYC Herentals
Axel Heylen
Olympia Heist op den Berg
Jordi Laan
Geleen Smoke Eaters
Iniaz Steyaert
Lower Austria Stars St. Polten
Lukas Tambeur
IHC Leuven
Brent van Rooy
HYC Herentals


China

Goalies:
Name
Team
Xi Chen
China U20
Qiuyang Li
China U20

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Yuhang Han
China U20
Bo Liu
China U20
Tainren Song
China U20
Chuxiong Wang
China U20
Gang Wang
China U20
Yongquan Wang
China U20
Lei Yao
China U20

Forwards:
Name
Team
Zemin Deng
China U20
Lifeng Guo
China U20
Liang He
China U20
Qianyi Huang
China U20
Teng Ji
China U20
Yongshen Liu
China U20
Rui Ma
China U20
Hongru Xie
China U20
Zhuo Zhang
China U20
Jinhao Zhou
China U20
Runcheng Zuo
China U20


Romania

Goalies:
Name
Team
Attila Adorjan
Miskolci Jegesmedvek
Daniel Uruc
Steaua Bucharest

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Elod Antal
SC Miercurea Ciuc
Florin Creanga
Steaua Bucharest
Robert Ferencz-Csibi
Progym Gheorgheni
Tihamer Gyorfy
Miskolci Jegesmedvek
Szilard Orban
SC Miercurea Ciuc
Hunor Szennyes
SC Miercurea Ciuc

Forwards:
Name
Team
Andrei Anton
Corona Brasov
Gabriel Barbu
Sportul Studentesc Bucharest
Balasz Gajdo
Corona Brasov
Istvan Gereb
SC Miercurea Ciuc
Vlad Grigori
Corona Brasov
Robert Gyogy
Debrecan HC
Lorand Kollo
Progym Gheorgheni
Norbert Rokaly
SC Miercurea Ciuc
Szilard Rokaly
Ocskay Academy Szekesfehervar
Zoltan Sandor
SC Miercurea Ciuc
Zaharia Stefan
Steaua Bucharest
Otto Szopos
Miskolci Jegesmedvek
Robert Timaru
Steaua Bucharest
Andrei Vasile
Corona Brasov


Serbia

Goalies:
Name
Team
Jovan Feher
MAC Budapest
Petar Stepanovic
Crvena Zvezda Belgrade

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Ivan Anic
Crvena Zvezda Belgrade
Stefan Boskovic
Vermont Lumberjacks
Aleksandar Kolaric
Sturgeon Falls Lumberjacks
Milos Nikolic
Crvena Zvezda Belgrade
Filip Pajevic
Crvena Zvezda Belgrade
Pavle Podunavac
MAC Budapest
Vladimir Zivic
Crvena Zvezda Belgrade

Forwards:
Name
Team
Uros Bjelogrlic
Crvena Zvezda Belgrade
Mirko Djumic
MAC Budapest
Aleksandar Filipovic
Pesterzsebeti Farkasok
Ivan Glavonjic
HK Stalkers Daugavpils
Dusan Jankovic
Partizan Belgrade
Lazar Lestaric
McKendree University
Mirko Markovic
MAC Budapest
Lav Mitic
Partizan Belgrade
Lazar Novakovic
Partizan Belgrade
Petar Novakovic
Crvena Zvezda Belgrade
Sinisa Pajic
NS Stars Novi Sad
Djordjije Terzic
Partizan Belgrade
Luka Vukicevic
Crvena Zvezda Belgrade


Spain

Goalies:
Name
Team
Ignacio Garcia
SAD Majadahonda
Alejandro Reneses
FC Barcelona

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Bruno Baldris
Angers Ducs
Alfonso Garcia
SAD Majadahonda
Andres Palacios
CH Jaca
Marc Paul
CG Puigcerda
Niklas Puertolas
FC Barcelona
Ignacio Vicente
Bradford Rattlers

Forwards:
Name
Team
Ander Arraras
CHH Txuri-Urdin
Ander Arrinda
Anglet Hormadi
Alejandro Burgos
Anglet Hormadi
Paul Cerda
Philadelphia Revolution
Marcus Garcia
Geneve Futur Hockey
Ignacio Granell
CG Puigcerda
Luis Jose Hernandez
SAD Majadahonda
Imanol Lasuen
CHH Txuri-Urdin
Manuel Manero
Yellowstone Quake
Pablo Pantoja
CH Jaca
Oriol Rubio
FC Barcelona
Gonzalo Ruiz
Syracuse Stars
Albert Torner
Blyth Academy
Guillem Torner
Blyth Academy


Schedule

January 17
Australia - Romania
China - Belgium
Spain - Serbia

January 18
Romania - Belgium
Spain - Australia
Serbia - China

January 20
Spain - China
Australia - Belgium
Romania - Serbia

January 21
Belgium - Spain
China - Romania
Serbia - Australia

January 23
Australia - China
Romania - Spain
Belgium - Serbia

Prediction

1 (Promoted) - Romania
2 - Spain
3 - Australia
4 - Serbia
5 - Belgium
6 (Relegated) - China

There isn't much reason to see a major change from last year's tournament. Romania and Spain are likely to battle for the top spot. I do favour Romania's chances more, especially since they played at a higher level last year. Spain is a good team at this level, but I'm not to sure they can get by Romania for the top spot. Australia will settle into third place. Serbia looks to have improved from last year, so bumping up a spot wouldn't be too much of a surprise. It also helps that they are the host of the tournament. Conversely, Belgium losing their top scorer hurts, as they might take a step back. China going to a U20 team is a smart strategy for them, but I don't think it pays immediate dividends. They'll likely finish last and go back to Division III.

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