Friday, May 6, 2016

2016 IIHF World Championship Preview - Group A

The tournament kicked off earlier today in Russia, with Group A being played at the Ice Palace in Moscow. The host are in this group, and hope to have a finish that will make the Russian fans happy. Sweden and the Czech Republic highlight the group as well, and are always a threat to win something. Switzerland has been a bit disappointing in the past few years, and will look to rectify that. Denmark, Latvia, and Norway all have a string of finishing in double-digit territory, and all will look to fix that and hopefully get into the playoffs. Kazakhstan rounds out the group, having won last year's Division I Group A tournament. The Kazakhs hope to do well enough to extend their stay at the main tournament.

Note: most information from the fancy IIHF website.

Rosters

Czech Republic

Goalies:
Name
Team
Pavel Francouz
Traktor Chelyabinsk
Dominik Furch
Avangard Omsk

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Jakub Jerabek
HC Plzen
Michal Jordan
Carolina Hurricanes
Michal Kempny
Avangard Omsk
Tomas Kundratek
HC Slovan Bratislava
Jan Kolar
Amur Khabarovsk
Radim Simek
Bili Tygri Liberec

Forwards:
Name
Team
Michal Birner
Bili Tygri Liberec
Roman Cervenka
HC Fribourg-Gotteron
Lukas Kaspar
Dynamo Moscow
Robert Kousal
Metallurg Novokuznetsk
Jan Kovar
Metallurg Magnitogorsk
David Pastrnak
Boston Bruins
Tomas Plekanec
Montreal Canadiens
Michal Repik
Bili Tygri Liberec
Tomas Zohorna
Amur Khabarovsk

World Ranking: 6th
Last Years Result: 4th
Top Threat: Pretty good team all around. Should finish near the top of their group.
Weakness: Team is weaker than last year when they hosted.
Predicted Finish: Quarter Finals


Denmark

Goalies:
Name
Team
Sebastian Dahm
Graz 99ers
Simon Nielsen
Herning Blue Fox

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Mads Boedker
SonderjyskE Vojens
Jesper B. Jensen
Jokerit Helsinki
Nicholas Jensen
Esbjerg Energy
Emil Kristensen
IK Oskarshamn
Stefan Lassen
Pelicans Lahti
Markus Lauridsen
AIK Stockholm
Oliver Lauridsen
Frolunda Gothenburg
Daniel Nielsen
Herning Blue Fox

Forwards:
Name
Team
Patrick Bjorkstrand
KHL Medvescak Zagreb
Mads Christensen
EHC Red Bull Munich
Nikolaj Ehlers
Winnipeg Jets
Lars Eller
Montreal Canadiens
Morten Green
Rungsted Cobras
Jannik Hansen
Vancouver Canucks
Mathias Hansen
Frederikshavn White Hawks
Nicklas Jensen
Hartford Wolf Pack
Morten Madsen
Hamburg Freezers
Morten Poulsen
Graz 99ers
Kirill Starkov
Red Ice Martigny
Frederik Storm
IF Malmo Redhawks

World Ranking: 15th
Last Years Result: 14th
Top Threat: Stronger offense this year, could surprise a few teams.
Weakness: Missing Frederik Andersen might be the difference between an also-ran and a darkhorse.
Predicted Finish: 5th in group


Kazakhstan

Goalies:
Name
Team
Vitali Kolesnik
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
Dmitri Malgin
Nomad Astana
Pavel Poluektov
Barys Astana

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Daniyar Kairov
Nomad Astana
Andrei Korabeynikov
Toros Neftekamsk
Artemi Lakiza
Nomad Astana
Alexander Lipin
Barys Astana
Ilya Lobanov
Barys Astana
Roman Savchenko
Barys Astana
Maxim Semyonov
Barys Astana
Vyacheslav Tryasunov
Barys Astana

Forwards:
Name
Team
Brandon Bochenski
Barys Astana
Dustin Boyd
Barys Astana
Nigel Dawes
Barys Astana
Nikita Ivanov
Saryarka Karaganda
Maxim Khudyakov
Barys Astana
Vadim Krasnoslobodtsev
Barys Astana
Mikhail Panshin
Barys Astana
Konstantin Pushkaryov
Barys Astana
Yevgeni Rymarev
Torpedo Ust-Kamenogorsk
Alexander Shin
Torpedo Ust-Kamenogorsk
Ilya Solaryov
Barys Astana
Roman Starchenko
Barys Astana

World Ranking: 17th
Last Years Result: 1st (Division I Group A)
Top Threat: The naturalized players are definitely a boost to the Kazakh offense.
Weakness: It will still be a struggle for them to avoid relegation.
Predicted Finish: Relegated


Latvia

Goalies:
Name
Team
Edgars Masalskis
Lada Togliatti
Elvis Merzlikins
HC Lugano

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Janis Andersons
HKm Zvolen
Oskars Cibulskis
Dinamo Riga
Ralfs Freibergs
Toledo Walleye
Guntis Galvins
Dinamo Riga
Aleksandrs Jerofejevs
Dinamo Riga
Edgars Siksna
Sary-Arka Karaganda
Maksims Sirokovs
Sterzing Broncos
Kristaps Sotnieks
Dinamo Riga

Forwards:
Name
Team
Rodrigo Abols
Portland Winterhawks
Maris Bicevskis
Dinamo Riga
Robert Bukarts
HC Zlin
Kaspars Daugavins
Torpedo Nizhni Novgorod
Andris Dzerins
Dinamo Riga
Zemgus Girgensons
Buffalo Sabres
Miks Indrasis
Dinamo Riga
Ronalds Kenins
Vancouver Canucks
Edgars Kulda
Dinamo Riga
Gints Meija
Dinamo Riga
Vitalijs Pavlovs
Dinamo Riga
Mikelis Redlihs
Dinamo Riga
Aleksejs Sirokovs
Neftyanik Almetievsk
Gunars Skvorcovs
Dinamo Riga

World Ranking: 10th
Last Years Result: 13th
Top Threat: Solid team for Latvia all-around.
Weakness: Still in darkhorse territory to make the playoff round.
Predicted Finish: 6th in group


Norway

Goalies:
Name
Team
Lars Haugen
Farjestad Karlstad
Steffen Soberg
Valerenga Oslo
Lars Volden
Rogle Angelholm

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Jonas Holos
Farjestad Karlstad
Johannes Johannessen
Stavanger Oilers
Mattias Norstebo
Brynas Gavle
Henrik Odegaard
Lorenskog IK
Dennis Sveum
Stavanger Oilers
Ole-Kristian Tollefsen
Farjestad Karlstad
Mats Trygg
Lorenskog IK

Forwards:
Name
Team
Morten Ask
Valerenga Oslo
Andre Bastiansen
IF Frisk Asker
Robin Dahlstrom
Lorenskog IK
Kristian Forsberg
Stavanger Oilers
Michael Haga
Almtuna IS Uppsala
Andreas Martinsen
Colorado Avalanche
Ken Andre Olimb
Dusseldorf EG
Mathis Olimb
Kolton Flyers
Mats Rosseli Olsen
Frolunda Gothenburg
Thomas Valkvae Olsen
IF Frisk Asker
Niklas Roest
Sparta Sarpsborg
Martin Roymark
Farjestad Karlstad
Andreas Stene
Mora IK
Mathias Trettenes
Stavanger Oilers
Mats Zuccarello
New York Rangers

World Ranking: 11th
Last Years Result: 11th
Top Threat: Zuccarello is a big boost to a roster that's pretty similar to last year's.
Weakness: Other middling teams got stronger, while Norway stayed mostly the same.
Predicted Finish: 7th in group


Russia

Goalies:
Name
Team
Sergei Bobrovsky
Columbus Blue Jackets
Ilya Sorokin
CSKA Moscow

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Viktor Antipin
Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Maxim Chudinov
SKA St. Petersburg
Alexei Emelin
Montreal Canadiens
Alexei Marchenko
Detroit Red Wings
Vyacheslav Voynov
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
Nikita Zaitsev
CSKA Moscow

Forwards:
Name
Team
Alexander Burmistrov
Winnipeg Jets
Yevgeni Dadonov
SKA St. Petersburg
Pavel Datsyuk
Detroit Red Wings
Sergei Kalinin
New Jersey Devils
Roman Lyubimov
CSKA Moscow
Sergei Mozyakin
Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Artemi Panarin
Chicago Blackhawks
Sergei Plotnikov
Arizona Coyotes
Vadim Shipachyov
SKA St. Petersburg
Sergei Shirokov
SKA St. Petersburg

World Ranking: 2nd
Last Years Result: 2nd (Silver)
Top Threat: Great offense, Bobrovsky and Sorokin make a pretty good tandem in net.
Weakness: Defense could be better. Feels like this team isn't the best one Russia could put forth (espically being the host).
Predicted Finish: Bronze Medal


Sweden

Goalies:
Name
Team
Viktor Fasth
CSKA Moscow
Jacob Markstrom
Vancouver Canucks

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Oscar Fantenberg
Frolunda Gothenburg
Johan Fransson
Geneve-Servette HC
Erik Gustafsson
Chicago Blackhawks
Erik Gustafsson
Kloten Flyers
Adam Larsson
New Jersey Devils
Magnus Nygren
Farjestads Karlstad

Forwards:
Name
Team
Mikael Backlund
Calgary Flames
Jimmie Ericsson
Skelleftea AIK
Linus Klasen
HC Lugano
Martin Lundberg
Skelleftea AIK
John Norman
Skelleftea AIK
Gustav Nyquist
Detroit Red Wings
Linus Omark
Salavat Yulaev Ufa
Mattias Ritola
Skelleftea AIK
Robert Rosen
Vaxjo Lakers HC
Mattias Sjogren
AK Bars Kazan
Johan Sundstrom
Frolunda Gothenburg
Alexander Wennberg
Columbus Blue Jackets

World Ranking: 3rd
Last Years Result: 5th
Top Threat: Pretty good forward and defense crop.
Weakness: Roster isn't as strong as they usually have. Goaltending does leave a bit to be desired.
Predicted Finish: Medal Round


Switzerland

Goalies:
Name
Team
Reto Berra
Colorado Avalanche
Robert Mayer
Geneve-Servette HC

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Raphael Diaz
New York Rangers
Felicien Du Bois
HC Davos
Yannick Weber
Vancouver Canucks

Forwards:
Name
Team
Sven Andrighetto
Montreal Canadiens
Andres Ambuhl
HC Davos
Gaetan Haas
EHC Biel
Gregory Hofmann
HC Lugano
Denis Hollenstein
Kolten Flyers
Lino Martschini
EV Zug
Nino Niederreiter
Minnesota Wild
Simon Moser
SC Bern
Morris Trachsler
ZSC Lions Zurich
Julian Walker
HC Lugano
Samuel Walser
HC Davos
Dino Wieser
HC Davos

World Ranking: 7th
Last Years Result: 8th
Top Threat: There defense looks like an improvement from last year (if they registered more from last year's team)
Weakness: With the swapping of some key names on offense, I don't know how much (if any) improvement their offense made.
Predicted Finish: Quarter Finals


Schedule

May 6
Sweden - Latvia
Czech Republic - Russia

May 7
Switzerland - Kazakhstan
Norway - Denmark
Latvia - Czech Republic

May 8
Kazakhstan - Russia
Norway - Switzerland
Sweden - Denmark

May 9
Latvia - Russia
Sweden - Czech Republic

May 10
Switzerland - Denmark
Kazakhstan - Norway

May 11
Switzerland - Latvia
Sweden - Kazakhstan

May 12
Czech Republic - Norway
Russia - Denmark

May 13
Czech Republic - Kazakhstan
Denmark - Latvia

May 14
Norway - Sweden
Russia - Switzerland
Kazakhstan - Latvia

May 15
Denmark - Czech Republic
Switzerland - Sweden

May 16
Russia - Norway
Denmark - Kazakhstan

May 17
Czech Republic - Switzerland
Latvia - Norway
Russia - Sweden

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