Friday, May 6, 2016

2016 IIHF World Championship Preview - Group B

Group B plays at the Yubileiny Sports Arena in St. Petersburg. The group is headlined by last year's champions, Canada, who will look to repeat their performance. Finland and USA are always contenders, and both have a potential high pick for this year's draft on their team (Patrik Laine for Finland, Auston Matthews for the US). Belarus had a great round robin last year, and will look to have a silimar result this year. Slovakia and Germany both finished outside of the playoffs last year, and both will want to find a way to make it in this time. France just managed to avoid relegation last year, and while they are immune from it as they are co-host next year, will still want to put up a solid result. Hungary enters this tournament after finishing second in last year's Division I Group A tournament, and are hoping to do well enough to stay for another year.

Note: most information from the fancy IIHF website.

Rosters

Note: all rosters as of May 5

Belarus

Goalies:
Name
Team
Vitali Koval
VIK Vasteras
Kevin Lalande
Dinamo Minsk
Dmitri Milchakov
Dinamo Minsk

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Roman Dyukov
Yunost Minsk
Kirill Gotovets
Rockford IceHogs
Kristian Khenkel
Yunost Minsk
Dmitri Korobov
Spartak Moscow
Yevgeni Lisovets
Dinamo Minsk
Ilya Shinkevich
Dinamo Minsk
Oleg Yevenko
Lake Erie Monsters

Forwards:
Name
Team
Artyom Demkov
Shakhter Soligorsk
Sergei Drozd
Dinamo Minsk
Artur Gavrus
Dinamo Minsk
Alexei Kalyuzhny
Dinamo Minsk
Alexander Kitarov
Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk
Nikita Komarov
Dinamo Minsk
Andrei Kostitsyn
HK Sochi
Sergei Kostitsyn
Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod
Yevgeni Kovyrshin
Severstal Cherepovets
Charles Linglet
Dinamo Minsk
Alexander Pavlovich
Dinamo Minsk
Geoff Platt
CSKA Moscow
Andrei Stas
Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk
Andrei Stepanov
Dinamo Minsk

World Ranking: 9th
Last Years Result: 7th
Top Threat: A couple of naturalized players help strengthen the offense.
Weakness: Odds of repeating are still against them.
Predicted Finish: 5th in group


Canada

Goalies:
Name
Team
Calvin Pickard
Colorado Avalanche
Cam Talbot
Edmonton Oilers

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Cody Ceci
Ottawa Senators
Mathew Dumba
Minnesota Wild
Ben Hutton
Vancouver Canucks
Michael Mathseon
Portland Pirates
Ryan Murray
Columbus Blue Jackets
Morgan Rielly
Toronto Maple Leafs
Chris Tanev
Vancouver Canucks

Forwards:
Name
Team
Derick Brassard
New York Rangers
Max Domi
Arizona Coyotes
Matt Duchene
Colorado Avalanche
Brendan Gallagher
Montreal Canadiens
Taylor Hall
Edmonton Oilers
Boone Jenner
Columbus Blue Jackets
Brad Marchand
Boston Bruins
Connor McDavid
Edmonton Oilers
Ryan O'Reilly
Buffalo Sabres
Corey Perry
Anaheim Ducks
Sam Reinhart
Buffalo Sabres
Mark Scheifele
Winnipeg Jets
Mark Stone
Ottawa Senators

World Ranking: 1st
Last Years Result: 1st (Gold Medal)
Top Threat: They go from the past future (Crosby) to the current future (McDavid). They have everything you need at forward: size, skill, shot, grit, you name it.
Weakness: I don't think the defense will be as bad as predicted. Goaltending on the other hand could really sink them.
Predicted Finish: Silver Medal


Finland

Goalies:
Name
Team
Niklas Backstrom
Calgary Flames
Mikko Koskinen
SKA St. Petersburg
Juuse Saros
Milwaukee Admirals

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Juuso Hietanen
Dynamo Moscow
Topi Jaakola
Jokerit Helsinki
Lasse Kukkonen
Karpat Oulu
Esa Lindell
Texas Stars
Atte Ohtamaa
Jokerit Helsinki
Ville Pokka
Rockford IceHogs
Anssi Salmela
Brynas Gavle

Forwards:
Name
Team
Sebastian Aho
Karpat Oulu
Aleksander Barkov
Florida Panthers
Mikael Granlund
Minnesota Wild
Jussi Jokinen
Florida Panthers
Mikko Koivu
Minnesota Wild
Leo Komarov
Toronto Maple Leafs
Jarno Koskiranta
SKA St. Petersburg
Patrik Laine
Tappara Tampere
Antti Pihlstrom
CSKA Moscow
Teemu Pulkkinen
Detroit Red Wings
Mika Pyorala
Karpat Oulu
Tomi Sallinen
Djurgardens Stockholm

World Ranking: 4th
Last Years Result: 6th
Top Threat: DAT OFFENSE! One of the best in this tournament.
Weakness: Their defense and goaltending is still good, but does feel like they could do better in those aspects.
Predicted Finish: Gold Medal


France

Goalies:
Name
Team
Florian Hardy
EC Dornbirn
Cristobal Huet
Lausanne HC
Ronan Quemener
Aspolven Haparanda

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Yohann Auvitu
IFK Helsinki
Gregory Beron
Amiens Gothiques
Florian Chakiachvili
Rouen Dragons
Benjamin Dieude-Fauvel
Kalamazoo Wings
Jonathan Janil
Bordeaux Boxers

Forwards:
Name
Team
Pierre-Edouard Bellemare
Philadelphia Flyers
Charles Bertrand
Vaasan Sport
Valentin Claireaux
KeuPa Keuruu
Teddy da Costa
Vaasan Sport
Damien Fleury
Schwenninger Wild Wings
Loic Lamperier
Rouen Dragons
Laurent Meunier
HC La Chaux-de-Fonds
Damien Raux
Rouen Dragons
Nicolas Ritz
Lillehammer IK
Yorick Treille
Rouen Dragons

World Ranking: 12th
Last Years Result: 12th
Top Threat: Bellemare helps the offense (with Tim Bozon expected to join the team as well).
Weakness: Very similar team to the one last team that was almost relegated. Still rely on the same old goaltending, at some point someone will have to succeed Huet.
Predicted Finish: 7th in group.


Germany

Goalies:
Name
Team
Felix Bruckmann
Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg
Timo Pielmeier
ERC Ingolstadt

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Sinan Akdag
Adler Mannheim
Torsten Ankert
Kolner Haie
Constantin Braun
Eisbaren Berlin
Daryle Boyle
EHC Red Bull Munich
Christian Ehrhoff
Chicago Blackhawks
Kobinian Holzer
Anaheim Ducks
Moritz Muller
Kolner Haie
Denis Reul
Adler Mannheim

Forwards:
Name
Team
Leon Draisaitl
Edmonton Oilers
Jerome Flaake
Hamburg Freezers
Marcel Goc
Adler Mannheim
Philip Gogulla
Kolner Haie
Patrick Hager
Kolner Haie
Marcus Kink
Adler Mannheim
Brooks Macek
Iserlohn Roosters
Marcel Noebels
Eisbaren Berlin
Patrick Reimer
Nuremberg Ice Tigers
Tobias Rieder
Arizona Coyotes
Yannic Seidenberg
EHC Red Bull Munich
Felix Schutz
Rogle Angelholm

World Ranking: 13th
Last Years Result: 10th
Top Threat: Defense looks better (on paper) than last year. Draisaitl is a boost to the offense.
Weakness: Goaltending is still suspect.
Predicted Finish: 6th in group.


Hungary

Goalies:
Name
Team
Zoltan Hetenyi
Fehervar AV 19
Miklos Rajna
Fehervar AV 19
Adam Vay
Debreceni HK

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Jesse Dudas
DVTK Jegesmedvek Miskolc
Zsombor Garat
MAC Budapest
Istvan Mestyan
MAC Budapest
Kalvin Sagert
DVTK Jegesmedvek Miskolc
Bence Stipsicz
MAC Budapest
Bence Sziranyi
Fehervar AV 19
Marton Vas
SHC Fassa
Kevin Wehrs
Fehervar AV 19

Forwards:
Name
Team
Frank Banham
Fehervar AV 19
Istvan Bartalis
Fehervar AV 19
Andras Benk
Fehervar AV 19
Csanad Erdely
Sioux Falls Stampede
Vilmos Gallo
Linkopings HC
Daniel Koger
Fehervar AV 19
Csaba Kovacs
Fehervar AV 19
Balint Magosi
Briancon Diables Rouges
Gergo Nagy
Fehervar AV 19
Krisztian Nagy
MAC Budapest
Andrew Sarauer
Fehervar AV 19
Balazs Sebok
KalPa Kuopio
Istvan Sofron
KAC Klagenfurt

World Ranking: 19th
Last Years Result: 2nd (Division I Group A)
Top Threat: Chemistry shouldn't be an issue, with half the team from the same club.
Weakness: Will need a bit of a miracle to stay out of last place.
Predicted Finish: Relegated


Slovakia

Goalies:
Name
Team
Julius Hudacek
Orebro HK
Branislav Konrad
HC Olomouc

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Dominik Granak
Rogle Angelholm
Christian Jaros
Lulea HF
Martin Marincin
Toronto Maple Leafs
Andrej Meszaros
Sibir Novosibirsk
Juraj Mikus
Sparta Prague
Andrej Sekera
Edmonton Oilers
Michal Sersen
Slovan Bratislava
Ivan Svarny
Slovan Bratislava

Forwards:
Name
Team
Martin Bakos
Bili Tygri Liberec
Marek Bartanus
HC Kosice
Peter Cehlarik
Lulea HF
Marko Dano
Winnipeg Jets
Vladimir Dravecky
Ocelari Trinec
Tomas Hrnka
HC Kosice
Libor Hudacek
Orebro HK
Tomas Jurco
Detroit Red Wings
Patrik Lusnak
Slovan Bratislava
Tomas Marcinko
Dynamo Pardubice
Martin Reway
HC Fribourg-Gotteron
Pavol Skalicky
Slovan Bratislava
Andrej Stastny
Slovan Bratislava
Marek Viedensky
Slovan Bratislava

World Ranking: 8th
Last Years Result: 9th
Top Threat: Defense is stronger this year.
Weakness: Not sure if the offense is improved or not. Going in with inexperienced goaltending at this tournament (World Championships).
Predicted Finish: Quarter Finals


United States

Goalies:
Name
Team
Mike Condon
Montreal Canadiens
Thatcher Demko
Boston College
Keith Kinkaid
New Jersey Devils

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Noah Hanifin
Carolina Hurricanes
Jake McCabe
Buffalo Sabres
Connor Murphy
Arizona Coyotes
Steven Santini
Boston College
Brady Skjei
New York Rangers
David Warsofsky
New Jersey Devils
Chris Wideman
Ottawa Senators

Forwards:
Name
Team
J.T. Compher
University of Michigan
Kyle Connor
University of Michigan
Hudson Fasching
Buffalo Sabres
Nick Foligno
Columbus Blue Jackets
Matt Hendriks
Edmonton Oilers
Vinni Hinostroza
Rockford IceHogs
Dylan Larkin
Detroit Red Wings
Patrick Maroon
Edmonton Oilers
Auston Matthews
ZSC Zurich Lions
Tyler Motte
University of Michigan
Jordan Schroeder
Minnesota Wild
Frank Vatrano
Boston Bruins
Miles Wood
Boston College

World Ranking: 5th
Last Years Result: 3rd (Bronze)
Top Threat: Going young last year was a good idea, and they go with the same philosophy this year.
Weakness: Goaltending is a bit iffy.
Predicted Finish: Quarter Finals


Schedule

May 6
United States - Canada
Finland - Belarus

May 7
Slovakia - Hungary
France - Germany
Belarus - United States

May 8
Hungary - Canada
Finland - Germany
France - Slovakia

May 9
Belarus - Canada
Finland - United States

May 10
Slovakia - Germany
Hungary - France

May 11
Slovakia - Belarus
Finland - Hungary

May 12
United States - France
Canada - Germany

May 13
United States - Hungary
Germany - Belarus

May 14
France - Finland
Hungary - Belarus
Canada - Slovakia

May 15
Germany - United States
Slovakia - Finland

May 16
Canada - France
Germany - Hungary

May 17
United States - Slovakia
Belarus - France
Canada - Finland

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