Thursday, September 1, 2016

Showing Some International Love: 2018 Olympic Final Qualification - Group E Preview

Latvia host Group E, and look to get into the Olympic games for a fifth straight time. Germany is the highest ranked team involved, and will want to get back into the Games after missing out on Sochi. Austria look to make it to the Olympics for a second straight year. Japan rounds out the group, and hope to get back into the Olympics for the first time since 1998 (when they hosted).

Note: Most information from the fancy IIHF website.

World Rankings

10. Germany
12. Latvia
17. Austria
21. Japan

Rosters

Austria

Goalies:
Name
Team
David Kickert
Vienna Capitals
David Madlener
Klagenfurter AC
Rene Swette
Klagenfurter AC

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Mario Altmann
EHC Linz
Nico Brunner
Villacher SV
Dominique Heinrich
Orebro HK
Daniel Mitterdorfer
HC Innsbruck
Markus Schlacher
Villacher SV
Martin Schumnig
Klagenfurter AC
Stefan Ulmer
HC Lugano

Forwards:
Name
Team
Mario Fischer
Vienna Capitals
Manuel Ganahl
Klagenfurter AC
Manuel Geier
Klagenfurter AC
Michael Grabner
New York Rangers
Lukas Haudum
Malmo Redhawks J20
Raphael Herburger
EC Salzburg
Thomas Hundertpfund
Klagenfurter AC
Konstantin Komarek
Malmo Redhawks
Andreas Kristler
EC Salzburg
Brian Lebler
EHC Linz
Nikolas Petrik
Dornbirner EC
Michael Raffl
Philadelphia Flyers
Thomas Raffl
EC Salzburg


Germany

Goalies:
Name
Team
Dennis Endras
Adler Mannheim
Philipp Grubauer
Washington Capitals
Timo Pielmeier
ERC Ingolstadt

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Sinan Akdag
Adler Mannheim
Daryl Boyle
EHC Munchen
Christian Ehrhoff
No Team
Kobinian Holzer
Anaheim Ducks
Frank Hordler
Eisbaren Berlin
Moritz Muller
Kolner Haie
Dennis Seidenberg
No Team

Forwards:
Name
Team
Leon Draisaitl
Edmonton Oilers
Gerrit Fauser
Grizzlys Wolfsburg
Marcel Goc
Adler Mannheim
Patrick Hager
Kolner Haie
Dominik Kahun
EHC Munchen
Marcus Kink
Adler Mannheim
Tom Kuhnhackl
Pittsburgh Penguins
Brooks Macek
EHC Munchen
Patrick Reimer
Nurnberg Ice Tigers
Tobias Rieder
No Team
Yannic Seidenberg
EHC Munchen
Felix Schutz
Rogle BK
David Wolf
Adler Mannheim


Japan

Goalies:
Name
Team
Yutaka Fukufuji
Nikko Ice Bucks
Yuta Narisawa
Oji Eagles
Takuto Onoda
Oji Eagles

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Yosuke Haga
Oji Eagles
Ryo Hashimoto
Oji Eagles
Goshi Kumagai
Tohoku Free Blades
Keigo Minoshima
Chuo University
Kazumasa Sasaki
Oji Eagles
Mei Ushu
Nippon Paper Cranes
Kotaro Yamada
Oji Eagles
Takafumi Yamashita
Oji Eagles

Forwards:
Name
Team
Takuma Kawai
Tohoku Free Blades
Shuhei Kuji
Oji Eagles
Yuki Miura
Waterloo Blackhawks
Masahito Nishiwaki
Nippon Paper Cranes
Daisuke Obara
Oji Eagles
Yuto Osawa
Oji Eagles
Takeshi Saito
Nikko Ice Bucks
Kenta Takagi
Nippon Paper Cranes
Seiji Takahashi
Oji Eagles
Go Tanaka
Tohoku Free Blades
Hiroki Ueno
Nippon Paper Cranes
Takuro Yamashita
Tohoku Free Blades


Latvia

Goalies:
Name
Team
Kristers Gudlevskis
Tampa Bay Lightning
Edgars Masalskis
Lada Togliatti
Elvis Merzlikins
HC Lugano

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Oskars Bartulis
Admiral Vladivostok
Ralfs Freibergs
Dinamo Riga
Arturs Kulda
Jokerit Helsinki
Georgijs Pujacs
Dinamo Riga
Krisjanis Redlihs
Dinamo Riga
Arvids Rekis
Augsburger Panther
Kristaps Sotnieks
Lada Togliatti

Forwards:
Name
Team
Rodrigo Abols
Portland Winterhawks
Roberts Bukarts
HC Zlin
Lauris Darzins
Dinamo Riga
Kaspars Daugavins
Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod
Andris Dzerins
HC Hradec Kralove
Martins Dzierkals
Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
Zemgus Girgensons
Buffalo Sabres
Miks Indrasis
Dinamo Riga
Martins Karsums
Dynamo Moscow
Ronalds Kenins
ZSC Lions
Gints Meija
Dinamo Riga
Vitalijs Pavlovs
Dinamo Riga
Mikelis Redlihs
Dinamo Riga


Schedule

September 1
Germany - Japan
Austria - Latvia

September 2
Germany - Austria
Latvia - Japan

September 4
Japan - Austria
Latvia - Germany

Predictions

1 (Qualify for Olympics) - Germany
2 - Latvia
3 - Austria
4 - Japan

It was tough deciding between Germany and Latvia. Both have the goaltending and offence to get them through. By a hair, I'm guessing the Germans upset the host and take the spot for PyeongChang. Austria is just behind the Germans and Latvians, and are likely to finish third. Unless they pull off a couple upsets, I can't see Japan finishing anywhere other than fourth.

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