Monday, December 26, 2016

2017 World Junior Championship Preview: Group A

The World Junior Championship main tournament kicks off later today, with Group A taking place in Montreal. Defending champs Finland will look to make it two in a row, while their neighbour Sweden is expected to challenge for the title. The Czech Republic comes in looking to break through after years of fifth place finishes. Denmark has made the quarter-finals the past two years, and hope to continue the streak this year. Switzerland rounds out the group, and will try to avoid the relegation round for the first time since 2014.

Note: most information from the fancy IIHF website.

Rosters

Czech Republic

Goalies:
Name
Team
Petr Kvaca
HC Ceske Budejovice
Jakub Skarek
Dukla Jihlava
Daniel Vladar
Providence Bruins

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Vojtech Budik
Prince Albert Raiders
Frantisek Hrdinka
Linkopings HC
Filip Hronek
Saginaw Spirit
Petr Kalina
Sparta Prague
Daniel Krenzelok
Vitkovice Ostrava
David Kvasnicka
HC Plzen
Ondrej Vala
Kamloops Blazers

Forwards:
Name
Team
Filip Chlapik
Charlottetown Islanders
Jan Dufek
Kometa Brno
Lukas Jasek
Ocelari Trinec
David Kase
Pirati Chomutov
Radek Koblizek
Karpat Oulu
Petr Kodytek
HC Plzen
Daniel Kurovsky
Vitkovice Ostrava
Adam Musil
Red Deer Rebels
Martin Necas
Kometa Brno
Kristian Reichel
HC Litvinov
Tomas Soustal
Kelowna Rockets
Michael Spacek
Red Deer Rebels
Simon Stransky
Prince Albert Raiders
Filip Suchy
Omaha Lancers


Denmark

Goalies:
Name
Team
Emil Gransoe
Topeka Roadrunners
Kasper Krog
SonderjyskE Vojens
Lasse Munk Petersen
Red Deer Rebels

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Oliver Gatz Nielsen
Herning Blue Fox
Morten Jensen
Rogle Angelholm
Anders Koch
Esbjerg Energy
Oliver Larsen
Odense Bulldogs
Christian Mieritz
Leksands IF
Mathias Rondbjerg
Rungsted Ishockey
Nicolai Weichel
Rungsted Ishockey

Forwards:
Name
Team
Niklas Andersen
Esbjerg Energy
Rasmus T. Andersson
HV71 Jonkoping
Joachim Blichfeld
Portland Winterhawks
William Boysen
Rungsted Ishockey
Nikolaj Christensen-Krag
Rogle Angelholm
Mathias From
Rogle Angelholm
Frederik Hoeg
Odense Bulldogs
Jeppe Jul Korsgaard
Aalborg Pirates
Tobias Ladehoff
Aalborg Pirates
David Madsen
Vaxjo Lakers
Daniel Nielsen
Herning Blue Fox
Jonas Rondbjerg
Vaxjo Lakers
Alexander True
Seattle Thunderbirds
Christian Wejse
Blainville-Boisbriand Armada


Finland

Goalies:
Name
Team
Karolus Kaarlehto
TPS Turku
Markus Ruusu
JYP Jyvaskyla
Veini Vehvilainen
JYP Jyvaskyla

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Miro Heiskanen
IFK Helsinki
Olli Juolevi
London Knights
Jesper Mattila
Boston College
Juho Rautanen
Jokerit Helsinki
Vili Saarijarvi
Mississauga Steelheads
Urho Vaakanainen
JYP Jyvaskyla
Juuso Valimaki
Tri-City Americans

Forwards:
Name
Team
Kasper Bjorkqvist
Providence College
Henrik Borgstrom
Denver University
Otto Koivula
Ilves Tampere
Janne Kuokkanen
London Knights
Joona Luoto
Tappera Tampere
Julius Mattila
Boston College
Julius Nattinen
Windsor Spitfires
Petrus Palmu
Owen Sound Attack
Arttu Ruotsalainen
Assat Pori
Aapeli Rasanen
Sioux City Musketeers
Eeli Tolvanen
Sioux City Musketeers
Kristian Vesalainen
HPK Hameenlinna
Teemu Vayryen
TPS Turku


Sweden

Goalies:
Name
Team
Filip Gustavsson
Lulea HF
Felix Sandstrom
Brynas Gavle
Adam Werner
Farjestad Karlstad

Defensemen:
Name
Team
David Bernhardt
Djurgarden Stockholm
Gabriel Carlsson
Linkopings HC
Lucas Carlsson
Brynas Gavle
Rasmus Dahlin
Frolunda Gothenburg
Kristoffer Gunnarsson
Frolunda Gothenburg
Oliver Kylington
Stockton Heat
Jacob Larsson
Frolunda Gothenburg

Forwards:
Name
Team
Filip Ahl
Regina Pats
Lias Andersson
HV71 Jonkoping
Rasmus Asplund
Farjestad Karlstad
Jonathan Dahlen
Timra IK
Joel Eriksson Ek
Farjestad Karlstad
Carl Grundstrom
Frolunda Gothenburg
Fredrik Karlstrom
AIK Stockholm
Jens Looke
Timra IK
Alexander Nylander
Rochester Americans
Sebastian Ohlsson
Skelleftea AIK
Elias Pettersson
Timra IK
Tim Soderlund
Skelleftea AIK
Andreas Wingerli
Skelleftea AIK


Switzerland

Goalies:
Name
Team
Matteo Ritz
Lausanne HC
Joren van Pottelberghe
HC Davos
Philip Wuthrich
SC Bern

Defensemen:
Name
Team
Yanik Burren
SC Bern
Colin Gerber
SC Bern
Nico Gross
EVZ Academy
Roger Karrer
ZSC Lions Zurich
Jonas Siegenthaler
ZSC Lions Zurich
Livio Stalder
Lulea HF
Serge Weber
EHC Kolten
Yanik Burren
SC Bern

Forwards:
Name
Team
Dominik Diem
GCK Lions Zurich
Nando Eggenberger
HC Davos
Fabian Haberstich
EVZ Academy
Timo Haussener
EVZ Academy
Nico Hischier
Halifax Mooseheads
Loic In Albon
Lausanne HC
Nathan Marchon
HC Fribourg-Gotteron
Marco Miranda
GCK Lions Zurich
Jerome Portmann
HC Davos
Raphael Prassl
GCK Lions Zurich
Damien Riat
Geneve-Servette HC
Calvin Thurkauf
Kelowna Rockets
Yannick Zehnder
EVZ Academy


Schedule

December 26
Sweden vs. Denmark
Czech Republic vs. Finland

December 27
Czech Republic vs. Switzerland
Denmark vs. Finland

December 28
Switzerland vs. Sweden

December 29
Denmark vs. Czech Republic
Finland vs. Sweden

December 30
Switzerland vs. Denmark

December 31
Sweden vs. Czech Republic
Finland vs. Switzerland

One Line Previews

Czech Republic: After all these years, still a middle-of-the-pack team.

Denmark: Just trying to do enough to stay alive for another year.

Finland: Defending champs offense took a bit of a hit, but are still a team that could contend for a medal.

Sweden: A strong team (especially on defense), will be in the medal hunt.

Switzerland: Going to rebound after a dismal performance from last year, has the potential to pull off an upset in the process.

Predictions

Brad

1 - Sweden
2 - Finland
3 - Switzerland
4 - Czech Republic
5 - Denmark

MDK

1 - Sweden
2 - Finland
3 - Czech Republic
4 - Denmark
5 - Switzerland

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