Showing Some International Love: 2018 Olympic Qualification Round 1 - Group L Preview

Round 1 of Olympic Qualification continues tomorrow, as Spain host Group L. This tournament was moved to Spain after originally being scheduled to take place in Serbia. Nonetheless, Serbia is still taking part in this tournament. China and Iceland round out the group.

Note: Most information from the IIHF website.

World Rankings

30. Serbia
31. Spain
35. Iceland
38. China

Rosters

China

Goalies:

Name	Team
Zhiwei Liu	Harbin
Shengrong Xia	Harbin

Defensemen:

Name	Team
Tengyi Fu	Harbin
Tianyi Guan	Harbin
Tianyu Hu	Qiqihar
Longtan Liu	Qiqihar
Qing Liu	Qiqihar
Yungang Na	Harbin
Chao Wen	Harbin
Mingxi Yang	Qiqihar

Forwards:

Name	Team
Jaichang Bao	Harbin
Xijun Cui	Qiqihar
Peng Ji	Harbin
Hang Li	Qiqihar
Xinlei Li	Harbin
Zhengyu Li	Qiqihar
Yidong Qu	Harbin
Tainxiang Xia	Harbin
Xudong Xiang	Harbin
Cheng Zhang	Qiqihar
Hao Zhang	Harbin
Ziyang Zhu	Harbin

Iceland

Goalies:

Name	Team
Snorri Sigurbergsson	Krakene Moss
Omar Skulason	Bjorninn Reykjavik

Defensemen:

Name	Team
Birkir Arnason	Bjorninn Reykjavik
Ingthor Arnason	Motala AIF
Bergur Einarsson	Bjorninn Reykjavik
Andri Helgason	Bjorninn Reykjavik
Steindor Ingason	Almaguin Spartans
Ingvar Jonsson	Skautafelag Akureyrar
Robert Palsson	UMFK Esja

Forwards:

Name	Team
Emil Alengaard	Haninge Anchors
Ulfar Andresson	Bjorninn Reykjavik
Brynjar Bergmann	UMFK Esja
Arnthor Bjarnason	Skautafelag Reyjavikur
Olafur Bjornsson	UMFK Esja
Jon Gislason	Skautafelag Akureyrar
Falur Gudnason	Bjorninn Reykjavik
Robin Hedstrom	HC Backen
Johann Leifsson	Motala AIF
Petur Maack	UMFK Esja
Andri Mikaelsson	Skautafelag Akureyrar
Bjorn Sigurdarson	Imatran Kettera
Egill Thormodsson	UMFK Esja

Serbia

Goalies:

Name	Team
Aleksandar Fat	Vitez Belgrade
Arsenije Rankovic	HASC Jurmala
Petar Stepanovic	Crvena Zvezda Belgrade

Defensemen:

Name	Team
Uros Bjelogrlic	Crvena Zvezda Belgrade
Marko Brkusanin	Partizan Belgrade
Stefan Ilic	HC Valpellice
Dragan Komazec	Partizan Belgrade
Aleksa Lukovic	Partizan Belgrade
Ugljesa Novakovic	Crvena Zvezda Belgrade
Robert Sabados	Crvena Zvezda Belgrade

Forwards:

Name	Team
Dimitrije Filipovic	Partizan Belgrade
Ivan Glavonjic	HASC Jurmala
Nemanja Jankovic	Partizan Belgrade
Nikola Kerezovic	Beostar Belgrade
Marko Milovanovic	Partizan Belgrade
Petar Novakovic	Crvena Zvezda Belgrade
Pavel Popravka	Crvena Zvezda Belgrade
Nenad Rakovic	Partizan Belgrade
Srdjan Ristic	Partizan Belgrade
Dordije Terzic	Partizan Belgrade
Nemanja Vucurevic	Eispiraten Crimmitschau
Andrej Zwick	Crvena Zvezda Belgrade

Spain

Goalies:

Name	Team
Ander Alcaine	CH Jaca
Ignacio Garcia	SAD Majadahonda
Jhon Sebastian Varela	FC Barcelona

Defensemen:

Name	Team
Guillermo Betran	CH Jaca
Alfonso Garcia	SAD Majadahonda
Adrian Ubieto	CH Jaca
Alejandro Vea	CHH Txuri-Urdin
Jorge Vea	CHH Txuri-Urdin

Forwards:

Name	Team
Alejandro Carbonell	CH Jaca
Patricio Fuentes	CHH Txuri-Urdin
Gaston Gonzalez	CH Jaca
Pol Gonzalez	Concordia University
Juan Munoz	CHH Txuri-Urdin
Pablo Munoz	FC Barcelona
Juan Jose Palacin	CH Jaca
Alejandro Pedraz	SAD Majadahonda
Pablo Puyuelo	FC Barcelona
Ignacio Solorzano	CHH Txuri-Urdin

Schedule

November 6
Iceland - Serbia
Spain - China

November 7
Serbia - China
Spain - Iceland

November 8
China - Iceland
Serbia - Spain

Last 5 International Matches

China: 10-3 Win (Bulgaria), 4-3 SO Win (Israel), 7-4 Win (New Zealand), 5-2 Win (Mexico), 7-3 Win (South Africa)

Iceland: 3-0 Win (Belgium), 5-4 Loss (Serbia), 4-2 Loss (Spain), 6-1 Win (Australia), 3-2 OT Loss (Romania)

Serbia: 8-4 Loss (Romania), 5-4 Win (Iceland), 4-3 SO Loss (Australia), 3-2 OT Loss (Belgium), 4-3 SO Win (Spain)

Spain: 6-1 Win (Australia), 6-2 Loss (Belgium), 4-2 Win (Iceland), 7-1 Loss (Romania), 4-3 SO Loss (Serbia)

Predictions

1 (Qualify for Round 2) - Iceland
2 - Serbia
3 - Spain
4 - China

This is the harder of the two groups to predict. Last World Championship, Serbia, Iceland, and Spain all tied in their group (China won Division II Group B and will be facing those three teams in April). Just looking at the rosters, I have to give the edge to Iceland, as they are taking much of their World Championship roster to Spain. Serbia is missing a couple of top guys, which will hurt them in such a short tournament like this. Spain is also playing with a lesser roster. China, while keeping much of the same players, still played at a lower level. While they may keep it competitive, it's hard to overlook how tight the other three teams are.

Showing Some International Love: 2018 Olympic Qualification Round 1 - Group K Preview

Qualification for PyeongChang 2018 is underway, as Round 1 starts tomorrow. Estonia host Group K, and are the favourites to win and move on to Round 2. Mexico, Israel, and Bulgaria (who had to beat Georgia to earn a spot in this group) round out the competition.

Note: Most information from the IIHF website.

World Rankings

29. Estonia
32. Mexico
33. Israel
39. Bulgaria

Rosters

Bulgaria

Goalies:

Name	Team
Dimitar Dimitrov	CSKA Sofia
Nikola Nikolov	CSKA Sofia

Defensemen:

Name	Team
Nikolay Bozhanov	CSKA Sofia
Ivaylo Georgiev	Slavia Sofia
Stanislav Kanchev	NSA Sofia
Reymand Mladenov	Slavia Sofia
Kristian Radovanov	Slavia Sofia
Kristian Semkov	CSKA Sofia
Yavor Slavchev	Slavia Sofia
Bogdan Stefanov	CSKA Sofia
Aleksandar Vasilev	Slavia Sofia

Forwards:

Name	Team
Georgi Blagoev	MSHK Mladez Prievidza
Martin Boyadjiev	CSKA Sofia
Yanaki Gatchev	CSKA Sofia
Atanas Genkov	Slavia Sofia
Petar Tchaliov	CSKA Sofia
Aleksandar Todorov	Slavia Sofia

Estonia

Goalies:

Name	Team
Villem-Henrik Koitmaa	No Team
Daniil Seppenen	Narva PSK
Roman Shumikhin	HC Panter Tallinn

Defensemen:

Name	Team
Michael Mahkwa Auksi	Brockton Generals
Silver Kerna	Jukurit Mikkeli
Lauri Lahesalu	Angers Ducs
Artjom Minin	Porvoo Hunters
Maksim Robushkin	Viru Sputnik Kohtla Jarve
Pelle Sildre	HC Panter Tallinn
Ilja Urushev	HC Panter Tallinn

Forwards:

Name	Team
Robert Arrak	Espoo Blues
Artur Fedoruk	HC Panter Tallinn
Artjom Gornostajev	Muik Nykarleby
Nikita Kozorev	Augsburger EV
Aleksandr Kuznetsov	Tallinn Viiking Sport
Jan Lukats	EHC Bad Aibling
Robert Rooba	Espoo Blues
Ragnar-Hindrek Russ	JHT Kalajoki
Mihkel Sinikas	Espoo Blues
Jaanus Sorokin	HC Panter Tallinn
Risto Teppan	Salo Kiekkohait
Vassili Titarenko	Viru Sputnik Kohtla Jarve
Mihkel Vorang	HC Panter Tallinn

Israel

Goalies:

Name	Team
Maxim Gokhberg	Bat Yam Icebergs
Alexander Loginov	Rishon Devils

Defensemen:

Name	Team
Dotan Gotshtein	Maalot
Ori Kafri	Bat Yam Icebergs
Denis Kozev	Haifa Hawks
Evgeni Margoulis	Rishon Devils
Vlad Nosankov	MAC Metulla
Denis Raiter	Maalot

Forwards:

Name	Team
Roey Aharonovich	Billings Bulls
Itay Ben Tov	Maalot
Maxim Buz	Rishon Devils
Joshua Greenberg	Bat Yam Icebergs
Evgueni Natalchenko	HC Metulla
Mark Revniaga	Maalot
Ron Sherf	Rishon Devils
Ilya Spektor	Kfar Saba
Ron Vainshtein	MAC Metulla

Mexico

Goalies:

Name	Team
Alfonso de Alba	Halcones Lomas Verdes
Andres de la Garma	Osos Mexico

Defensemen:

Name	Team
Jose Carlos Jimenez	Osos Mexico
Gustavo Martinez	Tigres Nuevo Leon
Francisco Padilla	Osos Mexico
Fernando Ugarte	Osos Mexico

Forwards:

Name	Team
Brian Arroyo	Sharks Lerma
Roberto Chabat	Osos Mexico
Guillermo Diaz	Osos Mexico
Carlos Gomez	Mapaches Queretaro
Luis David Gonzalez	Pumas Distrito Federal
Antonio Najera	Sharks Lerma
Sebastian Ortega	Osos Mexico
Jorge Perez	Osos Mexico
Andres Perez Galicia	Osos Mexico
Enrique Arturo Samperio	Sharks Lerma
Christian Smithers	Osos Mexico
Carlo Tommasi	Osos Mexico

Schedule

November 5
Mexico - Bulgaria
Israel - Estonia

November 7
Mexico - Israel
Estonia - Bulgaria

November 8
Bulgaria - Israel
Estonia - Mexico

Last 5 International Matches

Bulgaria: 2-1 Win (South Africa), 9-1 Loss (Mexico), 10-5 Win (Israel), 5-1 Loss (New Zealand), 9-1 Win (Georgia)

Estonia: 7-3 Loss (South Korea), 2-1 Loss (Great Britain), 6-1 Loss (Lithuania), 5-2 Loss (Croatia), 3-1 Win (Netherlands)

Israel: 6-3 Loss (New Zealand), 4-3 SO Loss (China), 6-3 Win (South Africa), 10-5 Loss (Bulgaria), 6-3 Loss (Mexico)

Mexico: 4-1 Win (South Africa), 5-3 Loss (New Zealand), 9-1 Win (Bulgaria), 5-2 Loss (China), 6-3 Win (Israel)

Predictions

1 (Qualify for Round 2) - Estonia
2 - Mexico
3 - Bulgaria
4 - Israel

This group isn't even fair, as Estonia plays a full division above the rest of the group. Even with bringing a weaker roster to this round, Estonia should have no problem advancing to the next round. Mexico might take second, even though they are also going with a weaker lineup. Bulgaria and Israel have opted for more youth, as they have rosters with the average age of 22 and 21 (respectively). Bulgaria has been on the upswing for a bit now, and should take third place. Israel settles into last in this group.

The Last of the Zeroes

It's still early in the season, with every team playing at least 4 games (some up to 6). Still, there are a few teams that sit near the bottom of the standings, having failed to register a win of some kind. Here are the remaining three winless teams, along with their next five games and when they will likely end up with a W.

Note: when I started writing the Kings and Oilers were also winless. The message here: procrastination is a hard habit to get rid of...and also: really Edmonton? couldn't be inept for one more game?

Anaheim Ducks

Current Record: 0-3-1   1PT

Next 5 Games:
vs. Minnesota Wild (October 18)
@ Nashville Predators (October 22)
@ Minnesota Wild (October 24)
@ Chicago Blackhawks (October 26)
@ Dallas Stars (October 27)

Most Likely to Win: against Minnesota tonight.

This team is too good to be winless this long. They are not getting the bounces early on in the season. Four games in, and there shooting percentage is at a paltry 0.78% (less than A percent!) and there PDO is at 0.927, pretty far from even (1.000). All this despite being able to control possession in three of four games this season. It's only a matter of time until things start going there way, and tonight seems like a good night for things to normalize.


Columbus Blue Jackets

Current Record: 0-6-0   0PTS

Next 5 Games:
vs. New York Islanders (October 20)
@ Minnesota Wild (October 22)
@ Colorado Avalanche (October 24)
@ New Jersey Devils (October 27)
@ Washington Capitals (October 30)

Most Likely to Win: at Colorado on Saturday

The Cinderella pick to possibly take a playoff spot this year is freefalling early in the season. They are the only team on this list to not even have a point in the standings. Just like the Ducks, the Blue Jackets are suffering from a horrid PDO (0.899), but this time it's due to a lack of goaltending. Sergei Bobrovsky is not playing well and Curtis McElhinney hasn't been much better in relief. It's not going to be easier for 'Lumbus, as they face the Islanders and Wild in their next two games. Their best chance to get a win will come later in the week, as they make stops in Colorado and New Jersey (a possible battle of winless teams). If they fail to win this week, then it may look like a winless month for the Blue Jackets, as they face the Capitals to close out October.


New Jersey Devils

Current Record: 0-3-1   1PT

Next 5 Games:
@ New York Rangers (October 18)
vs. Arizona Coyotes (October 20)
@ Ottawa Senators (October 22)
@ Buffalo Sabres (October 24)
vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (October 27)

Most Likely to Win: against Buffalo on Saturday

This season wasn't going to be a pretty one for the Devils and it's showing early. That being said, their schedule coming up is seems favourable to them. The Rangers aside, the Devils face a off-to-a-good-start Coyotes, an ok Sens team, a still rebuilding Buffalo, and a hurting (mentally) Blue Jackets. New Jersey might struggle through the season, but their winless streak should end sometime this week.