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hockeyis66 · 03-30-2017, 03:43 PM

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double media week

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Austria: Currently ranked #7 Austria

The Austrians are coming off of making the medal round after missing it in last yearâ€™s tournament. They have Kinsler and Ross to anchor the middle of the offense with Wachter, Light, Pellegrino and Kennedy on the wings. Forbrook just transferred over from the USA to provide some depth in the top 9. Vader, Cahill, Malkin and Monkey anchor the top 4 defensively with some youngsters providing some depth behind them in Vas, Hoenberg and Muller. As Berger goes, so does Austria. Berger will be called upon once again to hold down the fort in net as he is a former IIHF goalie of the tournament award winner. Austria could surprise some countries if Berger has great performances during the round robin portion of the tournament. Expectation: Austria will look to build upon just making the medal round and hope for a favorable matchup and try to sneak into the final 4, but anything short of the medal round will be a disappointment.

Canada

Canada: currently ranked #9 Canada

Canada is led by a group of wingers in Wert, Hans, Kane and King who all have the ability to take over a game with their scoring. Also providing some depth on the wing are younger players Bearss, Atmey and Laing who will hopefully help Canada roll over 3 scoring lines each game. Stamkos Jr and Colt lead the charge down the middle of the ice with a couple of younger players in Reed and Bent right behind them. The top 6 defensemen are pretty strong and are headlined by Boychuk, Black and Rivet with Einstein, Dover and Banning rounding out that top 6. Wong and Kirkstone provide a strong 1-2 punch that give Canada the chance to win every night. Expectation: Canada missed the medal round last time around and probably had once of their worst performances ever. Getting back to the medal round is a must and they are in a tough group with Germany, Sweden and the UK, but should have enough talent to get back there.

Czechoslovakia: currently ranked #6

The Czech are very strong down the middle with a top 3 of Szlerchek, Jagr and McDoodle. All three can pass, win faceoffs, play a strong two way game and chip in with a little offense. They are going to need some offense there since outside of Laflamme and maybe Satan on the wing, there is not much depth on the roster. The top 2 defensemen are going to log a lot of time as Zoidberg and Justice donâ€™t have a whole lot of active depth behind them either. Bjornsson struggled in net for Texas this season, but will look to help carry the Czechâ€™s back to the gold medal game and will be called upon to make the big saves once again. Expectation: While it may be a stretch to get back to the gold medal game for the second straight tournament, the Czechâ€™s will be fighting with Austria, Finland and Latvia for those final two spots in the top 4 in group B to move on to the medal round.

Finland

Finland: currently ranked #10 Finland

The Fins are going to have a solid top 6 to work with as Kekkonen and Talo are the centers and will be helped on wing by Makinen, Anrikkanen, Linna and Jones. They will have a couple of younger players in Sirius and Koivu getting their feet wet this tournament. Ruutu and Koskinen headline the blue line and have a couple of younger players right behind them that are ready to step up into a top 4 role in Kosonen and Leetch. They do have 4 other defensemen on the roster to choose from to round out the bottom pairing. With Laukkanen in goal, Finland has the ability to hold any opponent from scoring and steal a game. Expectations: Missing the medal round last time around was unacceptable for the Fins and they will look to get back into the top 4 in group B. If they split with the Czechs, Austrians and Latvians, its going to put a lot of pressure on them to get as many points as possible against the US and Russia as spots 3-6 in that group should be real tight point wise.

Germany

Germany: currently ranked #1 Germany

The defending goal medalists are very strong at the center position with Scholz, Kudleychuk, Winter and Otto to throw at the other countryâ€™s every shift. They also have nice depth on the wings from Flacko, Selich, McZehrl, Brumm and Reynolds. These guys can roll 3 solid scoring lines every game. Nuck and Wagner are top 2 defensemen and along with Schroder and Dominique can not only defend but also provide solid offense support to the machines up front. Haas is the stud in net who has taken the league by storm in his first two seasons and although he may not face a lot of shots, he will need to keep himself sharp and in the games for the medal rounds. Expectations: anything short of the gold medal game for Germany will be a disappointment as they look to defend their title as Worldâ€™s Best.

Ireland

Ireland â€“ currently ranked #12 Ireland

Ireland started to make some noise last tournament before just missing out on the top 4 and advancing to the medal round. Westbrook is their top center and will probably see a lot of ice time with their best wingers in Sarantez, Creller and Owen who broke out in last seasonâ€™s tournament. Sarantez could easily lead the tournaments in goals even though the other countryâ€™s defenses will be looking to set him down. They do have four solid defensemen in the ageless wonder Bojo, Oâ€™Reilly, Hill and Fearghal. Wahlgren is going to see a lot of rubber coming his way and he is going to have to steal a couple of games in order for Ireland to crack the top 4 in group A. Expectations: They received a real tough draw with Germany, Sweden, the UK and Canada. They will need one of those countries to underperform as well as beating Norway both times they play in order to sneak into the top 4.

Latvia

Latvia: currently ranked #11 Latvia

Latvia is also fairly strong at the center position with Hamilton and a couple of younger players in Sirmais and Sarone. However, they do not have a lot of depth on the wings and will rely heavily on Gagner and Pejonis, who will be retiring, to score a lot of goals. Defenses will be looking to shut down their number one line and force one of the other lines to beat them. Johnson and Bukss are the top 2 defensemen who will be logging a lot of time since 3 out of the other 4 defensemen are rookies. Lewis-Flood will be called upon to have another huge tournament and steal a few games against a couple of the top countries they will be facing in group B. Expectations: With those #3-#6 spots probably up for grabs in group B, sweeping one or two of those other countries should almost guarantee them getting back into the medal round, but if they get exposed for their lack of depth, it could be a quick tournament.

Norway

Norway: currently ranked #8 Norway

The Norway defense is as good as any in the tournament and could just on their own carry them back into the medal rounds which they missed last time around. The big 4 consists of Manious, the captian, Landvik, Wollker and Johnson. They can hit, they can opass and they can score and match up well with each other. Add in Vikingstod to that group and itâ€™s a tough group to face. They really only have four solid forwards however but Falk, Cunningham, Herzog and Reflieux will look to provide some offense to take pressure off of their defense. Broadway is coming off of a disappointing first round playoff exit and can carry Norway into the medal rounds with the help of that defense. Expectations: They are going to need one of the top 4 in their group to struggle and have to sweep Ireland to get back to the medal round. If Ireland and Norway split their games against each other, they are going to have to sweep one of the other 4 to sneak into the medal rounds.

Russia

Russia â€“ currently ranked #3 Russia

Russia is the defending bronze medalists and are led in goal by Harter who will be looking to bring the gold medal back to Russia. He had a huge playoff as his Toronto North Stars almost upset the #1 ranked Wolfpack. They can also roll three offensive lines at you each game with Brabashev and Rowe at center and Bure, Boyka, Bolkova, Smirnov, Strange, Banananov and Evans on the wings. Maybe one of the best forward groups in the tournament. They really only have 4 defensemen, but they are really good in Maximova, Taylor, Morenov and Orlov. They will be logging huge minutes and could get exposed as the tournament goes on. Expectations: Nothing short of not only getting back into the final 4 but also making the gold medal game will be their goal. They will be duking it out with the USA for first place in group B and both countries will want that number one seed to avoid a potential semi final round matchup with the first place team from group A.

Sweden

Sweden: currently ranked #5 Sweden

Another solid group of forwards that they can throw 3 solid scoring lines at you: Lundbeg/Karlsson/Jakobsson are your centers and at wing you have Eriksson, Lloren, Benson, Svensson, Wikstrom and Skarsgaard. Their defense is really solid top to bottom as well with Garbanzo, Lidstrom and Holmberg holding down the top spots and Tusk, Rudd and Lindstrom providing some quality depth. Andersson is their stud in net and can carry the team all the way to the gold medal. Expectations: Sweden is another country that expects to make the final 4 and the gold medal game each tournament and exiting in the first round last time certainly doesnâ€™t sit well. The top of Group A is going to be a dog fight and the Swedes expect to be the ones winning the group.

United Kingdom: currently ranked #4

They are led by their goalie McFadden who is one of the best in the game today and can also carry this team to the gold medal by having a hot tournament. They have a solid top 4 defensively and Windsor could be due for a breakout tournament. Between Durden, Pedersen and Silverwing, Burch and Redding, they have a very solid group of front that poses a lot of problem for the other countries with their speed and skill. Expectations: No one is going to want to finish third or fourth in group B and potentially face Russia or the USA in the first round. The UK still has a bad taste in their mouth after getting upset by the Czechs in the first round last round and will be a part of those countries fighting for the top spots in group A. They made the gold medal game a couple of tournaments ago and could easily find themselves there again.

Usa

United States: currently ranked #2 Usa

Top 4 centers are Fleming, Allen, Russell and Mackâ€¦yikes. Having anyone of those four thrown at you every shift is a nightmare for opposing defenses. They are certainly a little weaker on wing than center and can move anyone of those 4 to wing and put Visser at center. Jesster, Buckner, Kurczewski and James are the top 4 wingers and they can hit and score and get a little infusion of youth with Nova. Arguably one of the best defenses in the tournament led by Burton, Stinson, Crutchfield, Robertson, Foster and Metzler who all have at least 90 defense ratings or higher. Ciarelli is the US goalie and although he may not face a lot of shots, he will be called upon to make that big save. Expectations: they lost in the bronze medal game last season and will be expected to get back to the final 4 as well as the gold medal game. Its all going to come down to Ciarelli and whether or not the US or Russia can get that top spot in group B and avoid one of the top countries in the other group in the first round.