2014 World Juniors

[ForceAtHome]

Anybody else following this tournament? I love this time of year.
 
Canada got off to a bit of a slow start today against the Germans, but their supreme offensive firepower made it a non-issue. Budding CHL superstar scorer Anthony Mantha recorded a hat trick to help lead Canada to a 7-2 victory.
 
The Americans controlled the game from the start against the Czechs in a convincing 5-1 victory. Five different players got on the score sheet for the defending gold medal winners. Providence College's Jon Gillies (South Portland, ME native), who backed up Gibson in net last year, will likely have to be superb for USA to make another run at gold. He's big and talented and could be just the man for the job. Other returnees include this year's captain Riley Barber (Miami) and Ryan Hartman (Plymouth).
 
I didn't see the other two games, but Russia downed Norway 11-0. Eight different Russians scored and it was 10-0 after just two periods. Amazingly, only one Russian player had even three points. Sweden won 5-3 over Switzerland, to cap a predictable opening day.
 
Among the highest interest will be watching a couple of 2015-eligible skaters play in the form of Canada's wunderkind Connor McDavid and USA's Jack Eichel. Both looked solid in their debuts. And that ignores Canada's superstar 2014-eliglble players who could go 1-2 in the draft -- Sam Reinhart and Aaron Ekblad.
 
Players like Stefan Matteau, Matt Dumba, Scott Laughton, Mikhail Grigorenko, Filip Forsberg, Elias Lindholm, and Connor Carrick have all played in the NHL already. And then there's big time prospects who have already been drafted but who have yet to make the NHL. Among the numerous qualifies players are Jonathan Drouin, Griffin Reinhart, Alexander Wennberg, Bo Horvat, Derrick Pouliot, Teuvo Teravinen, Josh Morrissey, et al.... It should be a fun tournament. Per usual, Canada are the favorites, but a lot can happen in a short tournament with kids.
 
TSN Links:
Overall Schedule/Results
USA Roster
Canada Roster

 

[cshea]

Bruins prospects playing:
 
USA- Matt Grzelcyk
Sweden - Linus Arnesson
Slovakia- Peter Cehlarik
 
Always a fun tournament to follow.

 

[TFP]

I actually meant to start this thread today as I was watching the USA - Czech game (God Bless working from home). Always used to love scotian's updates on the rosters and the games going in, even though he's Canadian  . 
 
I thought the USA game today was definitely controlled by the US, however they were fortunate to get a soft goal and multiple PPs early and then have Gillies stand on his head in the 2nd period for a stretch where the Czech team could have gotten back into the game. Gillies was very impressive during that stretch, though.
 
Always look forward to watching this tourney when I can.

 

[sachmoney]

The replay is on right now with full intermissions and everything.
 
If you're on Twitter, I'd follow Chris Peters who does a great job covering USA Hockey. His blog is also fantastic.
 
PS: Copp is the man. He's going to big for the US this tournament.

 

[sachmoney]

Anyone else up for this?

 

[Manzivino]

I'm watching for the Bruins prospects. Cehlarik is #22 on Slovakia, Grzelcyk #7 on the US.
 
Edit: Jack Eichel puts the US up 1-0 on the PP. Tanking is going to be rampant for the 2015 McDavid-Eichel draft.
 
Grzelcyk picks up an assist on the PP, shot from the high slot produces a rebound on the doorstep that gets buried.

 

[sachmoney]

Eichel is a 2015 draft eligible prospect from Chelmsford committed to BU and a member of the US NTDP. 

 

[mascho]

Sweet wrister from Grzelcyk leads to a PP goal.  

 

[Manzivino]

Cehlarik with a great rush on the PP, wrister up high on Gillies produces a rebound that Kolena converts. 3-1 USA now, all 4 goals coming on the PP.

 

[sachmoney]

This is not good.

 

[TSC]

We've got a game now.

 

[Manzivino]

What a dumb penalty for Hartman to take to start that all off, too.

 

[sachmoney]

Another interference. Did Fasching not learn from that being called on Matteau?

 

[TSC]

Sweet goal by Grycelsick.

 

[Dummy Hoy]

Cehlarik is a big boy.

 

[sachmoney]

Pretty good response from the kids in this third period. Matteau, now Barber. 6-2. Ho hum.

 

[cshea]

Grzelcyk gets a coffee table book for winning player of the game! 

 

[Dummy Hoy]

Coffee table books don't generally fold in half- looked cheaper than that.
 
I once coached his cousin- same last name, nicest kid on earth, did NOT possess anywhere near the skills. Really nice kid though.

 

[behindthepen]

Canada down 2-1 to Czechs after 2. Starting to goon it up, McDavid shoots a puck into the net well after the buzzer. Czech player goes after him but knocks down the ref instead. Oops. Pretty funny reading twitter after that.

 

[WoburnDiaspora]

That third period between Canada and the Czech Republic was so much fun to watch.  Sad that this game has to end soon.  It's been a blast.  

 

[Manzivino]

Czechs take it with a Forsberg in the shootout. Announcers said it's the first time they've beaten Canada since they were part of Czechoslovakia, great story.

 

[ForceAtHome]

I was rooting pretty hard for the Czechs there. That would have been a pretty heartbreaking loss for them after all the leads they blew. USA won, Canada lost, and Russia/Sweden predictably won. Not a bad day.

 

[ForceAtHome]

Easy 8-0 victory for USA over Germany this morning. Sweden also cruised by Norway 6-0.
 
This sets up a nice slate of remaining games. Russia-Finland tomorrow will help shape the top of Group B. If the Slovaks can somehow upset the Canadians tomorrow, Canada will be in serious danger of finishing 3rd or 4th in the group and facing a very difficult road to the top. USA-Canada and Sweden-Russia on New Year's Eve will be particularly meaningful as well, quite possibly determining the top seed of each group.
 
With nine points in the bank already, the US at most simply needs to reach overtime (an OTL/SOL is fine) against the Canadians to win Group A. This assumes Canada takes down Slovakia tomorrow. Winning their group would set the Americans up to play the winner of Norway-Switzerland as opposed to the loser of Russia-Finland. Needless to say, that's a huge difference in an elimination game.
 
Tomorrow's Norway-Switzerland game is big in that the loser will likely be subject to the relegation round. Similarly, Germany needs to score a victory against the Czechs (and have the Slovaks beat the Czechs) to avoid their almost certain fate in the relegation round. The loser of a Germany-Norway/Switzerland best-of-three would be sent down next year. Denmark has already earned the right to move up for 2015.

 

[Manzivino]

Huge upset as Germany shocks the Czech Republic 3-0 this morning. If the Czechs lose to Slovakia in regulation tomorrow, they'll end up in the relegation round.

 

[TSC]

Canada loses Jonathan Drouin for the first 12 minutes of their game vs. Slovakia for a stupid checking to the head penalty.
 
I get that you're trying to make a statement to start the game, but my god was that a dumb, dumb play.

 

[mascho]

And Slovakia makes them pay.  

 

[TSC]

Slovakia up 1-0 on a PP goal.
 
Really nice turnaround goal by Griger.

 

[TSC]

It was only a matter of time before that happened, Canada was buzzing.
 
1-1.

 

[mascho]

Yeah, that's a high stick.  

 

[ForceAtHome]

Slovakia up 2-1 on Canada in the second. There is a growing possibility that Canada could finish fourth in Group A. They could also still finish first.

 

[Manzivino]

3-1 now. US would lock up first in Group A if this stands up.

 

[ForceAtHome]

If Russia beats Sweden tomorrow and Finland beats Switzerland, there will be a three-way tie atop Group B with 9 points (each 3-1). Sweden beat Finland, Finland beat Russia, and in this hypothetical Russia is beating Sweden, so the first tie breaker solved nothing. The second tie breaker would be goal differential in H2H games. Sweden is currently +2, Finland +1, and Russia -3.
 
If Russia wins by 1 goal, Sweden and Finland draw into a tie with the edge going to Sweden on their H2H victory.
If Russia wins by 2-3 goals, Finland wins the group on goal differential.
If Russia wins by 4 goals, Russia and Finland draw into a tie with the edge going to Finland on their H2H victory.
If Russia wins by 5+ goals, Russia advances on goal differential.
 
So, Sweden can actually play for a 1 goal loss tomorrow. A one goal win would leave Russia still in 3rd place, so if they are playing smart, they should be pulling their goalie late even if up by a goal.

 

[TSC]

Is it just me, or is Canada getting completely screwed on calls/non-calls?
 
Edit: well as I say that, a ticky-tack call on Slovakia. 

 

[Manzivino]

Is it just me, or is Canada getting completely screwed on calls/non-calls?

Edit: well as I say that, a ticky-tack call on Slovakia.


They got screwed on the Dumba tripping call, other than that I think it's just garden variety mediocre officiating.

 

[cshea]

Slovak's hanging on for dear life here. Still 3-2 with less than 7 min to go.

 

[cshea]

Sick play by McDavid, but I think that is the righ call.

Drouin ties it anyway.

 

[TSC]

Man. This game is fucking awesome.
 
What a turn of events.

 

[TSC]

He's going to be a good player, but Drouin seems incredibly immature still.

 

[TSC]

DINK!

 

[TSC]

No way Canada doesn't win it om this PP.

 

[Manzivino]

Slovak SHG would be hilarious though.

 

[TSC]

Yup. The entire world saw that coming.
 
And fuck your "Hockey is Canada's Game" sign, you maple syrup swigging mountie fucker.

 

[santadevil]

Jesus, from what I've seen of the Canada games, they aren't looking too good.
 
Better pick it up these next few games.

 

[scotian1]

Well saying Hockey is Canada's game is similar to saying baseball is America's game. There is truth in both statements. The last time this tournament was played in Canada, games not involving Canada averaged over 14,000 in Calgary and Edmonton. If you look around in other countries, games not involving the host country, the crowds are pretty sparse. Hockey is Canada`s game in the sense that the game matters more to this nation collectively than it does to others. Why even our Prime Minister Stephen Harper has written  book on the History of Hockey. 
 
 
  That said not overly impressed with Canada so far. Discipline has been lacking and too many turnovers.

 

[ForceAtHome]

With a loss to the Swiss today, Norway will be in the relegation series. Their opponent will be the Czechs (if they lose tomorrow) or the Germans (if the Czechs win).
 
Assuming Switzerland doesn't beat Finland tomorrow, winner of Group A (winner of USA/Canada) will face Switzerland in the first elimination round. If the Swiss win, the Group A winner will play fourth place Finland. Finland, of course, can still win Group B if they win and Russia wins by 2-4 goals.

 

[Stanley Steamer]

Go Canada!
They've been looking like the 4th or 5th best team at the tournament, but they are a bit of a wildcard.
Here's hoping their third period today is something to build off of.
(And I'd guzzle maple syrup anyday.)

 

[TSC]

Early PP leads to an early 1-0 lead for Sweden over Russia.

 

[MiracleOfO2704]

And a late PP goal by Russia ties it at 2 late in the 3rd.

 

[TSC]

And a late PP goal by Russia ties it at 2 late in the 3rd.

 
Sweden has dominated this game. The only reason Russia is even in it is their goalie.
 
I'm excited for the possibility of bonus hockey though.

 

[TSC]

Well I jinxed that idea.
 
3-2 Sweden.