Swiss re-signs with coaches

December 22, 2017, 9:59 am

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ZURICH – The Swiss Ice Hockey Federation has extended the contracts of the men’s national team coaching staff.

Head coach Patrick Fischer as well as assistant coaches Tommy Albelin and Christian Wohlwend have agreed to contracts for two additional seasons until 2020 when Switzerland will host the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Zurich and Lausanne.

Fischer, a former Swiss national team and NHL player, was named head coach two years ago. Former Swedish NHL defenceman Albelin joined the staff one year ago.

Wohlwend is also head coach of the U20 national team that will soon play at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship and will continue in this position for the next two years as well.

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First Olympic team named

December 22, 2017, 10:44 am

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The 23-player roster of the Canadian women’s national team at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, 9-25 Feb. in PyeongChang, Korea, has been announced.

Canada’s roster includes three goaltenders, six defencemen, and 14 forwards:

Goaltenders: Ann-Renée Desbiens (La Malbaie, Que./University of Wisconsin, WCHA), Geneviève Lacasse (Kingston, Ont./Calgary, CWHL), Shannon Szabados (Edmonton, Alta.)

Defencemen: Renata Fast (Burlington, Ont./Toronto, CWHL), Laura Fortino (Hamilton, Ont./Markham, CWHL), Brigette Lacquette (Mallard, Man./Calgary, CWHL), Jocelyne Larocque (Ste. Anne, Man./Markham, CWHL), Meaghan Mikkelson (St. Albert, Alta./Calgary, CWHL), Lauriane Rougeau (Beaconsfield, Que./Montreal, CWHL);

Forwards: Meghan Agosta (Ruthven, Ont.), Bailey Bram (Ste. Anne, Man./Calgary, CWHL), Emily Clark (Saskatoon, Sask./University of Wisconsin, WCHA), Mélodie Daoust (Valleyfield, Que./Montreal, CWHL), Haley Irwin (Thunder Bay, Ont./Calgary, CWHL), Brianne Jenner (Oakville, Ont./Calgary, CWHL), Rebecca Johnston (Sudbury, Ont./Calgary, CWHL) Sarah Nurse (Hamilton, Ont./University of Wisconsin, WCHA), Marie-Philip Poulin (Beauceville, Que./Montreal, CWHL), Jillian Saulnier (Halifax/Calgary, CWHL), Natalie Spooner (Scarborough, Ont./Toronto, CWHL), Laura Stacey (Kleinburg, Ont./Markham, CWHL), Blayre Turnbull (Stellarton, N.S./Calgary, CWHL), Jennifer Wakefield (Pickering, Ont./Linköping HC, SWE).

The Canadian Women’s Olympic Hockey Team also features: 14 players who won the gold medal at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia; six players who won the gold medal at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C.; and one player who won the gold medal at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy.

“It was an extremely difficult decision narrowing down our roster due to the depth of talent on our team; we are excited to move forward with the 23 players chosen to represent Canada at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games,” said head coach Laura Schuler. “These players have worked hard to earn this moment and we are confident that they will be able to inspire and unite our country as they set their sights on a fifth straight gold medal for Canada.”

The team nominated was selected by Schuler, alongside Melody Davidson, Hockey Canada’s general manager of National Women’s Team Programs, with support from assistant coaches Dwayne Gylywoychuk, Troy Ryan, and goaltending coach Brad Kirkwood, along with consultation from Hockey Canada’s chief executive officer, Tom Renney, and Hockey Canada’s president and chief operating officer, Scott Smith.

“It is a tremendous accomplishment to be chosen to represent your country at the Olympic Games,” said Renney, who was a member of the Canadian Olympic Team in 1994, where he guided the Canadian Olympic Men’s Hockey Team to silver as head coach. “We are thrilled with the 23 players selected and we know they will wear the Maple Leaf with great pride and will leave nothing to chance in their preparation for PyeongChang.”

The Canadian Women’s Olympic Hockey Team will look to win its fifth-straight gold medal at the Olympic Winter Games when the puck drops in South Korea on Feb. 11.

“Canada’s strong tradition of hockey talent is on display here, there is so much talent and depth on this team,” said Isabelle Charest, PyeongChang 2018 Team Canada Chef de Mission. “I am excited to watch them defend their gold medal in PyeongChang and can’t wait to cheer them on.”

PyeongChang 2018 will mark the sixth time women’s hockey has been part of the Olympic Winter Games. In addition to its four gold medals, Canada’s Women’s Olympic Hockey Team also claimed silver in 1998 in Nagano, Japan.

“Women’s hockey is one of Canada’s most successful events every Olympic Games and our Canadian athletes have never failed to win a medal since women’s hockey was added to the program in 1998,” said the Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities. “This includes gold medals at the last four Olympic Winter Games and with a reputation like that, all eyes will be on Canada in PyeongChang. Be sure to cheer on these great women as they make Canada proud.”

Prior to heading to PyeongChang, the team will resume its Esso Series schedule with five games against Alberta Midget Hockey League opponents in the New Year.

The Olympic women’s hockey tournament opens on Saturday, Feb. 10 at the Kwandong Hockey Centre and culminates on Thursday, Feb. 22 at the Gangneung Hockey Centre. Canada is scheduled to compete in Group A and begins preliminary-round play on Sunday, Feb. 11.

Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the COC’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Federations in late January 2018.

Singing the Danish Blues

December 23, 2017, 4:15 am

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Denmark is looking to make the quarter-finals at the IIHF World Junior Championship for the fourth consecutive year.

One of the great storylines at the World Juniors over the past few years has been the transformation of the Danish national junior program. Once considered an “elevator team”, the Danes have not only stayed in the top division in recent years, but for each of the past three tournaments they have reached the quarter-finals. It’s a trend they would like to continue at this year’s event in Buffalo.

It hasn’t exactly been a surprise either that Denmark has been doing so well as of late. The players that they have produced over the past few years have been remarkable. Top forwards like Nikolaj Ehlers and Oliver Bjorkstrand, who were at the World Juniors just a few years ago, are now starring in the National Hockey League. Other players such as Alexander True, Mathias From and Joachim Blichfeld have been solid performers for the men’s national team that competed with the big countries’ top lines and produced efficiently.

One of the players that will be leading the charge on offence for Denmark is 19-year-old Nikolaj Krag, who will be making his third World Juniors appearance and is no stranger to representing his country on the international stage. The 191 cm (6’3’’) forward was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the seventh round (209th overall) of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft and is looking to play a big offensive role for his country in Buffalo.

Krag is a native of Rodovre, a town of roughly 40,000 people just outside of Copenhagen. The town is home to the Rodovre Mighty Bulls, who have won the national championship on six occasions with the most recent coming in 1999.

He grew up in his hometown and played for Rodovre (their junior and men’s squads) until the 2016/17 season when he went over to Rogle of the Swedish Hockey League to play with their U20 and SHL squad. His strong play with Rogle, as well as four points in five games for the Danes at the 2017 World Juniors, led to NHL scouts knocking on his door and eventually the St. Louis Blues drafting him.

2017/18 has been an interesting year so far for Krag. After starting the year in Finland for the HPK Hameenlinna U20 team and LeKi in the second senior division, Nikolaj returned home after 14 games and has since played in the top men’s division for Rungsted.

Denmark’s tournament kicks off on Boxing Day against the United States. Finland, Canada and Slovakia make up the rest of Group A.

IIHF.com asked Nikolaj Krag Christensen some questions.

How did you get into hockey and at what age?
My dad took me to the rink when I was four years old with my friend Malte Setkov, and we have been playing hockey at the rink or home at the streets ever since, and now we are representing Denmark together at the World Juniors.

How was it growing up in the Rodovre hockey system?
It was really good for me to grow up in the Rodovre hockey system because there are very good facilities for all the young players, with two ice rinks available every morning. We would work on individual skills and skating practice, and then after school we would be going back for our team practice, so there was plenty of hockey every day.

Describe your playing style.
I read the game well, strong on the boards, good shot, good skills with stick and skates, and I like the offensive game.

How has this season been going for you while splitting time in Finland and Denmark?
The season didn’t start that well because I had some injuries, and to be ready for the World Juniors I needed some more ice time at the senior level. It was a very good time I had in Finland. I learned a lot of things there, and now I’m playing in the Danish elite league where I have a lot of responsibility and ice time, so I could suit up and feel most prepared for the World Juniors.

What was it like when you found out that you got drafted by the St. Louis Blues? And when do you plan on coming over to North America?
Yes, that was really a big day for me when I got drafted. It was a childhood dream and after the draft I wanted to practise even more because it was such a big boost for me to be drafted by the St. Louis Blues. Within the next two years I hope I can go to play in North America.

What was the experience of playing with Rogle last year and making your SHL debut with them?
Rogle was good. It was my first year away from home and being there was very good for my development. Of course, I had to live alone in another country, which wasn’t easy, but then again playing in my first SHL game was something I was looking forward to since I signed with Rogle.

Are you excited by the chance of representing your country at the World Junior again this year?
Yes, of course I’m really excited to play again with Team Denmark at the World Juniors. This year will be my third and last World Juniors and I hope we can make the same results as the last three years or even better. The main goal is to stay up in the top division, but the last three years we have made it to the quarter-finals and we have been taking points from the big countries, so I think we can set the bar even higher this year.

How do you see the national team moving forward? Are there many good young players in the country that are going to make a difference going forward?
The Danish hockey program is still growing strong as the training culture has really been changed in Denmark. Young players are practising more and more, so I think the future in Danish hockey is bright.

FAVOURITES:
Childhood Idol: Pavel Datsyuk
Video game: FIFA 18
Movie: A Danish movie called Klovn The Movie
TV Show: A talk show called Natholdet
Home-cooked meal: Traditional Danish Christmas food
Activity away from the rink: Hanging out with friends

TY DILELLO

Camp rosters

December 23, 2017, 10:15 am

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BUFFALO – Ten teams have been preparing during the past two weeks for the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship.

The teams did so at home and more recently at their camps in North America. On the evening of 25th December each of the ten participating U20 national teams will register their rosters. Up to 20 skaters and three goaltenders can be registered. Roster spots that are not filled immediately can be filled later until two hours before a game up to the maximum size.

Are you already wondering who you could see in Buffalo? Find below the current rosters from the training camp.

Belarus (as of 16 Dec.)

Goaltenders:
Andrei Grishenko, Belarus U20
Dmitri Rodik, Belarus U20
Nikita Tolopilo, Belarus U20

Defencemen:
Dmitri Burovtsev, Belarus U20
Dmitri Deryabin, Belarus U20
Vladislav Gabrus, Belarus U20
Andrei Gostev, Belarus U20
Maxim Magaletski, Belarus U20
Vladislav Martynyuk, Kunlun Red Star Junior
Dmitri Savritski, Belarus U20
Vladislav Sokolovski, Dynamo Molodechno

Forwards:
Nazar Anisimov, Belarus U20
Arseni Astashevich, Belarus U20
Viktor Bovbel, Belarus U20
Ivan Drozdov, Yunost Minsk
Vasili Filyayev, Belarus U20
Dmitri Grinkevich, Belarus U20
Leonid Ivanovski, Belarus U20
Ilya Litvinov, Yunost Minsk
Alexander Lukashevich, Belarus U20
Gennadi Malashenko, Belarus U20
Kirill Nikolayev, Belarus U20
Sergei Pishuk, Belarus U20
Vladislav Ryadchenko, Belarus U20
Yegor Sharangovich, Dynamo Minsk

Head Coach:
Yuri Faikov


Canada (as of 17 Dec.)

Goaltenders:
Carter Hart, Everett (WHL)
Colton Point, Colgate University (ECAC)

Defencemen:
Jake Bean, Calgary (WHL)
Kale Clague, Brandon (WHL)
Dante Fabbro, Boston University (HE)
Cal Foote, Kelowna (WHL)
Josh Mahura, Regina Pats (WHL)
Cale Makar, U. of Massachusetts (HE)
Victor Mete, Montreal (NHL)
Conor Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

Forwards:
Drake Batherson, Cape Breton (QMJHL)
Maxime Comtois, Victoriaville (QMJHL)
Dillon Dube, Kelowna (WHL)
Alex Formenton, London (OHL)
Jonah Gadjovich, Owen Sound (OHL)
Brett Howden, Moose Jaw (WHL)
Boris Katchouk, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
Jordan Kyrou, Sarnia (OHL)
Michael McLeod, Mississauga (OHL)
Taylor Raddysh, Erie (OHL)
Sam Steel, Regina (WHL)
Tyler Steenbergen, Swift Current (WHL)
Robert Thomas, London (OHL)

Head Coach:
Dominique Ducharme


Czech Republic (as of 23 Dec.)

Goaltender:
Milan Kloucek, Dynamo Pardubice
Josef Korenar, HC Benatky nad Jizerou
Jakub Skarek, Dukla Jihlava

Defencemen:
Vojtech Budik, Prince Albert Raider (WHL)
Lukas Doudera, HC Litvinov
Jakub Galvas, HC Olomouc
Libor Hajek, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
Frantisek Hrdinka, BK Mlada Boleslav
Filip Kral, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
Radim Salda, Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
Ondrej Vala, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)

Forwards:
Filip Chytil, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)
Filip Helt, Stadion Litomerice
Martin Kaut, Dynamo Pardubice
Krystof Hrabik, Bili Tygri Liberec
Petr Kodytek, HC Plzen 1929
Daniel Kurovsky, Vitkovice Ostrava
Jakub Lauko, Pirati Chomutov
Albert Michnac, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)
Martin Necas, Kometa Brno
Radovan Pavlik, Mountfield Hradec Kralove
Kristian Reichel, Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
Ostap Safin, Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
Marek Zachar, Sherbrooke Phoenix (QMJHL)
Filip Zadina, Halifax Moosheads (QMJHL)

Head Coach:
Filip Pesan


Denmark (as of 13 Dec.)

Goaltenders:
Mads-Emil Gransoe, Topeka RoadRunners (NAHL)
Kasper Lautrup Krog, SonderjyskE Vojens
Mads Sogaard, Austin Bruins (NAHL)

Defencemen:
Rasmus Birk Heine, Rodovre Mighty Bulls
Lasse Carlsen, Rodovre Mighty Bulls
Jakob Jessen, Herning Blue Fox
Christian Harris Larsen, Odense Bulldogs
Lasse Holm Mortensen, Rodovre Mighty Bulls
Oliver Paaske Larsen, Leksand Stars
Malte Setkov, Malmo Redhawks (SWE)
Jeppe Urup Mogensen, AIK Stockholm (SWE)

Forwards:
Andreas Grundtvig, Esbjerg Energy
Asger Petersen, Odense Bulldogs
Christian Wejse Mathiasen, Esbjerg Energy
Christoffer Gath, Herlev Eagles
Daniel Baekhoj Nielsen, Herning Blue Fox
David Sogaard Madsen, Vaxjo Lakers (SWE)
Jacob Schmidt-Svejstrup, Fargo Force (USHL)
Joachim Blichfeld, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Jonas Rondbjerg, Vaxjo Lakers (SWE)
Lucas Andersen, Jokerit Helsinki (FIN)
Magnus Molge, Malmo Redhawks (SWE)
Nikolaj Krag-Christensen, Rungsted
Oliver True, Ottawa 67’s (OHL)
Phillip Louis Schultz, Rodovre Mighty Bulls
Valdemar Ahlberg, Austin Bruins (NAHL)


Finland (as of 11 Dec.)

Goaltenders:
Niilo Halonen, IFK Helsinki
Lassi Lehtinen, Lukko Rauma
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, HPK Hameenlinna

Defencemen:
Miro Heiskanen, IFK Helsinki
Henri Jokiharju, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Olli Juolevi, TPS Turku
Kasper Kotkansalo, Boston University (NCAA)
Roope Laavainen, HPK Hameenlinna
Eemeli Rasanen, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
Robin Salo, Vaasan Sport
Urho Vaakanainen, SaiPa Lappeenranta
Juuso Valimaki, Tri-City Americans (WHL)

Forwards:
Aleksi Heponiemi, Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
Joni Ikonen, KalPa Kuopio
Jere Innala, HPK Hameenlinna
Juha Jaaska, IFK Helsinki
Otto Koivula, Ilves Tampere
Joona Koppanen, Ilves Tampere
Janne Kuokkanen, Charlotte Checkers (NHL)
Rasmus Kupari, Karpat Oulu
Eetu Luostarinen, KalPa Kuopio
Sami Moilanen, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
Markus Nurmi, TPS Turku
Aapeli Rasanen, Boston College (NCAA)
Eeli Tolvanen, Jokerit Helsinki
Jerry Turkulainen, JYP Jyvaskyla
Eetu Tuulola, HPK Hameenlinna
Kristian Vesalainen, HPK Hameenlinna

Head Coach:
Ahokas Jussi


Russia (as of 17 Dec.)

Goaltenders:
Mikhail Berdin, Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)
Alexei Melnichuk, SKA-Neva St. Petersburg
Vladislav Sukhachyov, Chelmet Chelyabinsk

Defencemen:
Alexander Alexeyev, Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
Nikolai Knyzhov, SKA-Neva St. Petersburg
Nikita Makeyev, CSKA Moscow
Artyom Maltsev, HK Sochi
Artyom Minulin, Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
Dmitri Samorukov, Guelph Storm (OHL)
Alexander Shepelev, Chelmet Chelyabinsk
Vladislav Syomin, SKA-Neva St. Petersburg
Anatoli Yelizarov, Tolpar Ufa
Yegor Zaitsev, Dynamo Moscow

Forwards:
Vitali Abramov, Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)
Andrei Altybarmakyan, SKA-Neva St. Petersburg
Georgi Ivanov, Loko Yaroslavl
Artur Kayumov, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
Klim Kostin, San Antonio Rampage (AHL)
Vitali Kravtsov, Traktor Chelyabinsk
Alexei Lipanov, Barrie Colts (OHL)
Mikhail Maltsev, SKA-Neva St. Petersburg
Artyom Manukyan, Avangard Omsk
Alexei Polodyan, SKA-Neva St. Petersburg
German Rubtsov, Acadie-Bathurst Titan (QMJHL)
Marsel Sholokhov, Chelmet Chelyabinsk
Dmitri Sokolov, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
Andrei Svechnikov, Barrie Colts (OHL)
Danil Veryayev, Torpedo Nizhni Novgorod

Head Coach:
valeri Bragin


Slovakia (as of 13 Dec.)

Goaltenders:
Roman Durny, MHk 32 Liptovsky Mikulas
David Hrenak, St. Cloud State University (NCAA)
Jakub Kostelny, HK DUKLA Trencin

Defencemen:
Martin Bodak, Kootenay Ice (WHL)
Martin Fehervary, Oskarshamn IK (SWE)
Samuel Fereta, Slovan Bratislava
Tomas Hedera, Slovan Bratislava
Michal Ivan, Acadie-Bathurst Titan (QMJHL)
Marek Korencik, Lulea HF (SWE)
Dusan Kmec, Philadelphia Rebels (NAHL)
Andrej Lesko, Bili Tygri Liberec (CZE)
David Matejovic, MMHK Nitra
Vojtech Zelenak, Sparta Prague (CZE(

Forwards:
Samuel Bucek, Chicago Steel (USHL)
Viliam Cacho, Dukla Trencin
Niki Jasko, Slovan Bratislava
Milos Kelemen, HKM Zvolen
Filip Krivosik, LeKi Hockey (FIN)
Peter Kundrik, HK Poprad
Adam Liska, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Patrik Marcinek, HKM Zvolen
Milos Roman, Vancouver Giants (OHL)
Adam Ruzicka, Sarnia Sting (OHL)
Erik Smolka, Dukla Trencin
Samuel Solensky, Johnstown Tomahawks (NAHL)
Marian Studenic, Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL)
Alex Tamasi, HC'05 Banska Bystrica
Vladimir Vybiral, MHk 32 Liptovsky Mikulas

Head Coach:
Ernest Bokros


Sweden (as of 22 Dec.)

Goaltenders:
Olle Eriksson Ek, Farjestad Karlstad
Filip Gustavsson, Lulea HF
Filip Larsson, Tri-City Storm (USHL)

Defencemen:
Erik Brannstrom, HV71 Jonkoping
Rasmus Dahlin, Frolunda Gothenburg
Linus Hogberg, Vaxjo Lakers
Timothy Liljegren, Toronto Marlies (AHL)
Gustav Lindstrom, Almtuna IS
Jacob Moverare, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)
Jesper Sellgren, MODO Ornskoldsvik
Filip Westerlund, Frolunda Gothenburg

Forwards:
Lias Andersson, Frolunda Gothenburg
Jesper Boqvist, Brynas Gavle
Marcus Davidsson, Djurgarden Stockholm
Lucas Elvenes, IK Oskarshamn
David Gustafsson, HV71 Jonkoping
Glenn Gustafsson, Orebro HK
Axel Jonsson Fjallby, Djurgarden Stockholm
Fredrik Karlstrom, Linkopings HC
Linus Lindstrom, Skelleftea AIK
Isac Lundestrom, Lulea HF
Alexander Nylander, Rochester Americans (AHL)
Jacob Olofsson, Timra IK
Elias Pettersson, Vaxjo Lakers
Tim Soderlund, Skelleftea AIK
Oskar Steen, Farjestad Karlstad
Fabian Zetterlund, Farjestad Karlstad

Head Coach:
Tomas Monten


Switzerland (as of 23 Dec.)

Goaltenders:
Matteo Ritz, Lausanne HC
Akira Schmid, SCL Tigers
Philip Wuthrich, SC Bern

Defencemen:
Davyd Barandun, HC Davos
Tim Berni, GCK Lions
Dominik Egli, EHC Kloten
Tobias Geisser, EVZ Academy
Nico Gross, Oshawa Generals (OHL)
Simon Le Coultre, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
Elia Riva, HC Lugano

Forwards:
Marco Cavalleri, Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)
Nando Eggenberger, HC Davos
Andre Heim, SC Bern
Ken Jager, HC Davos
Philipp Kurashev, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
Sven Leuenberger, EV Zug
Guillaume Maillard, Geneve-Servette HC
Marco Miranda, GCK Lions
Nicolas Muller, MODO Ornskoldsvik (SWE)
Valentin Nussbaumer, EHC Biel
Dario Rohrbach, EHC Basel
Justin Sigrist, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
Axel Simic, Lausanne HC

Head Coach:
Christian Wohlwend


USA (as of 23 Dec.)

Goaltenders:
Jake Oettinger, Boston University (HEA)
Jeremy Swayman, University of Maine (HEA)
Joseph Woll, Boston College (HEA)

Defencemen:
Mikey Anderson, University of Minnesota Duluth (NCHC)
Adam Fox, Harvard University (ECAC Hockey)
Quinn Hughes, University of Michigan (Big Ten)
Ryan Lindgren, University of Minnesota (Big Ten)
Andrew Peeke, University of Notre Dame (Big Ten)
Scott Perunovich, University of Minnesota Duluth (NCHC)
Dylan Samberg, University of Minnesota Duluth (NCHC)

Forwards:
Joey Anderson, University of Minnesota Duluth (NCHC)
Kieffer Bellows, Boston University (HEA)
Logan Brown, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Trent Frederic, University of Wisconsin (Big Ten)
Patrick Harper, Boston University (HEA)
Max Jones, London Knights (OHL)
Will Lockwood, University of Michigan (Big Ten)
Casey Mittelstadt, University of Minnesota (Big Ten)
Josh Norris, University of Michigan (Big Ten)
Ryan Poehling, St. Cloud State University (NCHC)
Brady Tkachuk, Boston University (HEA)
Riley Tufte, University of Minnesota Duluth (NCHC)
Kailer Yamamoto, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)

Head Coach:
Bob Motzko

Buffalo’s biggest moments

December 23, 2017, 2:59 pm

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When Buffalo hosts the 2018 World Juniors, it’ll add another big moment to the rich hockey legacy of New York State’s second-biggest city.

Even though the Buffalo Sabres are still questing for their first Stanley Cup, fans here have had plenty to cheer about over the years. Here’s the IIHF's chronological rundown of Buffalo’s top 10 hockey moments.

1) Bisons Stampede to Glory (1943)

For 30 years, the now-defunct Buffalo Bisons were among the more successful franchises in AHL history. Playing at the old Memorial Auditorium, they won their first of five Calder Cups in 1943. NHL and international legends who wore Bisons colours at various times include Doug Harvey, Jacques Plante, Brad Park, and Grant Warwick. The Bisons folded in 1970 when the Sabres entered the NHL.

2) The Perreault Pick (1970)

Although Sabres fans have sometimes cursed their luck, they rejoiced when their team beat out the Vancouver Canucks, the other new NHL expansion franchise, for the top pick in the 1970 draft, based on spinning a roulette wheel. Buffalo chose centre Gilbert Perreault, while the Canucks settled for defenceman Dale Tallon. The slick, smooth-skating Perreault became a Sabres legend, racking up a franchise-record 1,326 points in 1,191 career games. Internationally, he suited up for Canada’s victorious 1972 Summit Series and 1976 Canada Cup teams.

3) First Time in the Finals (1975)

Coming off a league-leading 113-point season, the Sabres looked primed to contend for their first Stanley Cup. They were led by the dynamic French Connection line with Perreault, Rick Martin, and Rene Robert. But after toppling Chicago and Montreal in the first two rounds, Buffalo’s hopes crumbled in the finals against the defending Stanley Cup champion Philadelphia Flyers. The six-game triumph for the “Broad Street Bullies” is widely remembered for foggy on-ice conditions during Game Three, in which Sabres forward Jim Lorentz killed a flying bat by whacking it with his stick.

4) Stomping the Soviet Wings (1976)

From 1976 to 1991, Soviet clubs excelled in their semi-annual Christmas exhibitions versus NHL teams, known as the Super Series, winning 14 out of 16 series. However, the Soviet Wings (AKA Krylya Sovetov) suffered the biggest loss in Super Series history versus the Sabres on 4 January 1976. Despite boasting the Summit Series line of Vyacheslav Anisin, Alexander Bodunov, and Yuri Lebedev, plus sniper Sergei Kapustin, the Wings fell 12-6 to their hard-hitting opponents. The French Connection line powered the onslaught with four goals and five assists as the capacity crowd at Memorial Auditorium went wild.

5) Barrasso’s Remarkable Rookie Run (1984)

Goalie Tom Barrasso is famed for backstopping the Pittsburgh Penguins to the 1991 and 1992 Stanley Cups, but the Boston native laid his foundation for greatness in Buffalo. In 1984, the 18-year-old rookie became the youngest goalie ever to win the Calder and Vezina Trophies. In IIHF competition, this U.S Hockey Hall of Famer’s highlight was a silver medal at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. Barrasso also appeared at the 1983 World Juniors and 1986 Worlds.

6) LaFontaine and Mogilny Make Magic (1993)

For pure creativity and speed, it was tough to top the duo of Pat LaFontaine and Alexander Mogilny. LaFontaine set a record for American NHLers with 148 points in 1992-93. In fact, only six NHLers have scored more points in one season: Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Steve Yzerman, Phil Esposito, Bernie Nicholls, and Jaromir Jagr. Meanwhile, Mogilny, who defected from the Soviet Union in 1989, tied Winnipeg super-rookie Teemu Selanne for the league lead in goals (76).

7) The Year of Peak Hasek (1998)

Renowned for his unorthodox, acrobatic style, Buffalo goalie Dominik Hasek more than justified his nickname, “The Dominator,” in 1997-98. He led the NHL with 72 games, 13 shutouts, and a 93.2 save percentage. No wonder the Pardubice native captured his second straight Hart Trophy and Lester B. Pearson Award, along with the fourth of his six Vezina Trophies and First Team All-Star berths. But his crowning achievement came at the 1998 Olympics, where NHL players participated for the first time. Hasek led the underdog Czechs to gold, stunning Canada in a 2-1 semi-final shootout win and then blanking Russia 1-0 in the final.

8) Heartbreak Versus Dallas (1999)

Entering the 1999 NHL playoffs as the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference, low-scoring Buffalo wasn’t favoured to contend for the Stanley Cup. Yet thanks to Hasek’s stunning goaltending, coach Lindy Ruff’s squad marched past Ottawa, Boston, and Toronto before facing the Dallas Stars in the finals. However, Sabres fans were infuriated and saddened when Brett Hull scored the Game Six triple-overtime winner for Dallas despite an alleged crease violation with his skate. The goal stood, but they still call it “No Goal” in Buffalo.

9) Welcoming the World Juniors (2011)

When Buffalo hosted its first World Junior Championship, it was a spectacle for the ages. In the gold medal game, Russia, paced by Yevgeni Kuznetsov and Artemi Panarin, shocked Canada by scoring five unanswered third-period goals for a 5-3 victory. It was the second straight silver for Canada and tournament scoring leader Brayden Schenn (18 points). The host Americans salvaged some pride with a 4-2 bronze medal win over Sweden.

10) Girls Seize the Spotlight (2015)

2015 was a landmark year for women’s hockey in Buffalo. Not only did the city add an NWHL franchise with the Buffalo Beauts, but it also hosted the IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship. USA Hockey rejoiced as Jincy Dunne potted the overtime winner against Canada in the final, kicking off a run of three straight U18 gold medals. Meanwhile, Russian captain Anna Shokhina had three points in a 5-1 bronze victory over the Czechs.

LUCAS AYKROYD

New times for Czechs

December 23, 2017, 11:44 pm

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At the upcoming World Juniors, the Czech Republic will be led by Filip Pesan, who also doubles as head coach of Bili Tygri Liberec in the Czech Extraliga.

It’s not usual for the head coach of a European national team to be the bench boss of a professional team at the same time, but the 39-year-old Pesan isn’t one to shy away from a challenge or a heavy workload.

“Right now, we don’t have a full-time head coach for the national junior team,” he explained. “The Czech Ice Hockey Association had the idea to hire a full-time coach but it hasn’t happened, so they offered the job to me.

“This is a big opportunity for me. I’m never going to say no.”

A big opportunity and a big challenge. Once a perennial contender, the Czechs haven’t medalled at the World Juniors since taking the bronze in 2005. In recent tournaments, they’ve brought rosters full of players that have had success at the U18 level at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and at that age group’s World Championships, yet haven’t been able to break through to the semi-finals at the U20 level. This year’s team will have more of the same, with 23 players who have won gold or silver at least once of the past three Hlinka tournaments on the 27-man camp roster.

“If I didn’t think I could do better I wouldn’t have taken the job,” he said confidently. “Hopefully, we do well in the group stage and then it’s really about winning that quarter-final game. If we do that, we’re in the final four and you’ve got a pretty good chance at a medal.”

Like most coaches, Pesan is a former player, but his career was spent almost exclusively in the second and third tiers of Czech hockey, playing only two Extraliga games for hometown Liberec in the 2002/03 season. But although he wasn’t the most skilled player, he had a mind for the game and wanted to stay involved after he retired.

“Before I finished playing, I started thinking about the possibilities,” he said. “I started coaching and I also started university.”

In 2005, at the age of 27, he started working as an assistant coach on Liberec’s U20 team while he was still an active player in the Czech third division. The following year, he went overseas to study at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.

“I studied sports psychology in Canada for a year and I played for the university hockey team. It was a good opportunity for me to get to know Canadian hockey and also study something that would help me in my coaching career.”

Midway through the 2008/09 season, he was promoted to head coach of Liberec’s top team. He was 30 years old. Several players on the team were older than him.

“There were a couple of difficult moments for me but I had great guys on the team like Petr Nedved and Jaroslav Modry,” he said of the two veterans who were seven years his senior. “Those were guys who had played in the NHL, veteran players who were well respected by the younger players on the team and they really supported me, which helped.”

In recent years, Liberec rose to the top of the Extraliga with Pesan at the helm. In 2015/16, the “White Tigers” finished first overall in the regular season and then went all the way in the playoffs too, winning the championship. In 2016/17, they once again finished first in the regular season and advanced to the finals, where they were swept by Kometa Brno.

This season, however, the team has struggled.

“We’ve changed a lot of players,” Pesan explained. “We’ve got a lot of young players this year and they just need a bit of time to get settled down in their roles.”

Now 39 and with a young team, the days of Pesan having players older than him are probably finished, and that definitely won’t be the case on the national junior team, where the players know him as one of the country’s most successful coaches in recent years.

“Those guys show respect to me and the rest of the staff, of course,” he said of his young players. “[The World Junior Championship] is a big event in the hockey world and they’re looking for someone to lead them to success, and that’s what we’re all trying to do.”

Pesan has had to take time away from Bili Tygri at various points throughout the season, and will now miss the next four weeks while he tends to the U20 team. But does he ever find himself thinking about one team when he should be thinking about the other?

“To be honest, a couple of times that’s happened, but on a game day and especially after the opening faceoff, I’m totally in the game that’s in front of me and not thinking about anything else.”

He and his team will have to be ready for Group B opponents Russia, Sweden, Switzerland and Belarus when the tournament begins 26 December in Buffalo. He’s had several chances to watch the European-based players to this point and now he’s going to have time to evaluate the ones who have been playing in North America all season, but he’s been keeping tabs on what’s been happening overseas.

“I’ve got a couple of guys, my assistants, who have been watching those guys,” he said. “I see all the stats and I get reports on how they’re looking in the games, so I’m pretty sure I know what’s going on there with those guys.”

Some of them, like Edmonton Oilers prospect Ostap Safin and projected 2018 top-five pick Filip Zadina, who both play in the QMJHL, are safe bets, as are Filip Chytil and Martin Necas, who each got a taste of the NHL this season with the New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes, respectively. But not all of the 27 players named on Monday will play in the tournament.

“I have a pretty good idea how the team is going to look but we’re just struggling with some injuries and we’ll see what happens,” the coach explained. “Hopefully, we have all the guys we want ready to go by the time the tournament starts and we’re all playing the way I want.”

The roster includes goalies Jakub Skarek, Josef Korenar and Milan Kloucek. Of those, the 18-year-old Skarek, who has played 17 games in the top Czech league this season, has to be considered the favourite to be the starter. Kloucek recently also played at the World U19 Junior A Challenge in Truro, Nova Scotia.

“We’ll see what happens. One of those three guys is going to be the number one, but it’s not decided,” he said of the goaltending situation.

“We believe we have chosen the best possible players, and now we have a camp coming up, from which the final roster will be decided,” the coach said. “With hard work and good chemistry, we think we have a shot at a medal.”

DEREK O’BRIEN

The last WJC hero

December 24, 2017, 2:41 pm

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Just a few short years ago, Denver University winger Troy Terry was fighting for top minutes on the United States U18 team.

So you’ll understand that it’s a little surprising to find the young forward being paraded about in front of hundreds of media members during the United States Olympic Media Summit.

This summit is a biennial event put on by the organizing body to drum up excitement around America’s potential Olympians.

With the NHL not participating in the 2018 Olympics, USA Hockey is likely taking a “Miracle on Ice” approach looking for some fresh-faced college kids to be sent to Korea.

“Growing up as an American hockey player, it’s a little cheesy, but the movie Miracle is so big,” Terry started. “So for it [the Olympics] to be back that way is great.”

And amongst collegians, Terry is one of the stars likely to be called upon to lead United States against the top professionals from around the world.

“If you would’ve told me a year ago that’d I’d have a chance to play in these Olympics, I wouldn’t have believed you,” he added. “Having a chance to represent my country on the biggest stage is pretty cool.”

During the past few years, the hometown Denver boy has taken great strides – and won a lot of hardware – since he was overshadowed while playing with the best under-18 players in the country.

During that 2014/15 campaign in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Terry’s name was drowned out by the likes of future stars Auston Matthews, Matthew Tkachuk, Colin White, Charlie McAvoy, Jeremy Bracco and Clayton Keller to name a few.

Though he played third-and-fourth line minutes, Terry still managed 44 points in 66 games – ranking him seventh on that star-studded squad in scoring.

The experience proved a tremendous learning lesson for the Anaheim Ducks prospect, along with foreshadowing his bright future.

That team would go on to win the U18 Worlds gold medal that year and Terry would eventually enroll at powerhouse Denver University, just a few miles from his home in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.

As a child, Terry was a staple at Pioneer games – an activity that would deepen his fandom and desire to play collegiate hockey at Magness Arena in South Denver.

“I grew up watching those games,” Terry started. “Ever since I started playing it was a goal of mine to play for them, so to be on the other side of the glass now is pretty special.”

He’d score 22 points in 45 games as a freshman at DU and even play in the Frozen Four (the semi-final round of the NCAA Hockey Championship). A loss to rival North Dakota cut his championship hopes short, but all in all, what more can you ask for from your freshman year?

It was a whirlwind beginning to a budding college career, but nothing could compare to last year when Terry went from being considered a good player in inner hockey circles to international star.

It started last December when Terry got a call from the higher-ups in USA Hockey with an invitation to the World Junior training camp. Terry never really considered himself the cream of the crop on any team he’s been on, so the invite came as a big surprise.

“I was never really the best player on any team I had played on,” Terry told the Player’s Tribune. “So when I got invited to Team USA's world junior camp in 2016, a year after my first season with DU, I was a little surprised. I had had a good freshman year, but I wasn't sure if I had a shot to make the national team.”

Nevertheless, a nervous, but talented Terry impressed coaches enough to make the roster and compete with Team USA in Canada. He’d be on the fourth line, but it didn’t matter, it was a ticket to the World Juniors.

As the tournament progressed, so did Terry’s confidence. He finished fourth amongst Americans in scoring with seven points in seven games. That’s pretty impressive for a guy not getting the same minutes as the top-six forwards.

The U.S. cruised through group play, but survived a close 3-2 tilt against the Swiss in the quarter-finals.

Next up, Russia in the semi-final and at that point Terry went from relative obscurity to viral hockey sensation.

Tied three goals apiece at the end of regulation, a shootout was needed when overtime couldn’t determine a winner.

Shockingly, Terry was called upon three times in the shootout and three times he scored five-hole in the fourth, sixth and seventh rounds to earn the United States a berth against rival Canada in the finals.

The performance echoed that of Jonathan Toews at the 2007 WJC and T.J. Oshie at the 2014 Olympics. In fact, Terry didn’t know how big of a deal it was until he received tweets and texts from Oshie himself, along with former teammate Auston Matthews and others.

“This was definitely the craziest moment of my hockey career,” said Terry. “My name kept getting called and thankfully it kept working out.”

Speaking after the incident, Coach Bob Motzko said of the moment: "Oshie wouldn't have done that unless the U.S. coach in the Olympics (Dan Bylsma) kept putting him out there, so that kind of paved the way for a coach saying you could do that, and the one thing about Troy Terry is he just has ice in his veins.”

His pulse just doesn't change. So we had five shooters and once he scored, we tried him again and again.

The next day, the final was another U.S. vs. Canadian classic.

The Americans erased a two-goal deficit to tie the game four goals apiece, quieting a partisan Canadian squad in Montreal and ratcheting the tension in the Bell Centre to an unbearable level.

Again, overtime was indecisive and so too were the first three rounds of the shootout. That’s when Motzko called upon Terry to deliver once again.

Terry wasn’t thinking five-hole again. Not after he pulled that trick three times against the Russians. But as he skated in on Canadian netminder Carter Hart, his pads remained yawning and Terry took advantage. He beat Hart between the wickets and put the U.S. up 1-0 in the shootout – a score that stood up and gave the Americans a fourth WJC gold medal.

It was two game-winning shootout goals for Terry – a guy who was simply surprised to get a roster tryout in the first place.

“I think it showed a lot about our team and our country, the way we were able to battle back,” added Terry. “It’s a tournament that I’ll never forget.”

Terry returned back to campus as an American hero, but knew there was still a college hockey season to finish and a national title to win.

Denver would go on to win the regular season NCHC title and once again found itself in the Frozen Four, but this time the result was markedly different. Terry added three assists as DU took down Notre Dame and Minnesota-Duluth to claim the eighth NCAA title in school history.

The win gave Terry a college title to add to his U18 and U20 gold medals. He’s just the third player to win the World Juniors and NCAA Championship in the same year.

“It’s so surreal,” Terry told reporters after the game about winning both. “I think the World Juniors was just starting to hit me.”

“It’s definitely been the best year of my hockey life,” he added.

After winning all there is for an amateur, the question is what could keep Terry from joining the NHL ranks?

Well, two things. First, the NHL’s decision to forego the Olympics, gives a player like Terry a real opportunity to represent the United States in Korea. Second, the University of Denver entered the 2017/18 NCAA season as the No. 1 team in the country and strong favourites to defend their title.

“I was in contact with some of the officials this summer, saying that the NHL wasn’t going to the Olympics,” Terry explained. “They said to be prepared as I might be a candidate.

Terry understands the responsibility and of the pressure being applied by USA Hockey – as evidenced by him being one of two players to represent the organization at the Media Summit – but remains focused on the task at hand.

“Once I get back on campus, I just have to focus on my college team,” said Terry. “Obviously the Olympics will be on the back of my mind, but if my college season is going well then I’ll have a chance to be on that team.”

Denver is off to a fast start this season and so is Terry. The team is unbeaten in it’s first four games, while Terry has three goals and two assists in that quartet of matches.

It may just be the start of the season, but Terry has an opportunity to bring Denver is first back-to-back championship in 12 years and if he plays his cards right, America’s first Olympic gold medal in 38 years.

No pressure there.

In the meantime the United States aim at defending their World Junior title on home ice with the tournament starting tomorrow in Buffalo.

RYAN O'LEARY

Russia seeks Buffalo glory

December 25, 2017, 5:47 am

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For Russia, Buffalo is a city of happy memories. The country’s last World Junior gold was forged here in 2011, in a tournament packed with thrilling comebacks.

But, seven years after that unforgettable rally to sink Canada in the final, it’s a very different Russian team that headed to the USA.

The class of 2011 featured the talents of Yevgeni Kuznetsov, Artemi Panarin and Vladimir Tarasenko, all of whom have gone on to impress in the NHL. But even when the roster was assembled, there was a sense that the players involved could go on to do something special. This time around, there isn’t the same kind of stand-out name: few members of Valeri Bragin’s squad have significant KHL experience, while the ever-more-youthful look of Russia’s MHL youth league is also having an impact on selection.

“I can’t say yet whether there’s a different character about this year’s team,” Bragin told Sport Express as his roster assembled. “That 2011 team was unusually talented, just look at how many players have grown into NHL stars. But since then, there have been significant changes in youth hockey, and our task gets more difficult every year.”

Despite the absence of an obvious leader, Bragin is not certain that the lack of a hot prospect will harm his team when the action starts next week. “We’ll just have to see whether it’s a plus or a minus for our team,” he added. “The World Championship will show us, but it’s easy to expect a lot from one or two players then find that at the crucial moment it doesn’t work out. The main thing for us is to build a strong team, where everyone is willing to die out there on the ice.”

If there’s a lack of emerging KHL talent on the roster, injury problems have hardly helped. Grigori Dronov, a highly promising defenceman at Metallurg Magnitogorsk, would have been a lock had it not been for injury; his colleague on the blue line, Yegor Zaitsev of Dynamo Moscow, is fit again but missed several games with a shoulder problem.

Before that, he captained Russia in the annual Super Series, and saw his team come close to winning that match-up with representatives of Canada’s CHL junior leagues. “The way we played in the Super Series proves that we can do it,” Zaitsev told reporters at an open training session in Moscow. “We’re going with every intention of winning it all. We’ll go out there and play our hockey, and it’s up to the opposition to deal with that.”

Back in 2011, Zaitsev was watching the games at his family’s dacha. While much of the audience was thrilling to the scoring exploits of Kuznetsov & Co, young Yegor had another name to follow. “My namesake, Nikita Zaitsev, was playing then,” he added. “I still follow his career to this day. I love the way he plays, and he’s a great example in many ways.”

Another echo of the class of 2011 comes from Chelyabinsk. The Traktor organization that nurtured Kuznetsov is represented again this year with another promising forward, Vitali Kravtsov. He missed the Super Series, left at home to play in the KHL amid suggestions that his chances of making the World Juniors might have slipped away. But he’s back in contention now, and trying to get in the zone ahead of the tournament.

“I’m trying not to think of anything,” he said. “I don’t want to get wound up. I just need to go out and do what has to be done.

“I’ve got some KHL experience, and any experience is helpful. But I don’t see myself as a star. At Traktor, [head coach] Anvar Gatiyatulin is quick to put us in our place, and both at my club nor on the national team we all treat each other with understanding.”

As usual, there’s a healthy contingent of North American-based players in Russia’s roster for the championship. Andrei Svechnikov, currently playing in the OHL with the Barrie Colts, has been garnering positive notices for years and is a potential top pick in the 2018 NHL draft, while Dynamo Moscow graduate Klim Kostin has been released by the St. Louis Blues’ AHL franchise and will feature in Buffalo.

Russia’s first warm-up game ended in a 4-2 victory over Denmark, with another Traktor player, Marsel Sholokhov, getting the winning goal. He admitted that the team made heavy weather of it’s win, though, telling the Ice Hockey Federation of Russia website: “Our errors in the third period allowed the Danes to tie the game, and it was a relief that we quickly scored a third. But even though we’ve not had much game time since the start of December, we managed to get into a bit of rhythm almost immediately.”

Russia played a further warm-up game, defeating Slovakia 3-2 after a shootout on Saturday, and starts its campaign on 26th December against the Czechs.

ANDY POTTS

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Welcome to Buffalo!

December 25, 2017, 4:12 pm

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Buffalo would love to witness a fairy tale ending. And in one way or another, the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship is sure to provide it.

The host city has endured its share of pro sports disappointments, including the Buffalo Sabres’ two losses in the Stanley Cup finals (1975, 1999). But refreshingly, the World Juniors offer a celebration of youthful exuberance and national pride before its hopefuls refocus on the quest for big bucks in the NHL, KHL, and other pro leagues.

So what will fans at Key Bank Center and Harborcenter have to get excited about between 26 December and 5 January? Lots.

At this tournament, the days of dynasties are done. In an era of growing parity, no nation has won consecutive World Junior titles since Canada’s five-peat in 2009 in Ottawa. Yet the defending champion Americans just might buck that trend in northern New York State’s biggest city.

Returning head coach Bob Motzko, who led the U.S. to a dramatic gold-medal shootout victory over Canada last January in Montreal, has oodles of firepower at his disposal. That includes two NHL-experienced forwards in nifty sniper Kailer Yamamoto (Edmonton Oilers) and towering centre Logan Brown (Ottawa Senators). Kieffer Bellows, who scored twice in last year’s final, and Casey Mittelstadt, a 2017 Buffalo first-rounder sometimes compared to a young Phil Kessel, are other names to watch on a roster that also boasts strong defence and goaltending.

Canadian fans will pour across the border to cheer on their team as they seek revenge for 2017’s disappointing denouement. With seven returning players, the ever-dangerous motherland of hockey should play for a medal in Buffalo, as it has at 18 out of the last 19 tournaments. Top goalie Carter Hart has elevated his game this season with the WHL’s Everett Silvertips. Current OHL scoring leader Jordan Kyrou, power play quarterback Kale Clague, and Montreal Canadiens defenceman Victor Mete will all get their chance to shine as well. Beating the Americans in the outdoor game at New Era Field on 29 December would make a big statement.

What about Sweden? After three consecutive fourth-place finishes, the Juniorkronorna are hungry to get back on the podium. Fourth-time coach Tomas Monten, who got silver in 2014 on home ice in Malmo, can look to elite youngsters like wispy centre Elias Pettersson, vying for the SHL points lead with Vaxjo Lakers, and rushing defenceman Rasmus Dahlin, the 17-year-old Frolunda prodigy projected as the 2018 NHL Draft’s first overall pick. Alexander Nylander, the top Sabres prospect returning for his third straight tournament, has 21 points in 14 career games, and Michael Nylander’s second son may join the top 10 all-time scorers in World Junior history.

It’s inconceivable the Finns will fare worse than in 2017, when they fired coach Jukka Rautakorpi mid-tournament and came ninth. They won gold in 2014 and 2016, and bench boss Jussi Ahokas, who took gold at the U18 in North Dakota in 2016, could keep that every-second-year trend alive. With Jokerit, gunner Eeli Tolvanen has already matched Yevgeni Kuznetsov’s KHL record for the most points by an 18-year-old (17-15-32). He’s one of six Finnish first-round picks in this year’s NHL draft, including blueliners Miro Heiskanen (#3 overall to Dallas) and Juuso Valimaki (the 2018 captain) and power forward Kristian Vesalainen – all of whom will play in Buffalo.

Can the Russians renew their love affair with the city where they last won gold in 2011? While they don’t have elite forwards like Kuznetsov, Vladimir Tarasenko, or Artemi Panarin this time, they already have bragging rights – or make that Bragin rights. Inspirational coach Valeri Bragin has taken his World Junior squads to the final in five out of his six stints. The 61-year-old former Soviet league winger will aim to get back there after settling for bronze last year. Among the attackers, flashy, diminutive Vitali Abramov (Victoriaville Tigres), gifted returnee German Rubtsov (Acadie-Bathurst Titan), and potential-laden Klim Kostin (San Antonio Rampage) will cause problems for opposing goalies. It will be interesting to see how the less-heralded defence and netminding hold up.

Outside those “Big Five” nations, no one has won gold since the Czech Republic in 2001. Under highly touted new coach Filip Pesan (Liberec), the Czechs will lean heavily on offensive forwards Filip Chytil, Martin Necas, and Filip Zadina. They’re a long shot to medal for the first time since 2005’s bronze. Improving on their usual sixth-place finish (2014, 2015, 2017) would be welcome. The slim hopes of neighboring Slovakia, whose lone recent highlight was 2015’s bronze, could lie with forwards Adam Ruzicka (Sarnia Sting) and Marian Studenic (Hamilton Bulldogs).

Denmark will host the senior Worlds for the first time ever in May (Copenhagen and Herning). Can this U20 squad possibly better 2017’s fifth-place finish? The Danes excelled in last year’s preliminary round with wins over Finland and the Czechs, but that’ll be tough to replicate in Group A with the North American superpowers and Finland. Coach Olaf Eller’s roster, though, includes key returnees like goalie Kasper Krog and forwards Jonas Rondberg and Joachim Blichfeld, and even without a bona fide gamebreaker, anything is possible if they play solid team defence.

Speaking of Cinderella teams, the Swiss would love to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their only World Junior medal (1998’s bronze) with another exciting playoff run. Although they gave the U.S. a scare in last year’s quarter-final (a 3-2 loss), they will be hard-pressed to equal that this year, with due respect to the dynamic Philipp Kurashev (Quebec Remparts) and intriguing 17-year-old defenceman Tim Berni (GC Kusnacht Lions),

Newly promoted Belarus, which lost 14-0 to the Americans in a 20 December exhibition, will be in survival mode. The Belarusians have never finished better than ninth (2001, 2002) and will struggle to crack the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship in Canada (Vancouver and Victoria).

There’s no doubt about it: each of these 10 teams has a chance to craft its own fairy tale next to the Buffalo River over the holidays. This tournament is quick, intense and passionate – like youth itself. Get ready for unfettered, unpredictable drama, because no international hockey tournament delivers more of it than the World Juniors.

LUCAS AYKROYD

American-made in Canada

December 26, 2017, 8:04 am

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When you’re the son of a hockey coach, picking up and moving every few years tends to be the norm. Quinn Hughes’ story is not much different.

The American defenceman – and projected top-five pick in this year’s draft – was born in Orlando, Florida, where his father Jim Hughes was coaching the Orlando Solar Bears of the IHL.

But this isn’t your typical father-son hockey story. There’s a woman involved as well. Jim’s wife Ellen, and Quinn’s mother, was a standout soccer and hockey player at the University of New Hampshire, winning three national titles in her time there.

After a two-year stint in central Florida, Jim took a job behind the bench with the Boston Bruins. This was Quinn’s first exposure to the NHL and his first chance to rub elbows with hockey’s elite.

“We were around all of the rinks as kids, we still have tons of pictures of us in the locker rooms,” Hughes began.

“I liked Joe Thornton. He was really fun to watch as a new player coming up in the league. He was really cool with us when my brothers and I were around the Bruins.”

You can say the “hook” was put in Quinn early, but time in Boston was short-lived and the Hughes clan ventured northward to Toronto when Jim began coaching the Toronto Marlies – the AHL affiliate of the Maple Leafs.

Jim was given the coaching position by his former Providence College classmate, John Ferguson.

Two years in Toronto became three, then five and so on. Jim was continually promoted inside the Leafs organization, becoming the team’s Director of Player Development before joining the CAA Sports Agency as a consultant.

A rarity in the coaching profession, Jim spent more than ten years in one place working for the same organization. That stability also meant that Quinn spent a majority of his life living in a foreign country.

“At the end of the day of the day Quinn lived 11 years in Canada,” Ellen said. “The access and proximity to hockey made him better and I’m not sure we could’ve found that anywhere else.”

Though Jim traveled a ton, Quinn was able to develop a special bond with his dad.

Jim allotted precious time at home to attend Quinn’s games and hold private film sessions – special moments for both father and son.

“He was a real teacher of the game and was always there for me,” Quinn reminisced.

“Some guys in hockey don’t have time for their sons, but he invested a lot of time with me. It holds a special spot in my heart.”

The elder Hughes took great joy in passing down his hockey knowledge, but made sure to avoid being heavy-handed when teaching Quinn.

“It’s always about the presentation with athletes,” Jim began. “The message is everything. You start with some positives, sprinkle in a little negative and they’ll be receptive.”

Meanwhile, when Jim was on road trips Ellen was busy rushing Quinn and his two brothers off to school, hockey practice and endless skates on Toronto’s numerous outdoor rinks.

But she wasn’t your average hockey mom. Ellen was also a defenceman growing up and wasn’t shy about correcting Quinn’s game when needed.

“It’s mostly my dad that was hard on me, but she could be hard on me too,” said Hughes.

“She knows a lot about hockey, so I respect her opinion a lot.”

As two people familiar with competing at the highest level, Jim and Ellen also made sure their kids pursued excellence in all they did.

“We wanted to provide the structure, the environment and the competition for them to love and thrive in hockey,” Ellen said.

“We also said, do it your best or go do something else.”

American At Heart

Being exposed to the Canadian game made a major impact on Quinn but one thing he never lost was his American identity.

When asked if he’d ever considered filing for a Canadian passport in order to play for Hockey Canada, Quinn answered point blank: “Nope, there was absolutely no decision to be made.”

“I was always American and always rooted for the United States, even in Canada, and took a lot of heat for it too,” Hughes said proudly.

It’s something you can’t deny when speaking with the family. They’re American and vocal about it as well.

Playing for (or supporting) Canada would be downright blasphemous.

Jim is a Long Island guy and Ellen was raised in Dallas, Texas, playing hockey with the boys until sports took her to New England for College.

Ellen played for the USA at the 1992 Women’s World Championships, while Jim competed at the Spangler Cup in 1989.

“We were always patriotic, always cheering for the red, white and blue,” Jim Hughes said.

When watching any sporting event involving the United States, it was U.S.A. all the way – especially when the World Juniors came around.

In Canada, the holiday season is usually described as “World Junior time” rather than “Christmas time” or “New Years”. Millions tune in to watch the young guys the same way they would an Olympic Final.

This phenomenon isn’t lost on the Hughes, who watch right alongside their Canadian neighbors, although their rooting interests remain firm for the United States.

“My kids wore the U.S. colours and took a lot of heat for it,” Ellen said. “My kids have such pride in being American and were exposed how big the world juniors are just by being in Toronto.”

Quinn and his family went to the tournament in 2011 when it was hosted in Buffalo last. They watched in awe as several future NHLers donned their national jerseys and put on a spectacular show – but little did the Hughes know that in just seven years time, their son Quinn, would be doing the very same thing when the tournament returned to Buffalo.

“I know what it’s all about,” Quinn said. “Everyone at home will be watching and I can’t wait to compete with everyone watching.”

Developing the American Way

The way Canadians treat Major Junior Hockey, like the OHL or the QMJHL, ranks right up there with their devotion to the World Juniors.

The OHL has a draft, is broadcasted across the world and kids leave home to pursue hockey full time. In pursuing his future, Quinn and his family had to weigh the pros and cons of this professional approach to junior hockey.

“Growing up in Canada, I could see the pressures of the OHL for the Canadian boy,” Jim said.

Quinn gave the OHL some consideration – as any elite talent growing up in Canada would – but ultimately decided it wasn’t right for him.

He wanted to develop the American way as he put it.

That meant attending the United States Development program in Ann Arbor, Michigan, rather than playing alongside his friends up north.

But the decision held more significance than simply taking an alternate route.

“Growing up in Toronto I was opened up to the CHL a little more than college, but I thought the development program would give me a chance to become the player I am today.”

Hughes says the OHL is always an option and if he wanted to go there now, he could, but the uniqueness of the USNTDP made it irresistible.

“They don’t care about wins or losses,” he continued. “They want to make guys better and there aren’t a lot of programs like that in the world.”

Quinn was adamant about growing all aspects of his game rather than placing himself in the pressure cooker that is the Ontario Hockey League.

“Everything got better and I was happy to be in the weight room a lot so I could get bigger and stronger to go along with my skating.”

Jim was proud of the way his son evaluated his options and made his own choice.

“It was a hard decision for Quinn, yet it was easy,” Jim said. “Quinn was smart enough to see the development aspect and saw the value in what the program had to offer.”

Now two years later, on the verge of a major tournament and the upcoming NHL draft, his dad says Quinn has developed into a player in the ilk of Blackhawks defenceman Duncan Keith.

“He has hockey sense, great vision and is a fantastic skater,” Jim said of his son as he slipped into scout mode.

“Oh, and he has passion and courage.”

There was another byproduct of Quinn joining the USNTDP in Ann Arbor – the opportunity to wear the U.S. sweater on a consistent basis.

“It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent my country so that also factored into my choice,” Hughes finished.

Defending Gold for the U.S.

Country pride and hockey purity are great – and Quinn Hughes exemplifies both in spades – but make no mistake about it, the defenceman wants to return home with a gold medal around his neck.

The U.S. has never won back-to-back World Juniors and 2018 affords a wonderful opportunity to do so. The United States is considered the favorite in the field.

“Our goal is absolutely to win a gold medal,” Hughes said confidently. “I think it’s in the back of our mind to defend, especially for the guys who are returning.

The tournament is on home-ice and there’s even an outdoor game at New Era Field against rival Canada on New Year’s Eve. The spectacle is not lost on Hughes or his U.S. teammates

“It’s a huge stage and anytime I’m playing, I’m going to give 100%,” Hughes continued.

“But when you’re playing for the United States, there’s a different feeling and it means just a little bit more.

The United States will begin that title defence on December 26 against Denmark and the entire Hughes clan will be in attendance.

And rest assured, they’ll relish the opportunity to cheer for their son and the U.S. along with some friendly faces on home soil.

RYAN O’LEARY

Czechs stun Russia, 5-4

December 26, 2017, 12:06 pm

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Filip Zadina and Filip Chytil scored in the second period to beak a 2-2 tie en route to a huge 5-4 Czech upset of the Russians.

The improbable win came in the opening game of the 2018 World Junior Championship and was only the second victory for the Czechs in the last eleven meetings between the two teams.

The U20 has been an event that has been as favoured by the Russians as it has been disappointing for the Czechs. Indeed, Russia has earned a medal in 22 of the last 26 U20 tournaments while the Czechs haven’t reached the medals since 2005 (bronze).

This afternoon, however, the Czechs took the initiative from the get-go and proved resilient when pressed. They opened the scoring with a power-play goal just 4:42 into the game, Martin Necas wiring a shot from the slot off a nice corner feed from Martin Kaut who had three assists in the game.

Just 39 seconds later, though, the Russians tied the score when Alexei Polodyan made a great tip off a shot from Andrei Altybarmakyan. Two minutes later, the Czechs went up again thanks to good hand-eye coordination from Ostap Safin. He batted a loose puck in after a wraparound by Chytil was stopped by Russian goalie Alexei Melnichuk.

Marsel Sholokhov rounded out a high-scoring first to make it 2-2 on a low shot from in front. The Czechs seemed in control of the game, or at least looked comfortable in playing head-to-head with the Russians.

They got another goal with the extra man to produce their third lead, this at 5:34 of the second, Zadina converting a nice cross-crease pass from Kaut.

Midway through the period it looked like Chytil had incurred an injury after a hard check. He left the ice bleeding, but after going to the dressing room he returned with a vengeance. Chytil knocked in a rebound after a nice rush by Safin, giving the Czechs a solid 4-2 lead after 40 minutes.

Kral added a vital insurance goal midway through the third when his long shot eluded Vladislav Sukhachyov, who had replaced Melnichuk to start the third. As it turned out, this was thr game winner. Russia made things more than a little interesting for the winners by scoring twice in the dying minutes, but this was as close as they got.

Both teams have the day off tomorrow. On Thursday, Russia plays Switzerland and the Czechs take on thr Swedes.

Andrew Podnieks

Sweden tops Belarus

December 26, 2017, 1:26 pm

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Lias Andersson, the Swedish captain, scored twice in a 6-1 win over newly promoted Belarus in the HarborCenter tournament opener on Tuesday.

Elias Pettersson and Erik Brannstrom had a goal and an assist apiece, and Glenn Gustafsson and Jens Boqvist also scored for Sweden, which is seeking a medal after three straight fourth-place finishes. Alexander Nylander, Rasmus Dahlin, and Fredrik Karlstrom all chipped in two assists.

Yegor Sharangovich replied for Belarus.

Sweden’s Filip Gustavsson, named Best Goalie at the 2016 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship in North Dakota made just 8 saves for the win in front of the HarborCenter crowd. Andrei Grishenko, making his World Junior debut between the pipes for Belarus, had 31 saves.

The Belarusians have never done better than ninth at this event -- snd that was back in 2001 and 2002.

You couldn’t fault Belarus’s effort, but it wasn’t enough to hold the Juniorkronorna off forever with their superior skill and speed. At 8:44, coach Tomas Monten's boys opened the scoring on their first power play. Pettersson dished the puck to Rasmus Dahlin before getting it back and whizzing it over Grishenko’s glove from the right faceoff circle.

On their second shot of the period, the Belarusians tied it up shorthanded at 14:56. Sharangovich capitalized on a turnover at the Swedish blue line and scored on a breakaway. Outshot 12-2 in the first, Belarus was happy to end the period on even terms.

Midway through the second period, the teams started throwing their weight around. Defenceman Gustav Lindstrom hammered Dmitri Grinkevich as Sweden’s annoyance with the deadlock mounted. Near the halfway mark, Axel Jonsson Fjallby flubbed his breakaway chance.

At 10:57, the dam broke. Brannstrom came late and took a nice flip pass from Nylander inside the Belarusian line before beating Grishenko from the slot. And it was 3-1 at 12:33 when Gustafsson deftly tipped Lindstrom’s shot from the line.

Boqvist made it 4-1 at 14:18 with a rising shot from the faceoff circle, and that ended Belarus’s hopes. Coach Yuri Faikov called his time-out, but it was too late to regroup.

In the third period, the top Swedish attackers struck again on the power play at 2:17. Andersson converted a set-up from Nylander, with a second assist going to Pettersson. At 11:07, Andersson got his second after playing catch with Dahlin.

This was the first time Sweden has faced Belarus at the World Juniors since 2003. There have been no cataclysmic upsets like the senior Belarusian team’s 4-3 quarter-final win over Tre Kronor at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. Sweden has won all four World Junior meetings dating back to 1998.

LUCAS AYKROYD

Canada off and running

December 26, 2017, 3:27 pm

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Team Canada started its 2018 World Junior Championship on a positive note, defeating a strong but young Finnish team, 4-2.

Canada got goals from four scorers and solid goaltending from Carter Hart, the goalie of record in last year's heart-breaking loss to the U.S. in the gold-medal game in Montreal.

Canada’s first goal was impressive. Boris Katchouk simply skated past two Finns to get to a loose puck and create a breakaway. He made a quick deke on goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, hitting the post and he pushed the puck past the goalie. It hit the post, caromed off Luukkonen’s skate and went it. As this was happening, though, Katchouk crashed into the crossbar and pushed the net off its moorings. Video review showed the puck crossed the goal line while the pegs were still in contact with the holes.

Luukkonen was last seen in IIHF competition in April, leading Finland til silver at the U18 championship in Slovakia. In fact, he is one of seven players from that team who have made the roster for Buffalo.

Just 27 seconds later, Canada went up two goals thanks to a quick power-play conversion. Sam Steel snapped a loose puck into the net, sending the pro-Canadian crowd into a frenzy.

The Finns came right back, though, scoring their first at 12:19 when Carter Hart inadvertently kicked a rebound right onto the stick of Aleksi Heponiemi. He wasted no time in making it a 2-1 game.

Another quick strike, this just 33 seconds after Heponiemi’s goal, restored Canada’s two-goal lead. This time it was poor defence by Finland that allowed Jonah Gadjovich to set up Drake Batherson for the easy back-door conversion.

Canada held Finland at bay in an evenly played second period. The Finns made it 3-2 at 7:31 on the power play when Henri Jokiharju’s point shot went all the way. But Canada made it 4-2 five minutes later off a broken rush. Taylor Raddysh collected the puck and fired a quick floater that eluded Luukkonen.

But the play of the game came off the glove of Canadian defenceman Callan Foote. He dove back to swat a rolling puck off the goal line midway through the third to keep it a 4-2 game. Video review showed the puck on the line--perhaps even partially over it--but the save helped preserve the victory.

ANDREW PODNIEKS

Home of the brave

December 26, 2017, 7:34 pm

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The defending champion U.S. got five first-period goals and never looked back in a 9-0 demolition of Denmark to start the 2018 World Juniors on Tuesday.

Fan favorite Casey Mittelstadt and Kieffer Bellows delivered two goals apiece. Patrick Harper and Max Jones each had a goal and an assist, and Kailer Yamamoto, Andrew Peeke and Dylan Samberg also scored for the United States. Quinn Hughes and Josh Norris had two assists apiece. The U.S. outshot Denmark 36-17.

Goalie Joseph Woll, who backed up Tyler Parsons for last year’s gold-medal team, recorded his first career World Junior shutout and third win. Danish starter Kasper Krog, whose 91.9 save percentage was third-best among 2017 goalies, will have a hard time cleaning up his stats in Buffalo. He only allowed nine goals in total last year.

The Danes are seeking their fourth consecutive quarter-final berth, but set the wrong tone at Key Bank Arena. This was their third all-time meeting with the Americans. Although not favored to prevail, they would have preferred to at least keep the score closer to their previous encounter (a 4-1 U.S. win on 31 December 2015) than their inaugural flop (an 11-3 U.S. win on 26 December 2011).

Denmark will try to rebound versus Finland on Thursday, while the Americans take on Slovakia that day.

Featuring seven returning players, the U.S. ruthlessly exploited the holes in Denmark’s coverage and was full value for the win.

It took just 2:27 for the host nation to draw first blood, as Jones cut to the slot past Danish defenders and slid the puck home. At 5:04, Bellows made it 2-0 with the man advantage, squeezing a heavy wrister from the right faceoff circle past Krog.

Coach Bob Motzko’s crew capitalized on the power play again at 8:26, as Mittelstadt, like Jones before him, celebrated his first career World Junior goal. The partisan crowd roared as Mittelstadt, a University of Minnesota star, was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres (first round, eighth overall) this year.

The American pressure and precision was overwhelming. In Gretzky-like fashion, Brady Tkachuk centered the puck from behind the net to Yamamoto, who made no mistake for a 4-0 lead at 11:35.

Denmark got its first man advantage when Will Lockwood was sent off for interference after steamrolling Valdemar Ahlberg in the corner, but it was fruitless. With 1:12 left in the first period, Mittelstadt cruised to the side of the net and casually roofed Patrick Harper’s feed past Krog.

Although Krog had surrendered five goals on 13 shots, Danish coach Olaf Eller (the father of Lars Eller of the Washington Capitals) kept his starter in for the second period. After being hooked on a breakaway, Bellows made it 6-0 on a penalty shot at 4:08, curling in from the left side to put a backhand through Krog’s legs.

At 19:31, Harper added the seventh goal on a high wrist shot that fooled Krog through traffic.

Backup goalie Emil Gransoe finally replaced Krog in the third period, but it made no difference as Peeke and Samberg rounded out the scoring.

LUCAS AYKROYD

Pettersson makes a splash

December 27, 2017, 7:46 am

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Vincent Lecavalier wasn’t the “Michael Jordan of hockey,” as Tampa owner Art Williams once opined. And Elias Pettersson isn’t the “Kobe Bryant of hockey.”

Yes, Pettersson is a Lakers star, but the Timra-trained forward plays in Vaxjo, a southern Swedish city with a metropolitan population of 90,000 – a little different from Los Angeles. That said, if there is a basketball metaphor here, you could say Pettersson has been a slam-dunk success in his SHL rookie year. Although he’s still growing into his 188-cm frame, he’s heightened expectations quickly.

With 35 points in 26 games, he’s vying for the league scoring lead, producing at a rate comparable to legends like Kent Nilsson and Peter Forsberg. Vancouver fans are delighted with the Canucks’ decision to pick Pettersson fifth overall in the 2017 NHL Draft. Here in Buffalo, he’s already showed good chemistry with Alexander Nylander, who tied for the tournament points lead (12) with Russia’s Kirill Kaprizov in 2017.

We caught up with Pettersson for a charmingly candid interview after Sweden debuted with a 6-1 win over Belarus on Tuesday. The 19-year-old had a goal and an assist on the power play. That doubled his output in six games in his World Junior debut last year en route to fourth place.

How did you like the way your team performed in the opener?

We were a little nervous. It’s the first game in a big tournament. But we got the win and the job done, so that’s good.

What about your own play?

I was OK. I can do better. But it is the way it is. We’re going to practice tomorrow and then we have a game against the Czechs.

What kind of a role does coach Tomas Monten want you to play here compared to last year?

More of an offensive role, like the role I have in my team in Sweden, Vaxjo. Score goals and make plays in the offensive zone, and of course, play defence too.

You’ve got lots of scorers, but who is the funniest guy in your dressing room?

We’ve got some jokers in our team, but I think every time when Jacob Moverare talks, everybody laughs. He’s a very funny guy.

Who were your favorite players when you were a kid?

My first one was Peter Forsberg. Growing up, I also liked how Nicklas Backstrom and Pavel Datsyuk played.

Have you ever met any of them?

I remember I saw Peter Forsberg at Arlanda Airport, but I was too nervous to get a picture with him. Kind of regret that! It was two or three years ago. Hopefully I get to meet him sometime.

What were you doing when Sweden beat Canada in the gold medal game of the 2017 IIHF World Championship in Cologne?

I remember I was at a hockey school, like a summer hockey camp. So I couldn’t see the game because we had an early practice the day after. But when I saw the highlights, I got goosebumps and jumped around. It was amazing.

What’s the first hockey game you remember attending?

I think maybe the first one I remember was my first SHL game when I was six years old. It was Timra against somebody. I can’t recall exactly who, though.

When you talk to Canucks GM Jim Benning and associate chief amateur scout Thomas Gradin, what are they telling you?

Continue to play your game. We like what we see. Go on, keep on training. Be yourself on the ice.

What would it mean to you if the Sedins are still playing for Vancouver when you come to North America?

That would be awesome. Obviously, I’ve seen them lots growing up, playing at the Olympics and in Vancouver. So to maybe play with them someday would be awesome.

Do you cook for yourself?

I usually cook at home. But I’ve gotten a bit lazy about that in the last year! It’s easy to order from the restaurant and do a take-away at home. But I do cook.

What’s your pre-game meal?

I don’t have a pre-game meal I do every game. I usually take two food boxes from a Vaxjo restaurant.

Are you into music?

I listen to a lot – hip-hop, slow jam music, Ed Sheeran, stuff like that.

When you train, what are your favorite exercises and which ones do you hate?

I’m not sure. I like working on my stickhandling and my shooting. And I hate – well, I don’t hate – but of course, it’s more fun to train my stickhandling and shooting than it is to go in the gym and do squats. But when I do squats, I play better on the ice. So I like the gym work as well.

What do you think about the possibility of representing Sweden at the Olympics in Korea?

When I played well in the SHL, people have said I should be on the team. But I can’t control if I’m with the team. If I make the team, it would be a big honor for me.

LUCAS AYKROYD

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This Dane doing it right

December 27, 2017, 10:12 am

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Jacob Schmidt-Svejstrup wasn’t in much of a mood to talk after the first game.

His Danish team had just been pummelled 9-0 by the high-flying Americans at Key Bank Center, but that is the narrow view, and he was accommodating all the same.

The larger perspective is that this 19-year-old from Charlottenlund, Denmark has had a pretty amazing few years as a teenager. He left home at age 14 to live in the U.S. to learn English and play hockey, and now he is preparing to start a four-year term at the University of Maine on scholarship. His hockey skills have shot through the roof, his English is excellent, and his chances of doing something meaningful with his life are increasing with the passing of every day.

“It was supposed to be just one year,” he related of that first trip to Connecticut in 2013. “I was ahead a year in school, so I had a gap year and I just wanted to get away and learn a language. I ended up at a boarding school here. I wanted to go somewhere to play hockey and go to school in one place. I didn’t want to drive around. That’s what I got at South Kent.”

But as often happens, that one year turned into a more extended stay, thanks in large part to Schmidt-Svejstrup’s hockey talents. “I started getting college opportunities, so I decided to come back. I’ve been here ever since,” he continued.

Like any hockey kid, he started skating at a young age and had his heroes. “I always liked the superstars. Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby,” he explained. “I just loved watching those guys. My favourite Danish player was someone who played for the Ottawa Senators for a while, Peter Regin. He plays in the KHL now.”

Schmidt-Svejstrup went from South Kent to Boston and on to the USHL, a now-typical route for Americans who want to play serious teen hockey while preparing for university. In his first year in the USHL, 2016/17 with Dubuque, the learning curve was tough, but this year, with the Fargo Force, Schmidt-Svejstrup is not only adapting – he is leading the league in scoring.

As a result of the last year, college offers have come his way and the next chapter of his life has unexpectedly unfolded before his eyes.

“It’s always been a dream of mine [to play in the NHL], but when I got a scholarship to the University of Maine, I started to think I could go somewhere with hockey. I’ve worked on my game ever since, and this year it’s really taken off.”

For him, Maine was an easy choice. “There were a few options for me, but when I went up there, I loved the coaching staff and saw it was a perfect fit for me.”

In the meantime, there is no letting up. As he says, the USHL is “a fast game, a skilled game. The talent level is really high. It’s a good league for me. I’ve worked a lot on my skating, and I’m playing with guys now who can put the puck on my stick. I’ve been using my shot a lot, but the credit goes to my teammates up in Fargo.”

Asked to describe his game from a scout’s perspective, Schmidt-Svejstrup is precise: “Power forward who can shoot the puck and can also makes plays.”

The level-headed maturity of Schmidt-Svejstrup is evident in his every word, but no more so when he describes that next phase of his life, starting next September. “I’m going to Maine thinking I’ll be there four years and getting a degree. If anything comes up, I’ll think about it, of course. But my goal is to graduate from the University of Maine.”

And back to the narrow view, Schmidt-Svejstrup still has plenty of work to do here in Buffalo. That bad loss yesterday is not the end of the world, and the Danes still have attainable goals for this tournament.

“We played a good team today, but we have to bounce back on Thursday against the Finns. Staying up and playing with the big boys is our main goal.”

ANDREW PODNIEKS

Swiss edge Belarus

December 27, 2017, 2:29 pm

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Trailing early in the third period, Switzerland rallied to kick off its tournament with a 3-2 win over Belarus on Wednesday. Philipp Kurashev got the winner.

Nicolas Muller and Valentin Nussbaumer also scored for Switzerland. For Belarus, Maxim Sushko had a goal and an assist and Viktor Bovbel had the other goal.

It was the second straight loss for newly promoted Belarus, whose starting goalie Andrei Grishenko performed valiantly as shots on goal favored Switzerland 40-29.

Diligent and disciplined as always, the Swiss lack a Nico Hischier-style game-breaker this year, and are looking for scoring by committee.

The Swiss took it to Belarus from the opening faceoff, peppering Grishenko. At 8:07, Muller was credited with the first goal after the puck trickled through the goalie’s legs in a scrum.

With under two minutes left in the first period, Grishenko extended his left leg to make a great desperation save on Swiss assistant captain Marco Miranda.

Late in the period, Belarus rallied. Sushko, the Belarus captain, got two cracks at the rebound from Vladislav Martynyk’s blue line drive and put the second one past Swiss netminder Philip Wuthrich to tie the game up at 18:34.

After a scoreless second period, Belarus grabbed the lead on an early third-period power play when the Swiss were caught with too many men on the ice. At 4:25, Bovbel banged in a rebound and celebrated wildly even though his helmet was nearly knocked off by Swiss defenceman Nico Gross.

Nussbaumer, the youngest player on the Swiss team (born 25 September, 2000), knotted it at 2-2 at 8:12, deking in front of Grishenko before scoring on the short side.

On the rush, Kurashev blasted home Switzerland's 3-2 goal from the slot with a one-timer set up by Guillaume Maillard at 11:16 of the third.

Belarus pulled Grishenko for the extra attacker in the final minute, but despite a wild flurry around Wuthrich's cage in the dying seconds, they couldn't equalize.

Switzerland has won all eight of its World Junior games with Belarus, dating back to 1998.

Belarus’s last World Junior victory came on January 3, 2007 (3-1 over Germany) in Mora, Sweden.

LUCAS AYKROYD

Canada moves to 2-0

December 27, 2017, 6:32 pm

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Sam Steel scored early, setting the tone for a convincing 6-0 Canada win over Slovakia.Three goals came off rebounds.

The result couldn’t have ben a surprise given that Canada has never lost to Slovakia in 20 years of U20 play. The record is now 12 wins and a tie, and that small sign of life from Slovakia was only a scoreless draw in 1998.

Tonight, Canada showed great speed and puck pursuit, using superior speed and strength to claim most of the loose pucks and maintain possession.

Steel’s opening marker came off a deflected pass in the slot. The puck wound up on his stick with goalie David Hrenak looking for a shot the other way. Steel had an open net, which he hit, at 3:39.

There was a scary moment midway through the period when Canadian defenceman Jake Bean went back for a puck on the end boards. He got tangled with Slovakian forward Marian Studenic. The pair crashed into the boards, Bean’s head absorbing most of the force. After several minutes he left of his own accord but didn’t return for the rest of the period as a cautionary measure.

Canada poured it on in the second. Jordan Kyrou made a sneaky deke on Erik Smolka in the slot before beating Hrenak with a nice shot at 1:24 on the power play, and Jonah Gadjovich backhanded a juicy rebound into the net to make it 3-0 at 5:43.

Taylor Raddysh got to another rebound at 10:33 to put the game out of reach, frustrating the Slovak goaltender who didn’t get much help from his defence.

Raddysh and Gadjovich closed out the scoring late in the third off great plays. In the former, Adam Ruzicka lost the puck deep in his end, and Raddysh colected the loose puck and roofed a backhand to the short side over Hrenak's glove for a gem of a score.

Then Michael McLeod made a great backhand saucer pass from the left wing boards which Gadjovich tipped high from in front at 18:30 to close out the scoring.

ANDREW PODNIEKS

Something’s in the air

December 28, 2017, 7:00 am

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Team USA plays its second game against Slovakia today. But yesterday the team already got some fresh air at the New Era Field before tomorrow’s outdoor game.

The Canada vs. USA match-up on Friday will be the first game in contemporary history of an IIHF top-level championship that will be played outdoors. And it will be the second in recent decades played in a football stadium. The USA-Germany opening game of the 2010 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship was played in a covered stadium in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. The 77,803 fans set an attendance world record for a hockey game at that time.

The game at 3 pm on Friday will be a unique experience for the young players and the fans. It will be a “winter classic” with the temperature forecast not warmer than 18°F (-8°C) during the day.

“It’s a cool experience for me. I’ve never played outdoors, especially not in a stadium like this. I’m ready to go and I’m excited to play,” said Max Jones after the first practice.

“You have to deal with some adversity there [because of the cold] but in the end it’s just another hockey game. You’re still working with the same system and want to score goals.”

A lot of fun is what defenceman Ryan Lindgren called the first practice. “Obviously it was a bit cold out there but we all enjoyed it. It was just a blast out there. I’m from Minnesota, so it’s kind of being thrown back to that. We were just excited to go out there. I think the ice was great and they’re going to work on the ice so it will be even better for the game,” he said.

The team had a break to let the ice technicians get their work done, while the players changed into their special football-inspired outdoor-game jerseys to take some commemorative photos on the ice with their loved ones.

“It was really special. I have my brother here, my grandpa, my cousin, my uncle, my mum and dad. It’s really special to get pictures with them and share the moment with them,” Lindgren said. “It was really cool for them to go onto the ice.”

For these teams, it will be the first rematch since the Americans beat Canada in Montreal for gold one year ago. The Team USA players hope to continue their winning ways against a Canadian team that has impressed in Buffalo so far.

“We want to use this kind of crowd to our advantage. But our focus is just the five guys on the ice and the goalie. When we’re on the ice, it doesn’t feel that cold, and we had a lot of fun. There’s always going to be a lot of intensity in a U.S.-Canada game. It’s going to be exciting. But we focus on each game, and first we have to focus on Slovakia,” said Kieffer Bellows.

For Casey Mittelstadt, it will be a special event, as the Minnesotan was the Buffalo Sabres’ first-round pick earlier this year. After getting a chance to play at the Sabres’ home arena with Team USA, he will now play at Buffalo’s NFL stadium even before his first NHL game.

“It’s cool to be out there and the Bills stuff is really cool, being able to play in the Bills’ stadium,” the 19-year-old centre said.

“It was a fast practice. We enjoyed some cold air outside. The first thing you notice is the wind in your face. It’s definitely a chilly breeze, but it feels refreshing and good. Both teams are going to be out there in the same element. But once you get your gear on, it’s not that bad.”

In his first year at the University of Minnesota, Mittelstadt previously played an outdoor game last winter with his high school team in Stillwater, Minnesota.

“It was one of my favourite games I’ve ever played. It was obviously really cold but we warmed up a little bit and it ended up as a perfect day.

“When you’re out there you don’t really worry how cold or how warm it is, you just kind of play your game and think of the next shift. When I’m at the hotel, I may think about it, but when you’re out there you don’t think about it too much.”

56-year-old head coach Bob Motzko brings more experience with him but the outdoor game will be something new for him as well. For him and his boys, going outdoors feels like being kids again.

“It will be a great environment. I’ve never been in such a game before. When you walk out there, it’s a little bit of an overwhelming moment. When you come out there into the NFL stadium and see a hockey rink there, it’s something I had just seen on TV,” Motzko said.

But will preparing for the outdoor extravaganza not create a distraction from the next game, which takes place indoors at Key Bank Center against Slovakia? Motzko doesn’t think so.

“We have two questions we keep asking: ‘Who do we play next?’ And they got the answer. And ‘How we’re going to be?’ And they got the answer. We’ve been in the hotel since December 14th. Today it was a great afternoon to step away and get out of the hotel. You have to do that,” he said.

“It shouldn’t be hard for us to stay focused,” Mittelstadt said. “It’s as big of a game as any other at the tournament. We want to go to the medal round so for us it’s a huge game [against Slovakia] and we need to be ready to go. It would be great to have a good start. And after that game we’ll be ready for the next game against Canada.”

Despite thinking of Slovakia first, nobody can hide their excitement about playing at the 71,608-seat New Era Field soon. Doing so against archrival Canada, just a few miles from the border, makes it even more special.

“There’s certain games that come through, you don’t have to say a word to your players. They’re ready to go. This is one of them. You walk into the locker room, there’s a different feel. It’s amped up. That's what rivalries are all about,” Coach Motzko said.

“There’s a little juice in the air. You can just feel it on those days. That’s the great days of being an athlete and a coach.”

MARTIN MERK

Finns take revenge on Danes

December 28, 2017, 11:28 am

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Last year, Denmark beat Finland for the first time ever at the World Juniors. But on Thursday, the Finns made sure history didn’t repeat itself, winning 4-1.

Danish goalie Kasper Krog had a far busier outing than his Finnish counterpart Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen as shots on goal massively favored Finland, 61-7. (Canada set the single-game shots record in Moscow on January 4, 1988, outshooting Poland 95-30 in a 9-1 win.)

Finnish captain Juuso Valimaki and Henri Jokiharju led the way with a goal and an assist apiece, and Joona Koppanen and Aapeli Rasanen also scored. Miro Heiskanen added a pair of assists. Finland bounced back after losing its opener 4-2 to Canada.

Nikolaj Krag replied for Denmark.

The Finns, with nine returning players, are aiming to medal after a disastrous ninth-place result in Montreal in 2017. They last won gold on home ice in Helsinki in 2016. Their next game is on Saturday against underdog Slovakia.

Denmark is pointless through two games, and must improve against Canada on Saturday and Slovakia on Sunday if it is to crack the quarter-finals for the fourth straight time.

The Finns sent a message that this year would be different when they scored on their first shot on goal. Koppanen’s quick release from the left faceoff circle squeezed through Krog’s pads at 2:49.

At 6:56, Rasanen snared Eeli Tolvanen’s rebound off the end boards and roofed it for a 2-0 lead. It was total Finnish dominance in the first period with an 17-1 edge in shots.

Just 1:38 into the second period, the Danes struck back on their opening power play. Krag zapped home a high wrister from the right faceoff circle, beating Luukkonen stick side. That was Denmark’s third shot.

But like true Corsi believers, the Finns kept firing away. Krog did his part, including a tough glove save on Markus Nurmi halfway through the game. However, he couldn’t stop Valimaki’s rising center point drive (shot #40) to make it 3-1 at 15:38.

At 17:44, Jokiharju put the game out of reach, pinching in to bang home a rebound. Danish coach Olaf Eller called his timeout, but there was nothing he could say to turn the tide now.

In the third period, Finland's biggest moment of concern was when a prone Joni Ikonen accidentally blocked his own teammate's slapper in front of Krog. But he got up and carried on.

During a subsequent Finnish power play, Danish captain Christian Mathiasen-Wesje showed a lot of guts when he stayed on the ice for eons after painfully blocking a Jokiharju drive. When he finally got to the bench, he earned a warm round of applause from the spectators. Perhaps that kind of selflessness will give the Danes something to build on.

LUCAS AYKROYD