Men's Ice Hockey Tournament at the Winter Olympic Games 2018

[Finnator123 292]

On 7.9.2016 at 21:46, Near said:

Shame it couldn't be Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark in the same group.

Now that would be epic group

[hckošice 15,073]

Olympic schedule released

Games set for men’s, women’s tournaments

 

The dates and matchups for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games ice hockey events have been set with the release of both the men’s and women’s tournament schedules.

 

The Winter Olympic Games, to be held in PyeongChang, South Korea, officially kicks off with the Opening Ceremony on 9th February. The men’s and women’s tournament games will be split up between the newly-constructed Gangneung Hockey Centre, which can hold up ot 10,000 spectators, and the 6,000 capacity Kwandong Hockey Centre.

 

The Gangneung arena will host the majority of the men’s hockey games, as well as both gold medal games. Kwandong arena will house all the women’s games with the exception of the semi-finals and the final.

 

The men’s tournament will open a few days after the women’s event, beginning on 14 February with two Group B matchups: Slovakia versus Russia and USA versus Slovenia, both happening at 21:10 in the Gangneung and Kwandong Hockey Centres respectively.

2014 bronze medallists Finland take on Germany on Day 2 of the men’s tournament. Korea’s men’s national team, which along with the women’s team will make its first-ever appearance on Olympic ice, faces the Czech Republic in its tournament opener on the same day.

Team Canada, also defending champions in the men’s category, opens the men’s event against Switzerland. 2017 IIHf Ice Hockey World Champions Sweden get their Olympic campaign started on the same day with a Group C game against Norway.

As in past Olympics, the Games will close out with the men’s tournament gold medal game, taking on the final day of competition on 25 February at 13:10 local time, preceded by the bronze medal game the day before at 21:10.

 

 

Click below to access the full schedule for men´s tournament:

Mens Tournament Schedule and Results

 

[phelps 7,773]

finally we have the detailed schedule...

 

by the way, this time the men's Hockey Gold Medal game won't be the Olympic closer...the women's 30km Classic in Cross-Country Skiing will have this honor (it will start at 3.15 p.m., so 2 hours later than the hockey game)...

[hckošice 15,073]

Olympic jerseys ready

Nike’s sparkling collection for PyeongChang 2018

 

Group A

 

 

 

 

The game jerseys produced by Nike for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games’ ice hockey tournaments have been released for the 13 participating countries.

 

In the pursuit of gold, generations of designers, explorers and tinkerers have sought a magic formula. For athletic apparel, that formula often comes from a just-right combination of fit and weight. When that balance is perfected, critical grams are shaved (after all, triumph comes in the tightest of margins) and athletes are free of distractions. This is paramount because when athletes look and feel good, they play well. Nowhere is this clearer than in winter sports, such as ice hockey.

 

In a word, Nike’s latest national team hockey jerseys represent alchemy. “It’s what most inspired us to look at the jersey as a whole and transform it into something special,” says Scott Toudjine-Williams, Nike’s Senior Creative Director for Olympics Apparel. Part of that involved upgrading to a lightweight and breathable ripstop material and incorporating more mesh (for example, in the collar) to increase ventilation.

 

Group B

 

But this idea of alchemy truly comes to life in two major ways: First, in the graphic trim package. “To us, this is game-changing!” says Toudjine-Williams. “Elevating the fonts, crests and numbers takes us to another level of performance and visual standpoint.”

Here’s how they did it:

• A shift to single-layer laser-perforated numbers (instead of layering up heavy twill) that they applied by heat (rather than stitching them down), both of which increased breathability and articulation. 
• Doing away with the previous large, heavy centre-front crest in favour of a small, intricate, badge (select teams were moved to a new configuration led by country name rather than their crest), which reduced weight, resulting in better articulation for the athlete.
• Consolidating fonts across kits. (Though select teams got a unique font.)

 
Further, the idea of alchemy involves transforming base metals into gold. “It’s all about creating an extremely valuable and desired outcome,” says Toudjine-Williams. This element of the theme comes to life with the following films and flicker capabilities employed throughout the jersey:

• Amplification of each team’s colours through a cascading gradient.
• An expanded colour palette that includes secondary and tertiary colours.
• A new blade Swoosh (inspired by a hockey skate blade) with chrome flicker that sparkles under the arena lights.
• The flicker film (rather than heavy twill) addition to the top of the base for the crest and numbers increases vibrancy.
• Injected silicon molds make the trims pop.

 
13 countries will compete for gold in the men’s and/or women’s ice hockey tournaments: Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Japan, Korea, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States. All of them will have a set of at least two different jersey designs. The full sets will later be published on pyeongchang2018.iihf.hockey.

 

Group C

[hckošice 15,073]

ROAD TO PYEONGCHANG

 

November 2017 International Break

Review

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Finns claim Karjala Tournament

Russia wins in Augsburg

Denmark, Latvia & Poland win EIHC events

 

Finland ended the Karjala Tournament with a 4-3 victory against Canada before 13,037 fans in Helsinki to win the tournament on home ice.

 

Eeli Tolvanen scored a power-play goal midway through the third period to break a 3-3 tie with Canada and give the home side victory in the Karjala Tournament with a perfect 3-0 record. The game was played before a sold-out crowd at Hartwall Arena in Helsinki.

 

The loss put Canada in fourth place with one win and two losses. Russia and Sweden finished with 2-1 records, the former receiving superior placing based on goals difference.

 

The Czechs tied with Canada with one win and the Swiss finished in last, going winless in the tournament.

 

Normally a pleasant event during a league break in European club play, this year’s Karjala Tournament had greater importance because teams used the event as a testing ground for players hoping to represent their countries at next February’s Olympics. To that end, Canada and Switzerland were added to the schedule which is usually reserved for four teams (Finland, Czech Republic, Russia and Sweden).

 

Finland won its three games thanks to several positive factors. Mikko Koskinen was sharp in goal for Suomi in two games; the defence allowed only two goals a game; and, the players gelled like a team. As well, 18-year-old Miro Heiskanen played like a veteran and looks to be a good bet to go to PyeongChang.

 

Russia scored the most goals of the six teams (13), in large part thanks to Mikhail Grigorenko, who scored four of his team’s goals and finished atop the scoring table with six points. Three of those goals came on the final day in a 5-2 win over the Czechs.

 

Sweden lost a 3-1 decision to Finland to start the Helsinki part of the tournament and played its best in completely shutting down Canada in a 2-0 win. Par Lindholm was the hero there, scoring two power-play goals – one in the second, one in the third – to give Tre Kronor all the offense it needed.

 

The team then posted an emphatic 5-3 win over the Czechs thanks to two more power-play goals, these from Dick Axelsson in the third period to break a 3-3 tie. Indeed, five of the team’s eight goals in the tournament came with the extra man.

 

Canada’s GM Sean Burke has had to cobble together a lineup like no GM in Canada’s long Olympic history. While most of the players are from the KHL, there are also participants from Switzerland, Sweden, the AHL, and NCAA. Coach Willie Desjardins had to be happiest with the final game when the team showed some offensive flair and legs that had been absent previously. But there is clearly work to be done before Canada can claim to be in the medal mix for PyeongChang.

 

The Czechs haven’t won a medal at the World Championship since 2012, the longest drought in the nearly hundred years of IIHF participation, and this result continues a worrisome trend. With its best group of players in the NHL, they are fighting to generate offence and play strong defence.

 

The Swiss are clearly in trouble without their NHLers. The incredible success of the nation’s program has now sent 13 players to the world’s top league, but without those stars, coach Patrick Fischer, like every other coach, has had to scramble. Losing all three games and scoring only six times doesn’t bode well for next February.

 

In all, teams learned a great deal about who they’ll have and what kind of team they’ll have. The news is good and bad, but time is running short. One can be sure the various general managers and coaches will confer in the coming days and do what they can to improve further. In the meantime, there are only two mini-tournaments left before Korea – the Channel One Cup in mid-December in Moscow and the Spengler Cup at the end of the year in Davos, Switzerland.

 

Full Karjala Cup Results HERE

 

 

 

Russia won in Augsburg the Deutschland Cup

 

It was a busy weekend for 24 men’s national teams during the international break. Finland, Russia, Denmark, Latvia and Poland were among the tournament winners.

 

Beside the Karjala Tournament there were several other events such as the traditional Deutschland Cup that again took place in Augsburg. Russia had a very busy weekend sending two men’s teams to international tournaments, the A squad to Helsinki and the B squad to Augsburg. And while the top team had to settle for second place at the Karjala Tournament, the Russian selection for the Deutschland Cup succeeded all the way winning all three games in Augsburg.

 

The team coached by Oleg Bratash beat host Germany 8-2 with eight different goal scorers, continued with a 5-2 win against the United States and then beat Slovakia 4-2 for first place thanks to a hat trick from Alexei Makeyev. The 25-year-old winger of Vityaz Podolsk, who has never played for any national team before, not only opened the scoring after three minutes, but when Russia was behind 2-1 he scored the important 2-2 and 3-2 goals for his team. Other top performers for the team were tournament scoring leader Artyom Fyodorov, who had one goal and five assists, top-scoring defenceman Mikhail Naumenkov (3+2) and goaltender Vasili Koshechkin, who had a 93.55 save percentage in two starts.

 

For Slovakia the first tournament with new head coach Craig Ramsay and GM Miroslav Satan ended in second place after wins against the U.S. (2-1) and Germany (3-0). The Germans got their only win on the last day, 5-1 against the United States thanks to efficient offence with a 4-0 lead midway the game.

 

For the U.S. men’s national team it was first and last tournament of the season prior to the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang and provided head coach Tony Granato some insight about the potential players for the Olympics. The players were mainly professionals from European clubs. Seven each came from the Swedish SHL and the Swiss National League, six from the KHL, five from the German DEL and one from the Czech Extraliga. Former NHL forward Ryan Malone has an AHL contract with the Iowa Wild and long-time NHL player Brian Gionta is without a club after having captained the Buffalo Sabres during the last three seasons and the Montreal Canadiens before.

 

Full Deutschland Cup Results HERE  

 

 

 

 

Denmark, Latvia & Poland win EIHC tournaments

 

Other countries participated in three tournaments that are part of the Euro Ice Hockey Challenge.

 

2018 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship host Denmark finished the event in Innsbruck on top before Scandinavian rival Norway, tournament host Austria and Olympic host Korea. After exchanging goals in the first two periods including a temporary 2-1 and 3-2 lead for the Koreans, the Danes eventually scored their goals during the second half of the game to win 7-4. Jesper Jensen and Morten Poulsen scored the power-play markers to beat second-placed Norway 2-0. And to secure the tournament win the Danes beat Austria 2-1 on the last day thanks to Jonas Rondbjerg’s game-winning goal with 12 seconds left in regulation time.

 

Norway finished in second place thanks to a 3-2 overtime win against Austria on the first day. The Norwegians came back from a one-goal deficit with third-period goals from Anders Bastiansen and Mathis Olimb but Thomas Hundertpfund tied the game at two with his power-play marker 2:31 before the end of regulation time. Mathis Olimb scored the overtime winner also on a man advantage.

 

Olympic host Korea, which recently earned promotion to the 2018 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, had to leave the tournament winless but had the tournament’s scoring leader as Kisung Kim notched five points (1+4).

 

 

At France’s new national ice hockey centre in Cergy-Pontoise near Paris, Latvia won a competitive tournament ahead of neighbouring country Belarus, Slovenia and host France.

 

The first day was already key for the tournament win when the Latvians beat Belarus 7-5. Five different players scored for Latvia including Maris Bicevskis and Rodrigo Abols with a pair of goals. The Latvians had a good start and established a 3-0 lead after 25 minutes of play but yet had to battle hard. Belarus came back with two goals in a span of 40 seconds in the middle frame before the Latvians added two more markers toward the end of the period for a 5-2 lead. The maroon-and-white team continued with victories against Slovenia (4-1) and France (3-1) to win the tournament.

 

Belarus came back after the loss to take second place with wins against France (3-2 OT) and Slovenia (5-3) and had the tournament’s scoring leader with Artur Gavrus (1+4). The Slovenes had their only win against France when Rok Ticar scored in overtime while the French lost all games including two in overtime.

 

 

The third EIHC tournament played in Budapest included four Division I countries. Hungary will host the 2018 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Division I Group A in the same city but at a bigger venue, the multifunctional Laszlo Papp Sportarena.

 

Poland was already known as the tournament winner after two days beating host Hungary 4-1 and Japan 3-2. Krystian Dziubinski opened the scoring for Poland in the first period and when Jesse Dudas tied the game for Hungary 98 seconds into the second period, Alex Szczechura reacted with his goal 50 seconds later and Aron Chmielewski made it 3-1 before the intermission and before Marcin Kolusz added the fourth goal early in the third period. Szczechura, Pawel Dronia and Kacper Guzik scored for the Poles in the win against a Japanese team that fought back with Ryo Hashimoto’s two goals. With the tournament win secured, the Poles lost the last game to Italy 4-3.

 

Japan, which opposed to the other teams plays in the Division I Group B, experienced a good start under new head coach Yuji Iwamoto. Two goals within a span of 62 seconds during the middle frame from Makuru Furuhashi set up a 2-1 upset win against Italy on the opening day and after recovering from the tight loss to Poland, the Japanese beat host Hungary 4-3 in shootout on Sunday evening.

 

Hungary dominated the game with 43-18 shots on goal and held the lead during most of the game until Hiromichi Terao tied the game at three with 3:09 left in regulation time. Kenta Takagi scored the shootout-winner for Japan, which thanks to the win finished in second place before Hungary and Italy.

 

23-year-old Furuhashi, who’s just in his second season with the Japanese men’s national team, was the tournament’s scoring leader with five points (3+2).

 

Full European Ice Hockey Challenger Results HERE

 

 

 

In the Lithuanian port city of Klaipeda a Latvian league selection won the Baltic Challenge Cup against the men’s national teams of Lithuania, Estonia and the U20 national team from Ukraine.

 

[hckošice 15,073]

First Olympic participants

IIHF names refs, linesmen for PyeongChang 2018

 

The IIHF Council has confirmed the referees and linesmen who will officiate at the men’s and women’s ice hockey tournaments of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

 

In total 47 on-ice officials from 13 different countries got the call for the 2018 Olympics.

 

The 12-team men’s tournament will be handled by 14 referees and 14 linesmen. The eight-team women’s tournament will be officiated by 10 referees and nine linesmen.

 

In numbers the list is led by the United States with seven on-ice officials followed by Finland and Sweden with six each. Canada, the Czech Republic and Switzerland will send five each to the Olympics.

 

Several of the on-ice officials have experience from Sochi 2014. Among the referees Antonin Jerabek and Konstantin Olenin have been part of the crew on Sochi 2014 while Nicole Hertrich and Aina Hove even bring in the experience of two Olympics and eight Women’s World Championships as they were also in Vancouver 2010. Also on the ice in Vancouver 2010 was Nikoleta Celarova, however, not as a referee but as a player for the Slovak women’s team.

 

For most of the referees and linesmen it will be the first Olympic Winter Games after several men’s and women’s World Championships under the belt. In total the officials combine for 134 World Championship participations. But everybody who performs well had the chance to make it as the example of French linesman Charlotte Girard shows, who hasn’t officiated at the Olympic or senior top-level Women’s World Championship before.

 

2018 Olympic men's ice hockey tournament   Referees     Linesmen   Lemelin, Mark    Vanoosten, Nathan  Gouin, Oliver   Lederer, Vit  Iverson, Brett    Lhotsky, Miroslav  Hribik, Jan    Sormunen, Hannu  Jerabek, Antonin    Suominen, Sakari  Rantala, Aleksi    Kohlmuller, Lukas  Salonen, Anssi    Lazarev, Gleb  Gofman, Roman    Otmakhov, Alexander  Olenin, Konstantin    Fluri, Nicolas  Stricker, Daniel    Kaderli, Roman  Wehrli, Tobias    Dahmen, Jimmy  Kubus, Jozef    Pihlblad, Henrik  Ohlund, Linus    McIntyre, Fraser  Mayer, Timothy    Ritter, Judson

[Dragon 1,892]

IIHF president Rene Fasel says that if Russia is banned from the Olympics, it could look to IIHF rankings to replace them in PyeongChang hockey tournaments. That would mean Belarus men, German women.

[ahjfcshfghb 288]

8 hours ago, Dragon said:

IIHF president Rene Fasel says that if Russia is banned from the Olympics, it could look to IIHF rankings to replace them in PyeongChang hockey tournaments. That would mean Belarus men, German women.

Damn. Was hoping the Czech women could squeeze in somehow. Always so close...  

Then again I'm hoping Russia doesn't get banned. Just because the hockey tournament would lose all of its flare. The Czechs for one would lose arguably their most heated rival.

[hckošice 15,073]

 

 

10 hours ago, Dragon said:

IIHF president Rene Fasel says that if Russia is banned from the Olympics, it could look to IIHF rankings to replace them in PyeongChang hockey tournaments. That would mean Belarus men, German women.

 

If Russia banned, then KHL will very likely as response not allowing their players to compete, so then the things will not really help Belarus, since their team is almost every year the same and entirely KHL based !

I really don´t know who they field in this case, maybe the full team of Yunost Minsk

[Dragon 1,892]

30 minutes ago, hckosice said:

 

 

 

If Russia banned, then KHL will very likely as response not allowing their players to compete, so then the things will not really help Belarus, since their team is almost every year the same and entirely KHL based !

I really don´t know who they field in this case, maybe the full team of Yunost Minsk

Would Belarus accept the place? They are great allies of Russia.