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

[hckošice 16,640]

12 minutes ago, Dragon said:

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

 

Don´t know, but I think yes. I mean, allies or not, this is a Olympic tournament after all and knowing Belarus is also one of those Hockey loving countries, I guess they will certainly use the opportunity even if it´s on the detriment of the biggest allies. 

But let see what will happen around Russia first, I still think they will not be entirely banned and their hockey team will play in PyeongChang even under IOC flag

[hckošice 16,640]

This is how the Hockey jerseys of Russia will looks, just waiting for the final approval of IOC

 

 

[hckošice 16,640]

ROAD TO PYEONGCHANG

 

December 2017 International Break

Review

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Russia wins on home ice

Czechs missed one point for Channel One Cup

 

Host Russia won the last big men’s senior tournament before the 2018 Olympic Winter Games with the six-team Channel One Cup in Moscow.

 

With Canada ambitious to test its European-based players, the event was extended to six teams like the Karjala Tournament in Helsinki once month earlier with the addition of Canada and Olympic host Korea.

 

However, it was the four traditional “Euro Hockey Tour” nations that occupied the top-four spots in Moscow with the hosts leading the way thanks to a clean record of three regulation-time wins.

 

It didn’t start that well though at the VTB Ice Palace that was built for the 2016 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. Fredrik Pettersson gave Sweden the lead in the countries’ first game but Russia fought back and Sergei Kalinin tied the game in the first period before Vyacheslav Voinov in the second and Nikita Gusev with a penalty shot in the third period made it a 3-1 victory.

 

In a much-anticipated game by the sell-out crowd of 12,680 fans Russia blanked Canada 2-0 on Saturday. The Canadians, many of them from clubs in the Russian-based KHL, dominated the game for two periods and had a 38-20 shot-on-goal advantage during 60 minutes. However, Vasili Koshechkin had a strong night in the net and in the third period Nikita Nesterov broke the deadlock with his power-play goal before Sergei Plotnikov scored the second goal for Russia.

 

The Czechs also started with two wins, 3-2 in overtime against Finland in a game that was played in front of 16,227 fans in Prague before settling over to Moscow, and 4-1 against Canada. On Sunday a 4-1 win against Sweden meant the Czechs were leading with eight points and Russia would need a regulation-time win in the last game of the tournament against Finland to claim the tournament win. A strong start with goal from Sergei Andronov and Maxim Shalunov gave Russia the sought-after cushion in a 3-0 win. Valeri Nichushkin scored the last goal with 17 seconds left into the empty net.

 

The lost point in the overtime win on the opening day cost the Czechs the tournament win who had to settle for second place and had the top-four point scorers of the tournament with Martin Erat (2+3=5), Vojtech Mozik (2+2=4), Martin Ruzicka (3+0=3) and Michal Repik (3+0=3).

 

Finland, Sweden and Canada followed in the standings with each having earned one victory in three games. Newcomer Korea, which for the first time played a tournament at this level, finished in last place. Their tightest game was a 4-2 loss against Canada on the first day after a first-period 2-1 lead thanks to two goals from Sangwook Kim before the Canadians turned the game with second-period markers from Marc-Andre Gragnani and Wojtek Wolski.

 

Russia’s Koshechkin was named Best Goaltender of the tournament after a 98.36 save percentage from his two starts against Sweden and Canada. Ilya Sorokin played Russia’s last game earning a shutout. His teammate Voinov was named Best Defenceman and the Best Forward award went to Korean player Kisung Kim.

 

 

Full Results HERE

 

For Russia it was a “double win” during the weekend as their B squad played at the MECA Hockey Games where they beat host Norway 4-3 in overtime, Slovakia 3-2 in overtime and France 3-1.

 

Defenceman Mikhail Naumenkov was the top scorer for his team with three points (2+1). Slovakia’s Tomas Surovy (1+3) and Andrej Kudrna (3+0) led the tournament in scoring. Norway’s Olimb brothers Mathis (2+1) and Ken Andre (1+2) also notched three points.

 

Slovakia finished the events in second place thanks to wins against France (4-2) and host Norway with Kudrna notching the shootout winner after a scoreless game. Host Norway was third while France didn’t earn any points.

 

 

Full Results HERE

 

 

 

Two back-to-back games were played in Belarus where the hosts blanked Kazakhstan 3-0 before winning the second match 2-1 after a Viktor Turkin overtime goal.

 

 

[hckošice 16,640]

  TEAM UNITED STATES 

 

 

Goaltenders:

• Ryan Zapolski (Jokerit Helsinki, KHL, )
• David Leggio (Red Bull Munchen, ) 
• Brandon Maxwell (Mlada Boleslav, )  

Defencers:

• Chad Billins (Linkoping HC, )
• Jonathon Blum (Admiral Vladivostok, KHL, )
• Will Borgen (St. Cloud State University, NCAA)
• Matt Gilroy (Jokerit Helsinki, KHL, )
• Ryan Gunderson (Brynäs Gävle, )
• Bobby Sanguinetti (HC Lugano, )
• Noah Welch ( Växjö Lakers, )
• James Wisniewski (EC Kassel, )

Forwards:

• Mark Arcobello (SC Bern, )
• Chris Bourque (Hershey Bears, AHL)
• Bobby Butler (Milwaukee Admirals, AHL)
• Ryan Donato (Harvard University, NCAA)
• Bryan Gionta (No Club)
• Jordan Greenway (Boston University, NCAA)
• Chad Kolarik (Adler Mannheim, )
• Broc Little (HC Davos, )
• John McCarthy (San Jose, AHL)
• Brian O´Neill (Jokerit Helsinki, KHL, )
• Garrett Roe (EV Zug, )
• Jim Slater (Fribourg-Gotteron, )
• Ryan Stoa (Spartak Moscow, KHL, )
• Troy Terry (University of Denver, NCAA)

 

 

[heywoodu 16,468]

So the KHL seems to be in after all? 

[hckošice 16,640]

2 minutes ago, heywoodu said:

So the KHL seems to be in after all? 

 

Yes, Russia want this gold. They never won any Olympic title since the collapse of the USSR (last gold is from 1992 in the colors of the so-called Unified team) so this time they have probably the biggest chance to do it even if under the neutral flag, everyone knew it immediately after the NHL forbiddance. This was pretty sure KHL will allow their SKA St. Petersburg "monsters" to play in PyeongChang once the Russians were not entirely banned 

[phelps 8,756]

3 hours ago, hckosice said:

  TEAM UNITED STATES 

 

 

Goaltenders:

• Ryan Zapolski (Jokerit Helsinki, KHL, )
• TBA later in January
• TBA later in January

Defencers:

• Chad Billins (Linkoping HC, )
• Jonathon Blum (Admiral Vladivostok, KHL, )
• Will Borgen (St. Cloud State University, NCAA)
• Matt Gilroy (Jokerit Helsinki, KHL, )
• Ryan Gunderson (Brynäs Gävle, )
• Bobby Sanguinetti (HC Lugano, )
• Noah Welch ( Växjö Lakers, )
• James Wisniewski (EC Kassel, )

Forwards:

• Mark Arcobello (SC Bern, )
• Chris Bourque (Hershey Bears, AHL)
• Bobby Butler (Milwaukee Admirals, AHL)
• Ryan Donato (Harvard University, NCAA)
• Bryan Gionta (No Club)
• Jordan Greenway (Boston University, NCAA)
• Chad Kolarik (Adler Mannheim, )
• Broc Little (HC Davos, )
• John McCarthy (San Jose, AHL)
• Brian O´Neill (Jokerit Helsinki, KHL, )
• Garrett Roe (EV Zug, )
• Jim Slater (Fribourg-Gotteron, )
• Ryan Stoa (Spartak Moscow, KHL, )
• Troy Terry (University of Denver, NCAA)

 

 

 

quite a good miscellaneous of leagues and teams represented in this team...

I'm sure they will play with great pride and they're going to be a tough opponent for all the other teams, but I don't think they have any chance to come home with a medal, this time...

[hckošice 16,640]

8 minutes ago, phelps said:

 

quite a good miscellaneous of leagues and teams represented in this team...

I'm sure they will play with great pride and they're going to be a tough opponent for all the other teams, but I don't think they have any chance to come home with a medal, this time...

 

Indeed. But there still a interesting mainly offensive power with guys like Broc Little and Ryan Stoa. They were very good at the Deutschland Cup. + there a lot of experiences in this team with former NHLers Gionta, Arcobello, Slater, Wisniewski or Sanguinetti.

 

I am really curious to see how far they can go. but once again for these guys this will be the fulfilled dream and probably the tournament of their lives, so if they manage to form a solid group inside they definitely can have a shot, but as you said the medals still should be too high for them

[hckošice 16,640]

TEAM CANADA

 

 

Goaltenders:

• Justin Peters (Kolner Haie, )
• Kevin Poulin (Medvescak Zagreb, EBEL, )
• Ben Scrivens (Salavat Yulaev Ufa, KHL, )

Defencers:

• Stefan Elliott (HV 71, )
• Chay Genoway (Lada Togliatti, KHL, )
• Cody Goloubef (Stockton Heat, AHL, )
• Marc-Andre Gragnani (Dinamo Minsk, KHL, )
• Chris Lee (Metallurg Magnitigorsk, KHL, )
• Maxim Noreau (SC Bern, )
• Mat Robinson (CSKA Moscow, KHL, )
• Karl Stollery (Dinamo Riga, KHL, ) 

Forwards:

• René Bourque (Djurgardens IF, )
• Gilbert Brulé (Kunlun Red Star, KHL, )
• Andrew Ebbett (SC Bern, )
• Quinton Howden (Dinamo Minsk, KHL, )
• Chris Kelly (Belleville Senatores, AHL )
• Rob Klinkhammer (Ak Bars Kazan, KHL, )
• Brandon Kozun (Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, KHL, )
• Maxim Lapierre (HC Lugano, )
• Eric O’Dell (HK Sochi, KHL, )
• Mason Raymond (SC Bern, )
• Derek Roy (Linköping HC, )
• Christian Thomas (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, AHL, )
• Linden Vey (Barys Astana, KHL, )
• Wojtek Wolski (Kunlun Red Star, KHL, ) 

 

[hckošice 16,640]

On 1/2/2018 at 14:42, hckosice said:

  TEAM UNITED STATES 

 

 

Goaltenders:

• Ryan Zapolski (Jokerit Helsinki, KHL, )
• David Leggio (Red Bull Munchen, ) 
• Brandon Maxwell (Mlada Boleslav, )  

Defencers:

• Chad Billins (Linkoping HC, )
• Jonathon Blum (Admiral Vladivostok, KHL, )
• Will Borgen (St. Cloud State University, NCAA)
• Matt Gilroy (Jokerit Helsinki, KHL, )
• Ryan Gunderson (Brynäs Gävle, )
• Bobby Sanguinetti (HC Lugano, )
• Noah Welch ( Växjö Lakers, )
• James Wisniewski (EC Kassel, )

Forwards:

• Mark Arcobello (SC Bern, )
• Chris Bourque (Hershey Bears, AHL)
• Bobby Butler (Milwaukee Admirals, AHL)
• Ryan Donato (Harvard University, NCAA)
• Bryan Gionta (No Club)
• Jordan Greenway (Boston University, NCAA)
• Chad Kolarik (Adler Mannheim, )
• Broc Little (HC Davos, )
• John McCarthy (San Jose, AHL)
• Brian O´Neill (Jokerit Helsinki, KHL, )
• Garrett Roe (EV Zug, )
• Jim Slater (Fribourg-Gotteron, )
• Ryan Stoa (Spartak Moscow, KHL, )
• Troy Terry (University of Denver, NCAA)

 

 

 

USA Hockey announced the names of the remaining two goalies for the PyeongChang Olympics, finalizing then the complete final roster. The retained goaltenders are David Leggio from Munich and young Brandon Maxwell form the Czech club BK Mladá Boleslav. but it is still expected that the starting number 1 goalie will be Ryan Zapolski