Ice Hockey IIHF World Championships 2017

[JoshMartini007 2,537]

1 hour ago, intoronto said:

Next year's tournament takes place closer to Toronto than Montreal is. This might be a slight overkill in terms of 3 events in 4 years in the relative same area...

 

The IIHF likes to make money and Canada loves the tournament. If they could they would have the tournament in Canada every year.

 

Last time it was in Buffalo Canada "invaded" the United States.

[hckošice 14,829]

Preliminary Groups for next years Under 20 Top Division World Championships in Buffalo, USA 2018

 

Group A

• Belarus
• Canada
• Finland
• Slovakia
• United States

 

Group B

• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Russia
• Sweden
• Switzerland

 

 

yep ofc, again both North americans..oh god what did we do wrong to deserve this

[JoshMartini007 2,537]

53 minutes ago, hckosice said:

yep ofc, again both North americans..oh god what did we do wrong to deserve this

 

The US wanted to rig the groups so they could go against Canada in an outdoor game. So instead of using the more logical option of switching Canada with Sweden they placed the 1st and 2nd placed teams with teams placed 8th, 9th and the promoted team while teams ranked 3rd-7th were placed in the other group.

 

Using the old standard the groups should have been...

Group A:

Group B:

[hckošice 14,829]

15 minutes ago, JoshMartini007 said:

 

The US wanted to rig the groups so they could go against Canada in an outdoor game. So instead of using the more logical option of switching Canada with Sweden they placed the 1st and 2nd placed teams with teams placed 8th, 9th and the promoted team while teams ranked 3rd-7th were placed in the other group.

 

Using the old standard the groups should have been...

Group A:

Group B:

 

yes, I know. the idea of the outdoor game (first ever at worlds juniors championship level) is interesting and the atmosphere around will be certainly awesome. just pitty we are in the same group again. we will not have again any chance against north american junior hockey is far far away of our level, and will want fix their reputation next year destroying everyone everywhere and Finlands playing style is our worst nightmare, we just don´t know how to play against Finland. can´t even remeber last time we achieved good result against them..I think it´s 2003 in Helsinki..since then we lost all matches in allcategories !!! all in all, this will means at best the QF against the winner (best team) of second group so again no chance for success.

 

so thanks this outdoor game we will send a team next year again with goal to train, prepare and win only 1 match against

[hckošice 14,829]

Well, The U20 top division championship over, but the hockey world continue,

 

During next week several World Championships tournaments will be contested.

2 of them will start tomorrow Saturday,

 

 

Mens

 

Under 20 Division II Group B World Championships in Logroňo (ESP)

Day 1 Schedule (7th January 2017)

GMT +1

 

13:00  Mexico vs Belgium

16:30  Serbia vs South Korea

20:00  Spain vs Australia

 

*Usual format, Round Robin Tournament, 1st Ranked team will advance to the Under 20 Division II group A next year and will be replaced in Division II Group B by Croatia relegated from U20 Div II A tournament played before christmas in Estonia. the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th ranked teams will maintain in this division also for next year, the 6th ranked team will be relegated next year in to Under 20 Division III World championships and will be replaced by the winner of this years edition which will be played later this month in New Zealand.

 

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Womens

 

Under 18 Top Division World Championships in Czech Republic

Day 1 Schedule  (7th January 2017)

GMT +1

 

Group A in Zlín

15:30  USA vs Russia

19:30  Canada vs Sweden

 

Group B in Přerov

16:15  Czech Republic vs Japan

20:15  Finland vs Switzerland

 

* format of the tournament, 8 Nations divided in 2 preliminary groups, Group A with 4 highest ranked nations and group B with lowest ranked teams. First 2 Teams of Group A will automatically qualify for the semifinals, 3rd and 4th teams of Group A and winner and 2nd team of Group B will qualify for the quarterfinals, 3rd and 4th teams of Group B will battle in a best of 3 matches relegation round serie.

 

 

[hckošice 14,829]

Here you can find livestreams of all matches of U20 Division II B in Spain

 

https://www.youtube.com/user/alfredomella/videos?view=2&live_view=502&shelf_id=2&sort=dd

[hckošice 14,829]

UNDER 20 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

2017

 

 

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Magic and tears

Fourth U.S. U20 gold tops tournament highlights

 

Like a great hockey team, the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship got better every day, climaxing with the U.S.’s 5-4 shootout win over Canada for gold.

 

Among many unforgettable memories, this final was the jewel in the crown. “Everyone had so much energy built up and was running all over the ice,” said U.S. forward Troy Terry, who scored the shootout winner to give the U.S. its fourth World Junior gold of all time. “It was really an awesome hockey game.”

 

The University of Denver star inscribed his name in hockey history with his five-hole masterpiece on Canada’s Carter Hart. It was the same spot Terry picked while scoring three times in the shootout in the U.S.’s 4-3 semi-final win over Russia, prompting comparisons to the heroics of Canada’s Jonathan Toews at the 2007 World Juniors and the U.S.’s T.J. Oshie at the 2014 Olympics.

 

The gold medal game was a magical display of run-and-gun hockey, the kind you just don’t see in defence-obsessed pro leagues. And the U20 Americans came through big time.

 

It was another milestone for USA Hockey. This success didn’t come out of nowhere. The roster featured 17 alumni of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, including Terry, tournament all-stars Clayton Keller and Charlie McAvoy, and U.S. goals leader Colin White.

 

American goalie Tyler Parsons put on an epic show, too, as Canada outshot the U.S. 50-36. “Crazy,” said White. “Five saves in the shootout. He was just unbelievable. Hell of a player.”

 

Want the definition of guts and character in hockey? Rallying from deficits of 2-0 and 4-2 and killing off five penalties before winning the big game in extra time. That’s living the American dream.

 

The World Juniors have been amazingly blessed with wild, hard-fought finals. Six of the last eight gold medal games have been decided by one goal, and five of the last eight have gone into extra time. For thrills and chills, the barnburner in front of 20,173 fans at the Bell Centre on Thursday night rivaled the previous all-North American final, 2010’s 6-5 U.S. triumph on John Carlson’s overtime goal in Saskatoon.

 

“It’s incredible,” said Terry. “It’s something that I’ll remember forever, being able to win with this group of guys and just how exciting the game was.”

 

Even in defeat, Canadian defenceman Jeremy Lauzon will carry away vivid memories: “It was pretty awesome. Sometimes the crowd was so loud that I couldn’t even talk to my partner.”

 

Overall, the U.S. went unbeaten in seven games in Toronto and Montreal and topped both Canada and Russia (their two biggest rivals) twice en route to gold. At the U20 level, the Americans now hold clear bragging rights over archrival Canada. The two North American powers have met in four World Junior finals, and the United States has prevailed three times (2004, 2010, 2017) to Canada’s one (1997).

 

When you factor in the 2013 gold medal in Ufa, Russia, the U.S. is also the most successful World Junior nation so far this decade with three titles, one up on Finland (2014, 2016).

 

Yet even after tearfully settling for silver, host Canada can hold its head high. The tournament’s highest-scoring team with 35 goals attacked its opponents in waves. MVP Thomas Chabot put on a two-way defence clinic while logging massive minutes. The Canadian forwards entertained and inspired, too, from the slickness of captain Dylan Strome to the smarts of Matt Barzal, from the speed of Mathieu Joseph to the grit of Julien Gauthier.

 

Hockey is a game of inches, and Canada could easily be celebrating a victory right now. In a nation with a gold-or-bust mentality, fans need to be forgiving this year.

 

The European nations came away with moments to cherish as well. Edging Sweden 2-1 in overtime in the bronze medal game, the Russians earned their seventh consecutive World Junior medal, going back to 2011’s gold. Captain Kirill Kaprizov’s electrifying moves and never-say-die attitude enabled him to amass a tournament-high nine goals and three assists. Ilya Samsonov deserved his Best Goaltender award after his fantastic 38-save performance in that bronze tilt.

 

Sweden’s Alexander Nylander showcased his cool playmaking and tied Kaprizov for the tournament points lead. Captain Joel Eriksson Ek sniped with confidence and 16-year-old defenceman Rasmus Dahlin had flashes of brilliant skating and puckhandling. Yet this tournament was underwhelming for rookie head coach Tomas Monten’s squad, as the Juniorkronona failed to capture a medal for the third straight year. Nonetheless, the Swedes have made the final four 11 straight times, and a return to the podium can’t be far away.

 

Denmark made some happy history with its first U20 wins over Finland and the Czech Republic. Mathias From’s overtime winner versus the Czechs on a solo rush was a contender for goal of the tournament. The Danes placed fifth, an all-time high. “That’s unbelievable,” said forward Joachim Blichfeld. “We’re a small country, so it’s amazing.” It’s also a great prelude to hosting the 2018 IIHF World Championship in Copenhagen and Herning.

 

Switzerland enjoyed the international coming-out party of 18-year-old sniper Nico Hischier, who led his team with seven points (4+3) and could be the top pick in the 2017 NHL Draft. Exciting overtime wins over the Czechs and Danes helped the Swiss finish seventh.

 

Both halves of the former Czechoslovakia had their ups and down in Eastern Canada. The Czechs only earned one regulation win, but it was a doozy, a 2-1 opening win over defending champion Finland on Michael Spacek’s goal with 1:18 left. The Czechs also hung tough with Canada in the quarter-final, keeping it tied till the halfway point, but ultimately falling 5-2. For an unheralded Slovak team featuring captain Erik Cernak in his fourth World Juniors, the highlight was surviving into the quarter-finals after topping Latvia 4-2.

 

The Finns, of course, had the roughest ride of any medal contender. Expectations were just too high after Jesse Puljujarvi, Sebastian Aho, and Patrik Laine led them to 2016 gold in Helsinki. “Sometimes there’s just bad luck,” said defenceman Juuso Valimaki. “In this tournament, goal-scoring was hard for us.” At the Bell Centre, they scored just 12 goals in six games, finishing ninth. Coach Jukka Rautakorpi was fired mid-tournament and replaced by Jussi Ahokas, who led Finland to World U18 gold last April.

 

Finland became the only defending World Junior champion ever to play in the relegation round, where they defeated Latvia in two straight games. For the underdog Latvians, it was another valuable learning experience, and goalie Mareks Mitens battled valiantly, facing 170 shots in five outings.

 

When you’re dealing with the world’s top teenage hockey players, magic and tears are inevitable. That combo keeps hockey fans entranced. It’s hard not to start looking forward already to the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo.

 

[hckošice 14,829]

WOMEN'S UNDER 18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

2017

 

 

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Women’s U18 back in CZE

Return to 2012 venues promises drama

 

The 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women’s World Championship begins tomorrow in Zlin and Prerov, Czech Republic, the two cities that hosted the same event five years

 

The Czechs then set an attendance record, which was broken by Canada last year, and hope to have a good atmosphere at the arenas again. All games will be streamed live on the official event website u18worldwomen2017.iihf.com, which is available in English and Czech language.

 

That year Canada defeated the U.S., 3-0, for gold, and Sweden claimed the bronze with a 4-1 win over Germany.

 

Last year the Americans beat Canada, 3-2, in overtime and the Swedes beat Russia, 2-1 for the bronze.

 

This year, the two North American nations are expected to return to the gold-medal game and, as usual, it’s a coin toss to figure out which might win. The race for the bronze is wide open as the European nations are developing better players all the time.

 

The defending champs will once again be coached by Joel Johnson, but he won’t have Natalie Snodgrass back. She scored the golden goal in 2016 and was second in tournament scoring last year.

 

Back is goalie Alex Gulstene, who played in three of five games last year, including the gold-medal win. Half the defence is not returning, leaving veterans Cayla Barnes, Gracie Ostertag, and Madeline Wethington to lead the blueliners. Up front, however, the team has seven returnees, making for a very strong core that will be capable of defending their crown. Jesse Compher, Catherine Skaja, Taylor Wente, and Grace Zumwinkle are among the players to watch.

 

Canada looks to have an equally strong team as well. Incoming coach Troy Ryan replaces Lisa Haley, and his first job will be to determine a number-one goalie. There are several strong candidates including Edith D’Astous-Moreau, but last year’s main goalie, Stephanie Neatby, won’t be in the Czech Republic this year.

 

In all, Canada has only six returning players, so Ryan will have to get his players working as a team quickly. Sophie Shirley, lithe and fast, will pace the attack. Other returning players include Amy Potomak, Emma Maltais, Daryl Watts, Ashton Bell, and Olivia Knowles. This should be a skilled, offensive team that can give the U.S. a run for gold.

 

Sweden remains strong under returning coach Ylva Lindberg, although goalie Emma Soderberg won’t be back. There were many 2000-born players in camp, so it might be a young team as well. Jessica Adolfsson, the team’s leading scorer, is no longer eligible to play but Celine Tedenby, another offensive threat, will be. Sofie Lundin will also be counted on to score some goals despite still being only 16 years old. If Linnea Johansson makes the team, the 14-year-old will be among the youngest players ever at the WW18.

 

Russia lost the bronze medal game last year to Sweden and rookie coach Yevgeni Bobariko will be without last year’s sensational goalie Valeria Tarakanova. He will, however, have a Tretyak on the roster—Milena Tretyak, that is. His big worry will be scoring. Last year the team relied heavily on Fanuza Kadirova, but she’s no longer eligible for U18. The only player returning who showed offensive flair is forward Daria Beloglazova, but she’s going to need some help. Nearly half the team is back from 2016, but scoring and keeping the puck out of the goal are significant challenges this year.

 

Coach Jari Risku is back behind Finland’s bench and will likely consider returning goalie Johanna Oksman his number-one puck stopper. There are seven skaters returning, so last year’s 6^th place might well be improved upon this year thanks to wisdom gained from a year’s experience, especially for the likes of Petra Nieminen and Jennina Nylund.

 

The host Czech Republic will be guided by Jan Fidrmuc, back for a fifth straight term as coach. His greatest challenge will be finding goals. Klara Hymlarova is one of eight returnees, and she tied for the team lead last year with only two goals. Grouped with Switzerland, Japan, and Finland, their task will be to avoid relegation.

 

The Swiss will be without last year’s tournament scoring leader, Alina Muller, who now plays for the senior team. This combined with a young roster, could be problematic for the Swiss who have finished seventh the last two years.

 

France was demoted last year and Japan, winners of Division I in 2016, will be up, but can the Asian nation remain in the top pool? The talent level is spread thin but the Japanese may be able to challenge some of their Group B opponents. Almost all Japanese play on teams at home, but Sena Takenaka plays at the Ontario Hockey Academy in Canada. They will be in a fight to avoid relegation.

 

[hckošice 14,829]

WOMEN'S UNDER 18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

2017

 

 

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Livestreams of all matches available here https://www.youtube.com/user/hokejcz/featured

 

[hckošice 14,829]

Mens

 

Under 20 Division II Group B World Championships in Logroňo (ESP)

Day 1 (7th January 2017)

 

13:00  Mexico vs Belgium  3-5

16:30  Serbia vs South Korea  2-3 after GWS

20:00  Spain vs Australia  15-2

 

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Womens

 

Under 18 Top Division World Championships in Czech Republic

Day 1  (7th January 2017)

 

Group A in Zlín

15:30  USA vs Russia  6-1

19:30  Canada vs Sweden  5-1

 

Group B in Přerov

16:15  Czech Republic vs Japan  3-2

20:15  Finland vs Switzerland  3-1