Ice Hockey 2015 - 2016 Discussion Thread

[vovanA 169]

9 часов назад, hckosice сказал:

Team Rosters updated. except Kazakhstan which is absolutely impossible to find any clue about them and their roster anywhere. so let´s hope I´ll find some news untill the start of the worlds

 

Czech Republic and Russia will go to the champs with 27 players, yes you read correctly, 27. but they will use only 25, so 2 players will just travel with the team and when the coaches will complete the 25 names rosters they will return back to home. interesting method

 

so and now to the shocks !

 

Russia: Oleg Znaroks removed from the list 4 huge NHL stars !!!  the goalie Semion Varlamov from Colorado, Nail Yakupov from Edmonton, Viktor Tikhonov from Arizona and Artyom Anisimov of the Chicago Blackhawks. Instead of them he called the goalie Sorokin of CSKA Moscow and forwards from Lokomotiv Yaroslavl Apelkin and Averin also from CSKA Moscow another forward Lyubimov.

 

Czech Republic: Vladimir Vujtek just removed 2 players, Tomáš Vincour and Tomáš Voráček.

 

USA: Unfortunately the USA team will play in Russia without Luke Glendening of the Detroit Red Wings who injured himself yesterday and will be replaced by Frank Vatrano of the Boston Bruins.

 

 

 

Varlamov is injuried, for Yakupov and Tikhonov it's not a surprise. But Anisimov could be a good mate for Panarin 

[vovanA 169]

7 часов назад, hckosice сказал:

 

 

http://www.gazeta.ru/sport/hockey-championat-2016/articles/2016/05/04/a_8211389.shtml

 

That´s Oleg Znaroks the hockey "the special one"

 

 

Prepare for Kazakhstan coach Andrey Nazarov)

 

[hckošice 14,822]

3 hours ago, vovanA said:

 

Varlamov is injuried, for Yakupov and Tikhonov it's not a surprise. But Anisimov could be a good mate for Panarin 

 

Thanks for clarification

[hckošice 14,822]

3 hours ago, vovanA said:

 

Prepare for Kazakhstan coach Andrey Nazarov)

 

 

yes Nazarov This guy isn´t normal

[hckošice 14,822]

ROAD TO

IIHF MEN´S ICE HOCKEY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2016

 

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Day To Go

 

Team Jersey for the 80th IIHF World Championships 2016

 

Belarus

 

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[hckošice 14,822]

TEAM PRESENTATIONS

  Kazakhstan

 

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Trans-Atlantic hopes

North American trio could lift Kazakhstan

The naturalization of Barys Astana’s import strike force may provide the firepower to keep the Central Asian nation among the elite.

 

Kazakhstan is a classic elevator team, and few were surprised when it bounced straight back into the top division with gold in Division IA last year. But history shows that staying among the elite is often a challenge too far for the Kazakhs.

 

In 2014, the last time Kazakhstan featured at the highest level, it was a case of so near and yet so far. A shootout loss to Germany and an overtime reverse against the Americans gave the team two points; single goal defeats against Latvia and Finland suggested that the Central Asians were capable of competing at this level but those narrow margins combined to leave Ari-Pekka Selin’s roster bottom of the group and enduring that sinking feeling once again.

 

This time, under the guidance of head coach Andrei Nazarov, the team is boosted by the naturalization of Brandon Bochenski, Nigel Dawes and Dustin Boyd, three North American forwards who starred for Barys Astana in the KHL. There’s also a welcome return for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl goalie Vitali Kolesnik.

 

Goalie

 

Long-serving netminder Vitali Yeremeyev retired after the 2014 Championship, leaving Pavel Poluektov of Barys to backstop the team to goal in Poland last year. But the return of Vitali Kolesnik for his first international action since 2013 is a boost for a team that tends to give up too many goals at this level. The Lokomotiv Yaroslavl goalie shared the #1 spot with KHL record-breaker Alexei Murygin during the regular season and had a GAA of 1.99 and two shut-outs in 26 appearances.

 

Defence

 

There’s no Kevin Dallman this time – the veteran Canadian-born D-man is back home for family reasons and won’t come to Moscow. Dallman’s contribution will be missed at both ends of the rink. His absence will put further pressure on the Kazakh PK, which was the weakest in the 2014 Worlds after giving up 14 goals in seven games with a success rate of just 61.1%.

 

Russian fans, in particular, will be watching for Damir Ryspayev. The 21-year-old Barys enforcer earned instant notoriety with 111 penalty minutes in just 16 KHL games this season. He earned three match expulsions – two against Medvescak and another against Avangard – and four major penalties, including one in a fight with Russian tough-guy Yevgeni Artyukhin. Following his assault on Avangard’s Czech D-man Michal Kempny in a 7-2 home defeat in January, Ryspayev was handed a five-game ban and was explicitly censured by the league’s disciplinary panel for “an offence that in no way corresponds to the letter of the law, nor the spirit of the game”.

 

Forwards

 

The big news on offence is the availability of long-serving Barys Astana trio Brandon Bochenski, Nigel Dawes and Dustin Boyd. Bochenski, who tasted World Championship action in Russia in 2007 as part of Team USA’s roster, has been playing KHL hockey in Kazakhstan since 2010, while his two line-mates arrived a year later. After gaining Kazakh citizenship, all three were given the all-clear to play for the national team at the end of March. They’ve all scored heavily for Barys – U.S.-born Bochenski has 143+198=341 points in 340 games, while former Canadian U20 internationals Dawes and Boyd both amassed more than 200 points. Dawes and Bochenski found the net in Friday’s 3-2 friendly win in Hungary and there are great expectations that their line can provide the firepower to improve on 2014’s near miss.

 

They’ll be seeking support from Roman Starchenko, the leading scorer in last season’s promotion campaign, and another hugely experienced Barys man, Vadim Krasnoslobodtsev. But there’s no place for Talgat Zhailauov; he hasn’t featured for Barys since early January due to an injury and won’t be in Nazarov’s squad here.

 

Coaching

 

Andrei Nazarov began the season at SKA St. Petersburg, but his abrasive style ruffled feathers from day one with the defending Gagarin Cup holder and he left the club to return to Barys in October. Life in Kazakhstan wasn’t all that straightforward, though: Barys missed out on the playoffs for the first time in the KHL. But Nazarov has, for much of his coaching career, been an expert at getting strong results from limited resources – and that’s exactly what he’ll need to do to keep Kazakhstan in the top division.

 

Projected results

 

The big task for Kazakhstan is to turn the near misses of 2014 into the victories that can keep it off the foot of the table. Defenceman Vyacheslav Tryasunov warned that this wouldn’t be an easy task. “We all know what lies ahead and we’re preparing for it,” he said in an interview on on the official website. “We’ve all come here ready to work hard and show what we can do.”

 

Realistically, Kazakhstan’s prospects will rest on its results against Latvia, Denmark and possibly Norway in a mini-league to settle the relegation issue. While the scoring power of the new North American recruits will help, the loss of Kevin Dallman from an already creaky defence will mean that once again Kazakhstan will face a tough battle if it is to end a run of 10 years since its last victory in a game at this level, a relegation round success over Slovenia in Riga in 2006.

 

[hckošice 14,822]

TEAM PRESENTATIONS

  Norway

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Yes way, Norway!

Top-level nation looking for goals

 

Norway is developing more and more world-class players who have ensured a top-level appearance annually.

 

Norway is now playing in its eleventh straight top-level World Championship. It has finished as high as 6th, in 2011, and as low as 14th, in 2007, but it has always found a way to qualify for the succeeding year’s tournament. This year, with a veteran lineup, the R word (relegation) is not even a consideration for a team that has clawed and fought its way to respectability – provided it can get its offence in place.

 

Goal

 

The same three goalies who played in 2015 are back for Russia in 2016. Lars Haugen, playing in his sixth straight World Championship, appeared in five of the seven games last year and has a career record over 50% (15-0-14). Behind him is Lars Volden, who was 0-2 last year, and Steffen Soberg, who was the third goaltender and didn’t play.

 

Defence

 

Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, who has captained the team four of the last five years, will anchor a blue line which features seven returnees from the ten players listed on the pre-tournament roster.

 

Other veteran names fans will recognize include Jonas Holos, Mats Trygg, Mattias Norstebo, and Henrik Odegaard. The new names are Jonas Johannessen, Dennis Sveum, and 21-year-old Erlend Lesund. This will be a group intent more on playing around its goaltender and shutting down the opposition rather than assisting the offence. Last year the back end scored only four goals, three from Norstebo.

 

Forward

 

The only significant name missing from a forward unit that is virtually identical to 2015 is Patrick Thoresen. Beyond that, the roster is recognizable: Morten Ask, Anders Bastiansen, Kristian Forsberg, Ken Andre and Mathis Olimb. The challenge is that Thoresen led the team with four goals last year and the leading point getter, Mathis Olimb (8) didn’t score once.

 

The NHLer Andreas Martinsen of the Colorado Avalanche and Mats Zuccarello are on the roster. Where else are the goals going to come from? The newcomers are Michael Haga, a 24-year-old who last played at the 2011 WM20 for Norway, and Thomas Valkvae Olsen, who will turn 23 later this month. Sondre Olden, who played at both the World and Olympics in 2014, is also back. Among this core must come the goals.

 

Coaching

 

Roy Johansen is the lynchpin to the Norwegian team. He took over head coaching duties in 2002, when the team played in Division I, and over four years moved the team from third place to second to first and promotion to the top level for 2006. Johansen has been with the national program the whole time, and his consistent place behind the bench is integral to the team’s success.

 

Projected Results

 

Norway is looking at games against Latvia, Denmark, and Kazakhstan as the vital ones to win. Interestingly, it has a great record against the Danes and weak record against the Latvians but has never faced the Kazakhs at WM play before. As always, these games will be a challenge, but there’s every reason to believe that Norway will be back in 2017 in the top level. But they have to get some goals. Last year, they had but 12 in seven games, and this year’s lineup is without its top scorer. The challenge is more from within than without.

 

[hckošice 14,822]

TEAM PRESENTATIONS

  France

 

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The indomitable Gauls?

Continuity key to French hopes in Russia

 

Remarkably, France has stayed in the top division since 2008, proving as indomitable as Asterix and Obelix, the mascots of next year’s World Championship.

 

In Russia this year, the French are looking for another solid performance leading into 2017, which will be co-hosted by Paris and Cologne, Germany. Bucking the odds, they’ve raised the bar high with upset victories over hockey superpowers at recent Worlds.

In 2013, France got its first win ever over Russia with a 2-1 round-robin shocker. In 2014, Les Bleus opened with a 3-2 shootout win versus Canada on Pierre-Edouard Bellemare’s goal. Last year, they weren’t able to equal their eighth-place finish from 2014, coming 12th instead. Even so, there were no easy rides for France’s opponents.

Bringing back the same core players year after year has clearly provided an advantage for France. What lies ahead for coach Dave Henderson and his troops in 2016?

Goal

Loosely put, Cristobal Huet is the Jaromir Jagr of French goalies. At 40, the first Frenchman to hoist the Stanley Cup (with Chicago in 2010) remains the starting goalie for his nation. Want proof that his competitive fires still burn strongly? When Huet’s pro club, Lausanne HC of the Swiss NLA, was forced to play a relegation series this year, he posted a 1.67 GAA and 92.3 save percentage in three games, and Lausanne avoided getting sent down.

Huet will be backed up by 31-year-old Florian Hardy of Austria’s Dornbirner EC. Hardy shone with 28 saves in the historic 2013 win over Russia. Ronan Quemeener of Asploven HC in the Swedish Allsvenskan is the number three goalie.

Defence

Long-time Grenoble captain Baptiste Amar was a minutes monster who anchored the French blue line until his 2014 retirement. He was missed last year. But the team has moved on, and still presents a well-organized resistance in its own zone.

Historically, the team has relied heavily on Yohann Auvitu, who has played the last two seasons with IFK Helsinki. This tournament will also offer a chance for Benjamin Dieude-Fauvel to step up. The 29-year-old has played in North America since 2010, most recently with the ECHL’s Kalamazoo Wings.

Notable regulars are missing, though. Not included on the final roster is Kevin Hecquefeuille (SCL Tigers Langnau), who was the most consistent point-producer among French defencemen, having chipped in three or more points at each of his last four Worlds. Antonin Manavian, who spent part of this year with the Hungarian club Székesfehérvár, is injured. Lacking a marquee star, the French rearguards will need to rely on good positional play and tenacity.

Forward

At the 2015 Worlds, Damien Fleury went on a scoring tear with a team-high five goals. French fans must hope the 30-year-old Schwenningen Wild Wings speedster can revive his prowess in St. Petersburg, because this year’s team might struggle on offence.

It will be interesting to see if Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, a two-time Swedish champion with Skelleftea AIK, can regain his offensive confidence here. In two seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers, Bellemare has just 26 points in 155 NHL games.

As on defence, key names are missing up front. Dallas Stars agitator Antoine Roussel, who was named a tournament all-star in 2014 with 11 points, is still embroiled in the Stanley Cup playoffs against the St. Louis Blues. Former NHLer Stephane da Costa, who got 12 playoff points with Gagarin Cup finalists CSKA Moscow, is out, hurt again after an injured-plagued season.

Proving how important continuity is to this program, Laurent Meunier has served as France’s captain ever since Dave Henderson took over the national team in 2005.  And 22-year-old left wing Tim Bozon, a Montreal Canadiens prospect, is the son of IIHF Hall of Famer Philippe Bozon, who blazed a trail with 144 games for the St. Louis Blues in the early 1990’s.

Coaching

The best way to understand head coach Dave Henderson’s coaching philosophy is to let him put it in his own words.

In a 2010 interview, Henderson told IIHF.com: “We haven’t ruled out using naturalized players, but we’re proud of the fact that we’re leaning on guys who have emerged out of our youth hockey programs. They're proving they have the intestinal fortitude and work ethic to do it, and we’re hoping it continues that way.” He added: “This tournament is played on the ice and not the lineup sheets. Every game, we go in and try to win. It’s not just coming here and hoping not to get blown out.”

Six years later, the Montreal-born former Amiens forward has stayed true to his word. His team, relying on homegrown talent, is unlikely to win a medal. But it’s also unlikely to get outworked. While the go-to players for France remain largely the same this year, youthful help is on the way.

France will be without long-time assistant coach Pierre Pousse at this tournament. He was injured in a car accident that tragically claimed the life of his wife Violette Mazza. The IIHF extends its sympathy to Mr. Pousse and his family. Stephane Barin, the head coach of the Ligue Magnus’s Epinal Dauphins, will fill in as an assistant coach.

Projected Results

While cracking the top eight for just the third time in modern hockey history would be a wonderful surprise for France, it’s a long shot. Henderson’s boys need to come out of the gate quickly and collect some points, with their first three games against Germany, Slovakia, and Hungary. For a nation that currently sits 12th in the IIHF World Ranking, finishing anywhere between ninth and 12th would be quite reasonable.

 

[hckošice 14,822]

TOP 3 MOMENTS OF 2015

Canada

 

Canada´s golden moments from 2015

 

[hckošice 14,822]

TEAM PRESENTATIONS

  Slovakia

 

 

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Slovaks settle on Ciger

Can new coach restore Slovak hockey pride?

 

Sixteen years ago, Slovakia showed they are among the hockey elite at the IIHF World Championship.

 

Despite losing to the Czech Republic in the gold medal final here in St. Petersburg, Slovakia would come back to win their first gold medal in 2002 and then add a bronze in 2003. Since that time, Slovakia has won only a silver at the 2012 World Championships in Helsinki, Finland.

 

Goal

 

Slovakia faces a bit of a dilemma in goal. Peter Budaj, current AHL goaltender of the year, is the starting for the Ontario Reign. Ontario is now battling the San Diego Gulls in the Calder Cup Pacific Division finals. There is the chance Budaj will not be able to join Slovakia if the Reign keep winning. Of the three possible goaltenders for Slovakia, only one has seen World Championships time on ice. Julius Hudacek started for Orebro HK in 2015-16, playing in 42 games, winning 23 of them. He played in two games last spring for the Slovaks. Branislav Konrad enjoyed a fine season with Olomouc, posting a 1.81 goals against average and six shutouts. Twenty-two year old Samuel Baros handled the bulk of goaltending duties for HKm Zvolen.

 

Defence

 

NHLers Andrej Sekera and Martin Marincin join Team Slovakia. Marincin, a former Edmonton Oilers prospect, found a home with the Toronto Maple Leafs this season. Sekera has established himself as a top four quality defenseman. He led all Edmonton defensemen in scoring with 30 points. Andrej Meszaros has represented Slovakia three times prior at the World Championships. In the Czech Republic last year, he enjoyed his best tournament production with three goals. After dealing with injuries, including a severe back problem, Dominik Granak returned to the fold in 2015. Not only was Granak a steady, though understated, member of the blueline corps, he led the team in plus minus. Longtime Slovan Bratislava defenseman Michal Sersen marks his fifth appearance for the national team.

 

Forward

 

Almost a third of the forward roster is comprised of Slovan Bratislava players. Patrik Lusnak, Pavol Skalicky, Andrej Stastny and Marek Viedensky all suit up for the Slovakian team that plays in the Kontinental Hockey League. Libor Hudacek, the brother of goaltender Julius, has been a consistent performer over the last three tournaments. Vladimir Dravecky was the second leading scorer behind Marian Gaborik in Ostrava. If Dravecky could replicate that performance it would be a big boost for the Slovakian offense. Only two NHL players are on the team. Marko Dano and Tomas Jurco are here. Despite the Chicago Blackhawks being eliminated from the playoffs Marian Hossa and Richard Panik are not playing for this team. Their services could have made a big difference but you have to work with what you've got.

 

Coaching

 

Former NHLer Zdeno Ciger takes over for Vladimir Vujtek, who coached the team since 2012. Ciger played nine years in the NHL that included stops in New Jersey, Edmonton, New York and Tampa Bay. Ciger enjoyed his best season as a player in 1995-96 when he scored 31 goals and 70 points for the Oilers. Ciger has been an assistant coach at international tournaments, now the job of running the bench is his and his alone. He was an assistant coach at the 2005 and 2007 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships and the 2006 Winter Olympics. He also was the Slovak team leader for the U20 national team won a bronze-medal at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship. Ciger is also the first Slovakian head coach since Jan Filc held the job in 2010. 

 

Projected Results

 

In 2000, Slovakia revealed itself as an international hockey elite and won a silver, gold and bronze in three of the first four tournaments of the new century. Always a dangerous team to take on, Slovakia is missing some of the luster that made them a team to watch at the start of the 21st century and, in some cases, fear. But still a dangerous out. If they qualify for the playoff round, Slovakia is not a team to take lightly.