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Results after 2nd Period Group A in Cologne Sweden - Russia 1-0 (1-0, 0-0,-) 14:40 Elias LINDHOLM 1-0 Group B in Paris Finland - Belarus 2-1 (2-0, 0-1,-) 02:43 Sebastian AHO 1-0 05:09 Oskar OSALA 2-0 38:08 Yegor SHARANGOVICH 2-1

Results after 1st Period Group A in Cologne Sweden - Russia 1-0 (1-0,-,-) 14:40 Elias LINDHOLM 1-0 Group B in Paris Finland - Belarus 2-0 (2-0,-,-) 02:43 Sebastian AHO 1-0 05:09 Oskar OSALA 2-0

Great atmosphere so far in Cologne, but too many empty seats in Paris

And we are live ! yoohoo SWE vs RUS live in TV and FIN s BLR on Slovak TV WCh stream site this feeling when this song is played, and you realize that finally it start. The official song played before every period

MEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2017 DAY 1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TEAMS PREVIEW Sweden ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JERSEY Home Away ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sweden focused on success Tre Kronor looks to North America With a new coach and with an abundance of NHL-tested skaters in the lineup, Sweden tries to get back into medal contention. After winning gold on home ice in 2013 and then a bronze in 2014, Sweden has finished 5th and 6th respectively in World Championship competition. Always a threat, Sweden is focused on rejoining the medal hunt. To that end, they have assembled on paper one of their most skilled teams in recent World Championship play. With almost a dozen NHLers on the roster, the pressure is on for Sweden to put up a good showing here in Germany. Goal 34-year-old Viktor Fasth is returning to the national team once again. Fasth was the hero for Sweden in 2011 at the World Championships in Slovakia through to the finals. He was a rock until the third period of the gold medal game against Finland. Going into the period, Sweden and Finland were tied 1-1. Fasth gave up five even strength goals on ten shots over the final twenty minutes, resulting in a 6-1 rout by Finland. Fasth has spent some time in the NHL, with stops in Anaheim and Edmonton. Carolina Hurricanes netminder Eddie Lack is making his national team debut. Niklas Svedberg spent one season with the Boston Bruins in 2014-15 before signing with Salavat Yulayev Ufa, where he now plays. Defence Sweden has a talented group of defenders who can skate, pass and generate offense. John Klingberg scored a career-high 13 goals this season for the Dallas Stars. In three full seasons in the NHL, Klingberg has established himself as a top four defenseman. This season started in disappointing fashion but he had a strong second half but it was not enough to push Dallas into the playoffs. Tampa duo Victor Hedman and Anton Stralman should be a big influence on defence. Hedman put together the best offensive numbers for a Tampa Bay defenceman with 16 goals and 72 points. Hedman’s strength is being able to move from defence to offense and carry the puck effectively out of his own zone. Hedman has worked well when paired with Stralman who, over the past five years, has become a very dependable skater, first with the Rangers and now Tampa Bay. Arizona standout Oliver Ekman Larsson is another offensively skilled player who has done well in this tournament. At the 2015 World Championships, Ekman Larsson registered 12 points, including 10 assists. Forwards Gabriel Landeskog has a long history of representing Sweden. First at the U18 in 2009 through to his senior men’s team debut in 2012 at the World Championships in Sweden, Landeskog’s NHL season with the Colorado Avalanche was statistically the worst of his career, failing to crack 20 goals over a full season for this first time. Landeskog dealt with the inevitable expectations that come with being the captain of a team and a five-year NHL pro. There were even trade rumors. Joel Eriksson Ek is a player to watch. The twenty-year-old started the season with the Minnesota Wild and scored in his NHL debut. Eriksson Ek was reassigned back to his Swedish club Farjestad BK before coming back to Minnesota to finish the season. In all, he scored three goals and seven points in 15 games. As captain of the Swedish U20 team, Eriksson Ek led his team to the bronze medal game while leading Sweden in scoring with nine points in seven games. Denis Everberg scored 18 goals with Vaxjo. Carl Klingberg joins his brother John in representing Tre Kronor. William Nylander is the next generation in the Nylander family to play for Sweden. Nylander’s father, Michael, won two gold, three silver and three bronze medals playing for Sweden in this tournament. Nylander scored 22 goals and 61 points for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Linus Omark led Sweden with six helpers in 2016 and a returing member of the 2010 team that came to Germany. Carl Soderberg is representing his country for the first time at the World Championships. He participated in the World Cup of Hockey last September. Marcus Kruger, William Karlsson, Victor Rask, Joakim Nordstrom and Elias Lindholm should help. These skaters were added after their respective NHL clubs were eliminated from the playoffs. Joel Lundqvist has won two World Championship gold and two bronze medals playing for the national team. Coaching Rikard Gronborg succeeds Par Marts. Gronberg served as an assistant coach on the men’s national team for four seasons. Gronberg coached the U20 national team for three seasons. Gronberg is assisted by Johan Garpenlov. Garpenlov played 10 NHL seasons for the Detroit Red Wings, San Jose Sharks, Florida Panthers and Atlanta Thrashers. He also served as an assistant coach for Sweden’s World Cup of Hockey team in 2004 and for Djurgarden Stockholm, and worked as a scout for the Dallas Stars. Peter Popovic played for the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins during eight NHL seasons. He has been working as an assistant coach for the Swedish men’s national team since 2011. Projected results Sweden is a perennial contender for a medal in World Championship play. The results over the previous two campaigns were disappointing but a glance at this year’s roster suggests that Swedish leadership desires getting back to medal contending status immediately. This is one of the better teams in the Germany group in 2017 and pressure will be on to start strong in the Preliminary Round. Sweden has the talent to go deep here and possibly find themselves vying for gold. But so much will defend on quality defense to match what is a talented offensive lineup. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Previous Previews France Latvia Slovenia Canada Denmark Italy Belarus United States Russia Finland

MEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2017 DAY 1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TEAMS PREVIEW Finland ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JERSEY Home Away ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Will Finland medal again? This year, it’s about willpower, not star power Last year, Finland won silver with hot young stars like tournament MVP Patrik Laine, Aleksander Barkov, and Mikael Granlund. This year’s team looks different. Suomi, sitting third in the IIHF World Ranking, is unlikely to fill the net at the rate of the 2016 squad, which potted 37 goals in 10 games. Coach Lauri Marjamaki has a more workmanlike roster. But remember: when the Finns won their last Worlds gold in 2011 in Slovakia, captain Mikko Koivu and assistant captain Tuomo Ruutu were the only two active NHLers. Despite its small talent pool, Finland has proven repeatedly that you can never count it out of the medal conversation. Goal This year, Joonas Korpisalo was overshadowed with the Columbus Blue Jackets, as Russian starter Sergei Bobrovsky earned Hart Trophy and Vezina Trophy nominations with a huge bounceback season. That said, Korpisalo should still have the inside track on Finland’s starting job with his 45 games of NHL experience. But if the athletic 23-year-old falters, there are two capable alternatives waiting in the wings. Former Calgary Flames prospect Joni Ortio (Skelleftea AIK) posted a 2.20 GAA and 91.9 save percentage in Sweden this season, while KHL stalwart Harri Sateri (Vityaz Podolsk) was also solid with a 2.50 GAA and 92.9 save percentage. Remember, the Finns prevailed in 2011 with another KHL veteran, Petri Vehanen, in net, and they have a surplus of netminding talent that’s the envy of any nation not named Canada. Defence Finland’s current blueline depth doesn’t compare to the glory days of Teppo Numminen, Kimmo Timonen, and Jyrki Lumme. That said, the Finns consistently play well as a unit regardless of who’s out there. On this team, 21-year-old Dallas Stars prospect Julius Honka will need to step up on the power play, and Juuso Hietanen (Dynamo Moscow) is coming off a career high in KHL goals (12-18-30). Karpat Oulu captain Lasse Kukkonen and Atte Ohtamaa of Ak Bars Kazan will bring physicality and shot-blocking. It’s a good, solid group. Forward It’s fortunate Sebastian Aho is mature beyond his years, because the 19-year-old playmaker will need to shoulder much of the offensive load for Finland. The Carolina Hurricanes forward is coming off a fine NHL rookie season (24-25-49). In his second straight Worlds, Aho will likely team up with two-way centre Valtteri Filppula of the Philadelphia Flyers on the top line. Mikko Rantanen, who captained the 2016 World Junior team to gold, also impressed with 20 goals in his first year with the Colorado Avalanche. After that, the scoring options off for Marjamaki’s squad. If HIFK Helsinki’s Juhamatti Aaltonen could recapture his 2013 Worlds form (4-7-11), that’d be a huge plus. Jesse Puljujarvi, who tore up the World Juniors and U18 last year, has struggled with his confidence this year in the Edmonton Oilers organization, but still has great potential. And Toronto Maple Leaf fans are excited about versatile 23-year-old forward Miro Aaltonen, who took a step forward this season with the KHL’s Vityaz Podolsk (19-25-44). Yet realistically, playing stifling defence and waiting for counterattack opportunities is what we can expect here, not run-and-gun excitement. Coaching Marjamaki, who turns 40 on May 29, has been one of the most successful young coaches in Finnish history. He led Karpat Oulu to back-to-back Liiga titles in 2014 and 2015. His only international hardware came in 2014 as an assistant to Erkka Westerlund at the Olympics (bronze) and Worlds (silver). Marjamaki has been feeling the heat after his disastrous debut at September’s World Cup of Hockey: the Finns scored one goal and allowed nine in three games in Toronto, finishing eighth and last overall. A top-four finish, even if it’s not splashy, would do much to boost the bench boss’s credibility. He’s assisted by longtime Karpat goaltending coach Ari Hilli and Waltteri Immonen, who serves as an assistant coach with Switzerland’s EV Zug. Projected Results On paper, this Finnish team isn’t anything special. Yet this Nordic nation, which has medaled at six out of the last eight men’s Olympic hockey tournaments, thrives on low expectations. The Finns will probably vie with the Czechs for second place in Group B behind Canada, and after that, anything from a quarter-final flameout to another medal appears possible. Hard work is the only given. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Previous Previews France Latvia Slovenia Canada Denmark Italy Belarus United States Russia

[hide] Knockout Round May 4th - May 7th, 2017 8 Nations, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Bronze Medal Match, Gold Medal Match Semifinals Eastern Time Zone (GMT -4) Date and Venue Team 1 T1 T2 Team 2 May 6th 2017, h. 15:00, Nassau Stadium, Nassau Iran 3 Tahiti May 6th 2017, h. 16:30, Nassau Stadium, Nassau Italy 2 Brazil [/hide]

MEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2017 DAY 1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TEAMS PREVIEW Russia ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JERSEY Home Away ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Russia looks to the future Znarok brings young roster to Cologne Russia’s roster might have just three 30-somethings as Oleg Znarok tries out the rising stars of the KHL in a championship situation for the first time. With the 2018 Winter Olympics looming on the horizon, Russia has boldly cut many of its NHL stars and rested several veterans. Throughout the Euro Hockey Tour season, Oleg Znarok’s team has taken a long look at the young talent emerging from the KHL, and that process has continued into the World Championship. It’s true that the likes of SKA St.Petersburg stars Pavel Datsyuk, Ilya Kovalchuk and Vyacheslav Voynov are unavailable due to injury, but it’s also likely that the two forwards, at least, would be given some time off from a roster which could boast just three players over the age of 30. Goal Andrei Vasilevski is the man in charge here. The Tampa Bay goalie shot to prominence in Minsk in 2014 when he allowed just one goal in two appearances, making 66 saves in wins over the USA and Germany. Since then, the 22-year-old has established himself in Florida and agreed to join the national team in the expectation that he will be the first-choice goalie. Two KHL youngsters, Ilya Sorokin of CSKA Moscow and Igor Shestyorkin of SKA St. Petersburg will hope for some ice time and a chance to stake a claim for an Olympic call-up. Defence No place for the injured Vyacheslav Voynov, no place for Nikita Zaitsev after a long season in Toronto. Instead, Ivan Provorov looks like the intriguing call-up this time out. The Philadelphia youngster isn’t all that familiar to many fans in Russia: the Yaroslavl native’s career thus far has been played entirely across the Atlantic and he made his first senior appearances for Russia last weekend in the Czech Hockey Games. Now, the 20-year-old is set to be a key D-man at the Worlds after a breakout season for the Flyers. There’s plenty of scope for more young talent: Magnitogorsk’s Alexei Bereglazov and Viktor Antipin should play a big role, while Lokomotiv Yaroslavl’s Vladislav Gavrikov is another coming off a good KHL campaign. Anton Belov, SKA’s former Edmonton Oiler, adds some valuable experience to a young blue line. Forward After a season of smashing individual scoring records, team captain Sergei Mozyakin would normally be the stand-out star on offence. However, the pulsating play of SKA’s Vadim Shipachyov, Yevgeni Dadonov and Nikita Gusev makes them the line to watch. The chemistry between those three in the KHL was a joy to behold and if that translates onto the international stage, they could provide some of the big memories from Cologne. Elsewhere, 20-year-old Kirill Kaprizov could be the breakout star of the tournament. After scoring heavily for an inconsistent Salavat Yulaev team in the KHL and impressing again at the World Juniors, he began May by signing a contract with CSKA Moscow and getting the call for his first senior Worlds. A strong showing in Cologne could make him a lock for an Olympic role. NHL representation could be limited to a single line: Tampa Bay duo Nikita Kucherov and Vladislav Namestnikov will likely form a partnership with either Artemi Panarin (Chicago) or Roman Lyubimov (Philadelphia). Panarin has the World Championship props, having featured on an effective line with Dadonov and Shipachyov in the past; Lyubimov featured in Moscow last season and was part of the most recent Euro Tour roster. Among Russia’s more renowned NHLers, Alexander Radulov has cried off while he arranges his contract for next season. Space is likely to be left on the roster for Alexander Ovechkin or Yevgeni Malkin to join the team at the end of the on-going Caps – Pens series. Coaching Oleg Znarok has combined club coaching at SKA St. Petersburg with his role on the national team – and so far, it’s been a success. SKA powered to the Gagarin Cup, Russia dominated the Euro Hockey Tour, and the signs are encouraging for more glory to come. The current season has seen something of a change in Znarok’s style as well. His SKA team was a goal-hungry machine, smashing scoring records in the regular season, and the key Shipachyov-Dadonov-Gusev line is likely to be a key part of a potentially gung-ho Russian offence here. Projected results As usual, Russian fans are not discussing whether the team will win hardware; they’re debating the colour of medal that their heroes will bring home. Despite calling up fewer big-name players with NHL experience, the expectation is that this young roster can dominate its group. Progress to the final four feels like a minimum requirement; the prospect of claiming gold will depend on how well Oleg Znarok’s team overcomes its nemeses in previous championships – Finland and Canada, both of which start the tournament in Paris. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Previous Previews France Latvia Slovenia Canada Denmark Italy Belarus United States

MEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2017 DAY 1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TEAMS PREVIEW United States ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JERSEY Home Away ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Americans aiming high Team USA brings youth and experience Led by a talented group of young players possessing international experience, USA is seeking to regain form and compete for a senior men's medal. Since 2013 Team USA has won two bronze medals in World Championship competition. They’ve done it with a mix of younger skaters, mostly from the NCAA American college ranks, and NHL players. Team USA’s competitiveness has been exceptionally high so there is every expectation that this team will accept the challenge and represent their country while learning more about gelling over a short tournament and gaining experience. However, what the Americans have not done yet is break through beyond the bronze medal game. They have just fallen short of getting to that next, exalted level of qualifying for a World Championship final with a chance of winning their first gold medal since 1933. In 2016 they were a goal away from getting into the final game, which is testament to how impressive the Americans have been in recent years in this tournament. Goal Team USA has two talented goaltenders who are capable of being number one. Jimmy Howard is returning to the World Championships for the first time since 2012. Howard won five of the seven games he played that tournament, yielding 17 goals. Over a three-year period from 2009-12, Howard won 109 games for the Detroit Red Wings. In his career, Howard has won 199 games for the Red Wings. Connor Hellebuyck made an impressive national team debut in 2015 when he won seven games and led the Americans to a bronze medal at the World Championships in the Czech Republic. Hellebuyck posted a 1.38 goals against average and came up particularly big in crucial games, including a quarterfinal win over Switzerland and in the bronze medal game against then home side Czech Republic. This season, Hellebuyck assumed the starting mantle for the Winnipeg Jets where he started 53 games (appeared in 56) and won 26 of those contests. College standout Cal Petersen is the third goaltender. Petersen played for the NCAA’s University of Notre Dame. He was a fifth round draft choice of the Buffalo Sabres in 2013. Defence Connor Murphy, son of former NHL defenceman Gord Murphy, is making his fourth consecutive appearance at the World Championships. Since 2014, Murphy has made steady progress and grown accustomed to the big ice and developed into a fine player at this level. He was named captain this week, further recognition of his growth and experience. At last year’s tournament, Murphy scored three goals and two assists. Noah Hanifin is completing his second full season in the NHL with the Carolina Hurricanes. Hanifin made his senior men’s team debut in Russia last May. Danny DeKeyser is coming off a disappointing season with Detroit but moves the puck well and can help on the power play. Danny Brickley just finished his second season of college hockey with Minnesota State University. An undrafted prospect, Brickley will likely generate some interest in the offseason from teams should he decide to turn pro. A good showing in Cologne will help his cause. Jacob Trouba should play an important role in generating offense after coming off an impressive season with Winnipeg. Recently, Charlie McAvoy and Trevor van Riemsdyk were added to the roster and should provide skill and depth. Forwards The United States is coming in with an impressive group of forwards. Led by Brock Nelson, Jack Eichel and Anders Lee, the Americans have two thirty-goal scorers and four others who’ve scored twenty or more in a season during their professional careers. After scoring one goal in 18 games this season, Anders Lee caught fire, scoring 33 in the next 63. Keys to his success were driving to the net, using his body and being a presence in front. These attributes are what the Americans will need to compete. Lee’s Islanders teammate Brock Nelson scored six goals and ten points for the 2015 bronze winning team. In three tournaments (2014, 2015, 2016) Nelson has scored 12 goals in 24 games. Dylan Larkin’s production in Detroit dipped from 23 goals in his rookie season to 17 last year. Larkin finished the season strong, despite some mistakes. A move to center and seeing some penalty kill time helped to improve his game. Playing in Germany will offer another chance to further build confidence. Keep an eye on Johnny Gaudreau. The Calgary Flames forward is small but plays big. This type of tournament and ice is made for him. Newcomers Jordan Greenway, Clayton Keller, Christian Dvorak and Andrew Copp will benefit from their international experience and provide depth. Coaching USA head coach Jeff Blashill completed his second year coaching the Detroit Red Wings. Detroit finished seventh in the Atlantic Division and missing out on the playoffs for the first time in 25 years. The World Championships offer Blashill a chance to right the ship on the season with a strong showing. This is his first time coaching the senior national team. Jack Capuano will join Blashill on the bench. He has head coach of the New York Islanders from November 2010 through January 2017 and won 227 games. Rand Pecknold has coached Quinnipiac University since 1994. He led Quinnipiac to the NCAA Frozen Four finals in 2016 where they lost to eventual winner University of North Dakota. Pecknold is one of American college hockey’s most respected coaches. Projected results For years, hockey pundits and enthusiasts have wondered why won’t America’s top NHL players participate at the World Championships when they are available. Perhaps what has been missed is that over the years USA Hockey has developed players who compete at every level, including the World Championships, and are now top flight stars in the league. Zach Parise, Patrick Kane, Phil Kessel, Seth Jones have all represented Team USA in recent years. There are more than a few players on this team who will occupy a place in future discussions about important American skaters on the international scene. Playing in a competitive group, the Americans will face serious challenges from Russia, Sweden and, yes, the home side Germany. But their goal, as always, will be competing for top four standing in the group and focusing on the playoff round, where anything can happen. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Previous Previews France Latvia Slovenia Canada Denmark Italy Belarus

MEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2017 DAY 1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TEAMS PREVIEW Belarus ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JERSEY Home Away ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Belarus hopes for the best Returning to quarter-finals may be tough After Belarus came seventh at both the 2014 and 2015 Worlds, last year’s 12th-place finish was disappointing. Can the Belarusians bounce back in Paris? This former Soviet republic’s passion for hockey is beyond question. Belarus currently sits ninth in the IIHF World Ranking. In Minsk 2014, a new all-time attendance record was set with 640,044 spectators (topped by the Czech Republic in 2015 with 741,690). Belarus and Latvia are bidding jointly versus Finland to host the 2021 Worlds. But the question is whether a national team that relies as heavily on veteran forwards as Belarus does can succeed at this year’s tournament, which is heavy on youth and speed. Stay tuned for an unpredictable journey through Group B. Goal Kevin Lalande is the likely starter for Belarus. The acrobatic 30-year-old Canadian, who has played six of his eight KHL seasons with Dynamo Minsk, is coming off a tough season. Injuries limited him to six regular season games (2.17 GAA, 89.3 save percentage) and one playoff game. Paris will offer an opportunity for redemption. Mikhail Karnaukhov will make his World Championship debut as the back-up after the 23-year-old played 23 games for Dinamo-Molodechno of the Belarus Extraleague (2.54 GAA, 89.3 save percentage). Karnaukhov also had four games with Dynamo Minsk (5.12 GAA, 75.0 save percentage). Goaltending may prove to be an Achilles heel for Belarus this year. Defence The Belarusians have a solid and mobile – if not spectacular – defence corps. Veteran KHLer Dmitri Korobov, who served as an assistant captain in 2015 and 2016, is playing in his seventh Worlds. Last year, the 28-year-old posted a team-worst -7 plus minus-rating while averaging a team-high 23:06 of ice time. Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Oleg Yevenko, who has spent the last two seasons in the AHL, is poised to bring physicality in his fourth consecutive World Championship. Yevgeni Lisovets, 22, chipped in four assists last year in what was the Dynamo Minsk blueliner’s second Worlds. And it’ll be intriguing to see what kind of impact 21-year-old Kristian Khenkel, who played 52 games as a KHL rookie in Minsk, will make in his second go-round at this level. It will be tough for the Belarus rearguards to withstand the forechecking and counterattacking of the Canadians and Finns. Forward It might be hard to believe, but the NHL-experienced Kostitsyn brothers are both in their 30’s now. Both also captained KHL clubs this season, with 32-year-old Andrei (16-18-34) wearing the “C” in Sochi and 30-year-old Sergei (5-21-26) in Minsk. Maturity, poise, and focus will need to come into play as well as scoring ability for these forwards to have success. Andrei Stepanov, who tied for the team lead in scoring (2-4-6) with Charles Linglet last year, was a surprise roster cut: the 31-year-old right wing, known for his splashy celebrations, fell afoul of the coaches for his defensive shortcomings. But who will make up for his scoring? Linglet, a naturalized Canadian from Montreal who played five games for the Edmonton Oilers in 2009-10, is back after splitting his season between Minsk, Tappara Tampere, and Eisbaren Berlin. If Andrei Stas can replicate his 2016 output, Belarus fans should be ecstatic. The veteran Minsk center potted five goals in seven games, including two in a 3-0 win over France that helped his team avoid relegation. It’ll be offence by committee this year since there simply isn’t a game-breaker up front. Coaching Dave Lewis won three Stanley Cups (1997, 1998, 2002) as an assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings. The 63-year-old native of Kindersley, Saskatchewan also served as the head coach of the Wings in 2002-03 and 2003-04 and of the Boston Bruins in 2006-07. Before taking the reins with Belarus, he also went behind the Ukraine bench in an unsuccessful home-ice bid for promotion from Division I in 2011. Lewis has always had a reputation as a good communicator. He recently told reporters in Belarus: “Honestly, I talk with our players after every practice. I want everyone to understand their role in the team.” That will be critical on this year’s team. Lewis has admitted that Belarus faces a monumental task in its first three group games against Finland, the Czech Republic, and Canada. There is a very real chance that Belarus will emerge with zero out of a possible nine points, and if the coach can’t maintain the confidence of his troops in the game plan (heavy on smart team defence), Belarus could wind up getting relegated for the first time since 2003. Projected Results It will be challenging to live up to expectations as the ninth-ranked team in the world. If Canada, Finland, and the Czech Republic all earn quarter-final berths, that leaves one spot in Group B up for grabs. The host French will be hugely motivated, as will the Swiss, who have underachieved since their 2013 silver medal. Historically, Belarus has had the edge against Norway and Slovenia, but those games can’t be taken for granted either. Objectively, the men in red and green should keep their top-division status, but somewhere between 10th and 12th place seems most likely. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Previous Previews France Latvia Slovenia Canada Denmark Italy

ROAD TO MEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2017 DAY 1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Day "D" is here, The 2017 IIHF World Championships will start today, So time to introduce the last participating Nation, ofc the reigning champion, Canada the tournament favourites and two-time defending champions Canada. Can they make in three in a row in Cologne/Paris 2017? CANADA

MEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2017 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Preliminary Round DAY 1 Group A Central European Summer Time (GMT +2) Sweden vs Russia Period-by-Period: May 5th 2016, h. 16:15, LANXESS Arena, Cologne United States vs Germany Period-by-Period: May 5th 2016, h. 20:15, LANXESS Arena, Cologne Group B Central European Summer Time (GMT +2) Finland vs Belarus Period-by-Period: May 5th 2016, h. 16:15, AccorHotels Arena, Paris Czech Republic vs Canada Period-by-Period: May 5th 2016, h. 20:15, AccorHotels Arena, Paris

yep, you would be surprised to see how many times it happen from 1:10

Cool It´s really easy, here some basic rules for the tournament 16 Nations are divided in 2 Preliminary Round Groups A and B. Group A in Cologne ( ) Group B in Paris ( ) In the preliminary round each team will play once against all opponents of his group. Each match must have a winner, so if the game end by a draw after 60 minutes of regulation time (3 periods by 20 minutes) the match continue with the "sudden death" overtime (5 minutes OT played by 3 skating players against 3 !! this is the new rule since this year) when a team score a goal the overtime and match is over, the scoring team won. if no goal is scored the game continue with the shoot-out penalties session. a 3 vs 3 serie, if the game still no decided, the shoot-outs continue with a a direct elimination format 1 vs 1 untill the game is decided (one team score and the opponent doesn´t). For a win in regulation time the team receive 3 points in the standing, For a win i´after overtime or shoot-outs the team receive 2 points, For a lose after overtime or GWS the team receive 1 point, For a lose in regulation time the team not receive any points. The top 4 ranked teams from both groups qualify for the quarterfinals where they will meet in a direct elimination match. The pairing will be formed by cross-over system so winner of group A will face the 4th of Group B, 2nd of Group A will face 3rd of Group B. winner of Group B the 4th of Group A, and the second of Group B the 3rd of Group A. The winners continue in semifinals and so..from the semifinals all matches will be played only in Cologne. The last ranked (8th) teams of both groups will be relegated to next years Division I Group A. BUT ATTENTION! In Group A there one exception. Denmark as the next year top division host is assured to stay in top division however they will be ranked, so that means if Denmark will finish 8th, nothing will happen to them, but automatically the 7th ranked team will be relegated. It´s important to know that the tie-breaker rule is the direct confrontation, this is why all matches must have a winner. the goal scoring has no importance, if 2 teams have the same amount of points, we watch their dircet confrontation result, and the winner is ranked higher. here the official full tie-breaker formula The rules of matches didn´t changed, still 2 teams of 5 skaters + 1 goaltender play ahainst each other and try to score more goals than the opponent, there some penalties given for fouls and mistakes, resulting on power plays (a man afvantage) ther only 3 possible power plays a traditional 5 against 4players, or 5 against 3 (2 mans advantage) or 4 against 3. There minor penalties of 2 minutes and major penalties of 5 minutes, during a minor penalty if the offended team score the power play is over and the guilty player can return to the game from the penalty box, in a major penalty the offended team play the complete 5 minutes in power play and can score how many goals they want the penalised player will have to sit in the penalty bench the whole 5 minutes. The most often penalty calls are for tripping, hooking, boarding, high sticking, cross-checking or my favorite too many players on ice here some examples of the most often fouls Also ice hockey is one of the most inteligent games, because ther 2 extremely important rules! Off-side and Icing explanation video Hopefully it help you a bit

ROAD TO MEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2017 DAYS -1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TEAMS PREVIEW Italy ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JERSEY Home Away ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seeking survival New-look Italy turns to local talent Back in the top tier for the first time since 2014, Italy brings a new look to Cologne. But Stefan Mair's young team faces a battle to survive this year. When Italy was relegated from the Elite Pool in 2014, 10 of its players were dual-nationals. Today, the roster has a far stronger Italian accent as the squadra azzurra puts its faith in local talent. Back at the top level, the team faces a battle against relegation – but can point to progress towards forging a new Italian identity. This season’s roster draws heavily on the Italian teams involved in the Alps League and HC Bolzano, Italy’s representative in the Austrian EBEL. Goal Andreas Bernard has held down the #1 spot at Finnish team Assat Pori for the past two seasons, gaining valuable experience of life in the Liiga and cementing his status as Italy’s first choice between the piping. He’s backed up by the experienced Frederic Cloutier, 35, a Quebec-born goalie playing in Italy since 2007. Youngster Gianluca Vallini rounds out the trio. Defence Thomas Larkin, born in London to an American father, might look like the kind of imported Italian that the team is keen to stop relying upon. In reality, though, he moved to his mother’s homeland as a young child and learned his hockey in Varese before hitting the US College circuit. Two seasons in the KHL with Medvescak Zagreb came to an end in the spring and Larkin, 26, moved on to Adler Mannheim of the DEL. Elsewhere on the blue line, there’s plenty of experience. Armin Helfer, 36, will be involved in his 16th World Championship campaign and was part of Italy’s roster at the Turin Olympics. Bolzano’s Alexander Egger, a versatile player who has also been seen playing as centre, is back for his 10th campaign. Forward Italy has a young forward line in this competition, with only Giulio Scandella (33) topping the 30 mark. Like Helfer, he played Olympic hockey in Turin in 2006. The absence of Joachim Ramoser, the country’s leading goalscorer in Poland last year, is a miss. Players like Luca Frigo, Raphael Andergassen and Tommaso Traversa are among the players who have won a place on the national team since Italy’s last top-flight adventure in 2014. Anton Bernard, another player with Bolzano connections, has worn the ‘C’ for his country since 2015. The two Kostners, Diego and Simon, are not brothers. Diego, 24, is the son of Thomas, currently head coach of Italy U20s; Simon, 26, plays for his father Erwin’s Ritten Sport team in the Alps League. Coaching Stefan Mair, previously head coach at Schwenninger Wild Wings of the DEL, has been in the job since 2014, combining his international responsibilities with a role as head coach of Swiss second-tier team Hockey Thurgau. In that time he’s overseen the rebuilding of the country’s roster, giving greater opportunities to young players emerging from the national program and clinching a top-tier return with a second-placed finish in Katowice 12 months ago. This will be his first attempt at coaching in the Elite Pool. Projected results Like any newly-promoted team, Italy’s first task is to remain in the top flight. The nation was once a fixture at this level, enjoying an unbroken run from 1992-2002, but it last avoided relegation back in 2007 and has been up and down ever since. Italy’s hopes of stepping off that elevator this time are hampered by the fact that Denmark – the next lowest seed in Cologne – cannot be relegated before it hosts next year’s championship, upping the pressure on Mair’s men. The May 9 meeting with Latvia and the concluding group stage game against the Danes on May 15 will be crucial for the team’s survival prospects, while the experience of facing the likes of Russia, Sweden and the USA will be a fantastic opportunity for Italy’s younger players to test themselves at a whole new level. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Previous Previews France Latvia Slovenia Canada Denmark

Still one of the strongest squads here, maybe only behind Sweden who send to Cologne a truly impressive team. but I personally still rank this Canada team very high in this competition, ofc it´s not the Sochi 2014 or Vancouver 2010 hammer squads, but still very strong and a medal is highly probable. Other to notes, Russia and Czech Republic also with a extremely strong and balanced teams definitely teams to watch, then traditionally Finland and USA rejuvenated by still extremely packed rosters.

TEAM UNITED STATES Goaltenders: Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets/CAN/NHL), Jimmy Howard (Detroit Red Wings/NHL), Cal Petersen (University of Notre Dame/NCAA) Defencers: Jacob Trouba (Winnipeg Jets/CAN/NHL), Danny DeKeyser (Detroit Red Wings/NHL), Connor Murphy (Arizona Coyotes/NHL), Daniel Brickley (Minnesota State University/NCAA), Noah Hanifin (Carolina Hurricanes/NHL), Charlie McAvoy (Boston Bruins/NHL), Trevor van Riemsdyk (Chicago Blackhawks/NHL) Forwards: Nick Bjugstad (Florida Panthers/NHL), J.T. Compher (Colorado Avalanche/NHL), Andrew Copp (Winnipeg Jets/CAN/NHL), Christian Dvorak (Arizona Coyotes/NHL), Dylan Larkin (Detroit Red Wings/NHL), Anders Lee (New York Islanders/NHL), Brock Nelson (New York Islanders/NHL), Jordan Greenway (Boston University/NCAA), Clayton Keller (Arizona Coyotes/NHL), Anders Bjork (University of Notre Dame/NCAA), Jack Eichel (Buffalo Sabres/NHL), Johnny Gaudreau (Calgary Flames/CAN/NHL), Nick Schmaltz (Chicago Blackhawks/NHL) Belarus Canada Czech Republic Denmark Finland France Germany Italy Latvia Norway Russia Slovakia Slovenia Sweden Switzerland

TEAM ITALY Goaltenders: Andreas Bernard (Ässät Pori, FIN), Frederic Cloutier (Asiago Hockey), Gianluca Vallini (HC Gherdeina) Defencers: Daniel Glira (HC Bolzano), Alexander Egger (HC Bolzano), Luca Zanatta (Red Ice Martigny, SUI), Thomas Larkin (Adler Mannheim, GER), Armin Helfer (Pustertal Bruneck), Armin Hofer (Pustertal Bruneck), Stefano Marchetti (Asiago Hockey), Enrico Miglioranzi (Asiago Hockey) Forwards: Anton Bernard (HC Bolzano), Marco Insam (HC Bolzano), Luca Frigo (HC Bolzano), Markus Gander (HC Bolzano), Daniel Frank (HC Bolzano), Michele Marchetti (HC Bolzano), Giovanni Morini (HC Lugano, SUI), Raphael Andergassen (Pustertal Bruneck), Alex Lambacher (Hannover Indians, GER), Diego Kostner (HC Ambri-Piotta, SUI), Simon Kostner (Ritten Sport), Tommaso Traversa (Ritten Sport), Tommaso Goi (HCB Ticino Rockets, SUI), Giulio Scandella (Asiago Hockey) Belarus Canada Czech Republic Denmark Finland France Germany Latvia Norway Russia Slovakia Slovenia Sweden Switzerland

TEAM SWEDEN Goaltenders: Viktor Fasth (CSKA Moscow, RUS/KHL), Eddie Läck (Carolina Hurricanes/USA/NHL), Niklas Svedberg (Salavat Yulayev Ufa, RUS/KHL) Defencers: Philip Holm (Växjö Lakers), Calle Rosén (Växjö Lakers), Victor Hedman (Tampa Bay Lightning/USA/NHL), Anton Stralman (Tampa Bay Lightning/USA/NHL), Jonas Brodin (Minnesota Wild/USA/NHL), Alexander Edler (Vancouver Canucks/CAN/NHL), Oliver Ekman-Larsson (Arizona Coyotes/USA/NHL), John Klingberg (Dallas Stars/USA/NHL) Forwards: Elias Lindholm (Carolina Hurricanes/USA/NHL), Joakim Nordström (Carolina Hurricanes/USA/NHL), Victor Rask (Carolina Hurricanes/USA/NHL), Gabriel Landeskog (Colorado Avalanche/USA/NHL), Carl Söderberg (Colorado Avalanche/USA/NHL), Dennis Everberg (Växjö Lakers), Joel Lundqvist (Frölunda Indians), Joel Eriksson Ek (Minnesota Wild/USA/NHL), Carl Klingberg (EV Zug, SUI), Marcus Krüger (Chicago Blackhawks/USA/NHL), William Nylander (Toronto Maple Leafs/CAN/NHL), Linus Omark (Salavat Yulayev Ufa, RUS/KHL), Mario Kempe (Vityaz Podolsk, RUS/KHL), William Karlsson (Columbus Blue Jackets/USA/NHL) Belarus Canada Czech Republic Denmark Finland France Germany Latvia Norway Russia Slovakia Slovenia Switzerland

TEAM SWITZERLAND Goaltenders: Leonardo Genoni (SC Bern), Jonas Hiller (EHC Biel), Niklas Schlegel (ZSC Lions Zürich) Defencers: Raphael Diaz (EV Zug), Dominik Schlumpf (EV Zug), Philippe Furrer (HC Lugano), Joël Genazzi (Lausanne HC), Dean Kukan (Cleveland Monsters/USA/AHL), Romain Loeffel (Servette Geneva), Christian Marti (ZSC Lions Zürich), Ramon Untersander (SC Bern) Forwards: Cody Almond (Servette Geneva), Andres Ambühl (HC Davos), Simon Bodenmann (SC Bern), Thomas Rüfenacht (SC Bern), Damien Brunner (HC Lugano), Gaetan Haas (EHC Biel), Denis Hollenstein (EHC Kloten), Vincent Praplan (EHC Kloten), Denis Malgin (Florida Panthers/USA/NHL), Tanner Richard (Syracuse Crunch/USA/AHL), Reto Schäppi (ZSC Lions Zürich), Pius Suter (ZSC Lions Zürich), Fabrice Herzog (ZSC Lions Zürich), Reto Suri (EV Zug) Belarus Canada Czech Republic Denmark Finland France Germany Latvia Norway Russia Slovakia Slovenia

TEAM SLOVENIA Goaltenders: Luka Gracnar (Red Bull Salzburg, AUT/EBEL), Gasper Kroselj (AIK Stockholm, SWE), Matija Pintaric (Rouen Dragons, FRA) Defencers: Sabahudin Kovacevic (Yunost Minsk, BLR), Klemen Pretnar (Yunost Minsk, BLR), Blaz Gregorc (Mountfield Hradec Kralove, CZE), Ales Kranjc (EC Bad Nauheim, GER), Matic Podlipnik (Lyon Lions, FRA), Jurij Repe (HC Kladno, CZE), Mitja Robar (KAC Klagenfurt, AUT/EBEL), Andrej Tavzelj (Angers Ducks, FRA), Luka Vidmar (Frederikshavn White Hawks, DEN) Forwards: Bostjan Golicic (Grenoble Bruleurs de Loups, FRA), Anze Kuralt (Grenoble Bruleurs de Loups, FRA), David Rodman (Grenoble Bruleurs de Loups, FRA), Ales Music (Olimpija Ljubljana/EBEL), Ziga Jeglic (Slovan Bratislava, SVK/KHL), Jan Mursak (CSKA Moscow, RUS/KHL), Ken Ograjensek (Graz 99ers, AUT/EBEL), Ziga Pance (KAC Klagenfurt, AUT/EBEL), Nik Pem (Heilbronner Falken, GER), Robert Sabolic (Admiral Vladivostok, RUS/KHL), Rok Ticar (Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg, RUS/KHL), Jan Urbas (VSV Villach, AUT/EBEL), Miha Verlic (VSV Villach, AUT/EBEL) Belarus Canada Czech Republic Denmark Finland France Germany Latvia Norway Russia Slovakia

TEAM RUSSIA Goaltenders: Andrei Vasilevski (Tampa Bay Lightning, USA/NHL), Ilya Sorokin (CSKA Moscow, KHL), Igor Shestyorkin (SKA St. Petersburg, KHL) Defencers: Ivan Provorov (Philadelphia Flyers, USA/NHL), Anton Belov (SKA St. Petersburg, KHL), Artyom Zub (SKA St. Petersburg, KHL), Alexei Bereglazov (Metallurg Magnitogorsk, KHL), Viktor Antipin (Metallurg Magnitogorsk, KHL), Andrei Mironov (Dinamo Moscow, KHL), Vladislav Gavrikov (Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, KHL), Bogdan Kiselevich (CSKA Moscow, KHL), Mikhail Naumenkov (CSKA Moscow, KHL) Forwards: Artemi Panarin (Chicago Blackhawks, USA/NHL), Nikita Kucherov (Tampa Bay Lightning, USA/NHL), Vladislav Namestnikov (Tampa Bay Lightning, USA/NHL), Roman Lyubimov (Philadelphia Flyers, USA/NHL), Sergei Plotnikov (SKA St. Petersburg, KHL), Nikita Gusev (SKA St. Petersburg, KHL), Vadim Shipachyov (SKA St. Petersburg, KHL), Yevgeni Dadonov (SKA St. Petersburg, KHL), Alexander Barabanov (SKA St. Petersburg, KHL), Sergei Mozyakin (Metallurg Magnitogorsk, KHL), Andrei Svetlakov (CSKA Moscow), Ivan Telegin (CSKA Moscow), Valeri Nichushkin (CSKA Moscow), Sergei Andronov (CSKA Moscow), Vladimir Tkachyov (AK Bars Kazan, KHL), Kirill Kaprizov (Salavat Yulayev Ufa, KHL) *Still one of the forwards will be cut after the preliminary round, as 27 Is the maximum number of players who can be written in the Roster for the play-off round, (25 is the maximum number of players for the preliminary Round phase).. Belarus Canada Czech Republic Denmark Finland France Germany Latvia Norway Slovakia

TEAM NORWAY Goaltenders: Lars Haugen (Färjestad BK, SWE), Henrik Haukeland (Leksand IF, SWE), Steffen Söberg (Valerenga) Defencers: Jonas Holös (Färjestad BK, SWE), Johannes Johannesen (Frölunda, SWE), Mattias Nörstebö (Frölunda, SWE), Erlend Lesund (Mora, SWE), Dennis Sveum (Stavanger), Daniel Sörvik (HC Litvinov, CZE), Henrik Ödegaard (Frisk Asker), Alexander Bonsaksen (Tappara Tampere, FIN) Forwards: Anders Bastiansen (Frisk Asker), Kristian Forsberg (Stavanger), Jorgen Karterud (Linköping, SWE), Sondre Olden (Leksand IF, SWE), Ken André Olimb (HC Linköping, SWE), Mathis Olimb (HC Linköping, SWE), Mats Rosseli Olsen (Frölunda, SWE), Thomas Valkvä Olsen (BIK Karlskoga, SWE), Aleksander Reichenberg (Storhamar Hockey), Niklas Roest (Sparta Sarpsborg), Patrick Thoresen (Zürich ZSC Lions, SUI), Mathias Trettenes (Almtuna, SWE), Andreas Martinsen (Montreal Canadiens/CAN/NHL), Martin Röymark (Tappara Tampere, FIN) Belarus Canada Czech Republic Denmark Finland France Germany Latvia Slovakia

TEAM GERMANY Goaltenders: Danny aus den Birken (EHC Red Bull Munich), Felix Brückmann (Grizzlys Wolfsburg), Thomas Greiss (New York Islanders, USA/NHL) Defencers: Konrad Abeltshauser (EHC Red Bull Munich), Sinan Akdag (Adler Mannheim), Christian Ehrhoff (Kolner Haie), Frank Hördler (Eisbären Berlín), Justin Krueger (SC Bern, SUI), Moritz Müller (Kolner Haie), Denis Reul (Adler Mannheim), Dennis Seidenberg (New York Islanders, USA/NHL) Forwards: Yasin Ehliz (Nuremberg Ice Tigers), Gerrit Fauser (Grizzlys Wolfsburg), Philip Gogulla (Kolner Haie), Patrick Hager (Kolner Haie), Dominik Kahun (EHC Red Bull Munich), Marcus Kink (Adler Mannheim), Brooks Macek (EHC Red Bull Munich), Matthias Plachta (Adler Mannheim), Patrick Reimer (Nuremberg Ice Tigers), Tobias Rieder (Arizona Coyotes, USA/NHL), Felix Schütz (Rögle BK, DEN), Yannic Seidenberg (EHC Red Bull Munich), Frederik Tiffels (Western Michigan University, USA), David Wolf (Adler Mannheim) Belarus Canada Czech Republic Denmark Finland France Latvia Slovakia

TEAM LATVIA Goaltenders: Janis Kalnins (Dinamo Riga/KHL), Elvis Merzlikins (HC Lugano, SUI), Ivars Punnenovs (SCL Tigers Langnau, SUI) Defencers: Uvis Janis Balinskis (Dinamo Riga/KHL), Oskars Cibulskis (Dinamo Riga/KHL), Guntis Galvins (Dinamo Riga/KHL), Ralfs Freibergs (Dinamo Riga/KHL), Kristofers Bindulis (Lake Superior State University, USA/NCAA), Arturs Kulda (Jokerit Helsinki, FIN/KHL), Janis Jaks (American International College, USA/NCAA), Kristaps Sotnieks (Lada Togliatti, RUS/KHL) Forwards: Maris Bicevskis (Dinamo Riga/KHL), Miks Indrasis (Dinamo Riga/KHL), Lauris Darzins (Dinamo Riga/KHL), Gints Meija (Dinamo Riga/KHL), Vitalijs Pavlovs (Dinamo Riga/KHL), Gunars Skvorcovs (Dinamo Riga/KHL), Rihards Bukarts (Springfield Thunderbirds, USA/AHL), Roberts Bukarts (HC PSG Zlin, CZE), Andris Dzerins (Mountfield Hradec Kralove, CZE), Kaspars Daugavins (Torpedo Nizhni Novgorod, RUS/KHL), Zemgus Girgensons (Buffalo Sabres/USA/NHL), Ronalds Kenins (ZSC Lions Zürich, SUI), Frenks Razgals (HK Riga/MHL), Janis Sprukts (Ritten/Renon, ITA), Teodors Blugers (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, USA/AHL) Belarus Canada Czech Republic Denmark Finland France Slovakia