I love the Christmas holiday because I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I also love Christmas because the annual IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship begins on December 26. Boxing Day is one of my favorite days of the year. I'm especially amped up today because the World Junior Hockey Championships are being played in my own backyard in Buffalo, NY.
I have vivid memories of the 2011 IIHF WJC tourney when Buffalo also hosted the event. I'll never forget being inside the raucous arena during the gold medal game between Team Canada and Team Russia. Canada took a 3-0 into their room after forty minutes of play. Team Canada's fans packed the barn and were exuting their team in full throat as they hit the ice surface for the third period.
At the two and a half minute mark of the third period when Russian sniper Artemi Panarin broke Team Canada's shutout. Russia scored another quick goal to make it 3-2 Canada. Then, all hell broke lose when Vlad Tarasenko tied the game at 3-3 at the 7:29 mark of the third period. Tarasenko assisted on the game winning goal 4:28 third period. Russia added an insurance goal with 1:16 remaining in regulation. Somehow, some way, Russia overcame a 3-0 deficit, plus, an injury to Tarasenko to claw their way off the ropes to blitz Canada for five goals in the third period. The arena was as quite as a funeral home after the Russians won the gold medal and the Canadian fans hastily exited the building in stunned disbelief. In the media salon, just feet away from Team Canada's players, Tarasenko and his comrades celebrated flamboyantly and mugged for the TV cameras that were there to document Russia's improbable comeback win in the gold medal game.
That's why they play the games. Each team is loaded with the best of the best U-20 players in their respective countries. Its a tournament of high emotions and passion. No lead is safe at this short hockey tourney. Three goal deficits can be erased in the blink of an eye.
Legends are born at the WJCs.
Today, visions of sugar plums and Rasmus Dahlin are dancing in the minds NHL hockey. Dahlin, the slick puck transporter, is the concensus first overall pick at the 208 NHL Draft, will represent Team Sweden.
Sweden also features Alex Nylander, the eighth pverall pick of teh Buffalo Sabre at the 2016 NHL Draft. Nylander is playing in his third consecutive WJC tourney. Nylander was Sweden's best scorer at last year's WJC tourney.
Team USAsniping forward Casey Mittestadt will be playing in his first World Junior Hockey Championships tourney. Mittelstadt is a freshman at the University of Minnesota. He was selected eighth overall by the Buffalo Sabres at the 2016 NHL Draft.
The World Juniors tourney will be held at the home of the Buffalo Sabres and at HarborCenter in downtown Buffalo starting on Boxing Day and running through January 5. The most anticpated moment of the tournament is the outdoor game that will pit archrivals Team USA vs. Team Canada at the home of the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, on December 29.
USA, Canada, Finland, Slovakia and Denmark are in Group A.
Sweden, Russia, Czech Republic, Switzerland and Belarus are in Group B.
Preliminary-round play ends on New Years Eve.
The top four finishers in each group advance to the quarterfinals January 2, and then the semifinals are January 4.
The bronze-medal and gold-medal games are January 5.
The United States will repeat as champion at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Just one year ago, Team USA defeated Team, Canada 5-4 in a shootout to win the gold medal at the 2017 WJC. The Americans are eager to earn consecutive tournaments win since Canada won the last of its five straight championships in 2009.
I see the gold medal game being a clash of the the international hockey giants in Team USA vs. Team Canada. I see Team Canada winning the bronze medal.
Personally, I like Team Sweden's chances of winnng gold at the #WJCInBUF. It won't be easy to knock the USA off their thrown.
The Americans are a big, fast, heavy, hard, confident team.
The Team USA coaching staff knows that they are the hunted and not the hunter at this short tourney. The Americans will not be sneeking up on any opponents. They will have to work for everything they get.
(Check out Casey Mittelstadt's grotesque shootout goal at the end of this package)
Sweden will have to play error free hockey and establish their even strength scoring early in the tourney. Sweden prides itself on having lethal, quick strike power play and penalty kill units.
The Team Sweden roster is stacked with talented, skilled players on both sides of the puck. Erik Brannstrom, Rasmus Dahlin, Linus Hogberg, Tim Liljegren, Gustav Lindstrom, Jacob Moverare, Lias Andersson, Jesper Boqvist, Marcus Davidsson, Alexander Nylander, Elias Pettersson, and Tim Soderlund.
Team USA are a big, fast, skilled team and can light teams up like a Christmas tree. They play fast, north, aggressive hockey. Team USA will need to stay out of teh penalty box and will have to do their chores in their own end.
The Americans arguably have the best goalie in the tourney in Jake Oettinger. Their D corps is fast and skilled. Mikey Anderson, Adam Fox, Quinn Hughes, and Ryan Lindgren. The USA forwards are a collection of skilled playmakers and scorers. Joey Anderson, Kieffer Bellows, Logan Brown, Trent Frederic, Patrick Harper, Max Jones, Will Lockwood, Casey Mittelstadt, Josh Norris, Ryan Poehling, Brady Tkachuk, Riley Tufte, and Kailer Yamamoto
Buffalo Sabres fans are hoping and praying to the international hockey gods for a Casey Mittelstadt vs. Alex Nylander gold medal game. Mittelstady was seected by the Sabres eighth overall at the 2017 NHL Draft. Nylander was selected eighth overall at the 2016 NHL Draft. Mittelstadt and Nylander are expedcted to play starring roles for the Sabres in the very near future. Nylander is playing in his third consecutive World Juniors tourney. He has yet to medal at the prestigious tourney. Last week, Buffalo Sabres GM Jason Botterill gave his blessing andloaned Nylander to Team Sweden. Nylander could end up being the missing link that Sweden needs to knock off Team USA.
As Carter Hart goes, so goes Team Canada. Hart has a mobile D corps playing in front of him in Jake Bean, Kale Clague, Dante Fabbro, Cal Foote, Cale Makar, and Victor Mete.
Canada's forwards are big, strong, fast and skilled.
Drake Batherson, Maxime Comtois,Dillon Dube, Alex Formenton,
Jonah Gadjovich, Brett Howden, Boris Katchouk, Jordan Kyrou, Michael McLeod, Taylor Raddysh, Sam Steel, Tyler Steenbergen, and Robert Thomas,
I like Canada's chances to medal, however, I don't see them swiping the crown away from Team USA nor Tre Kronor.
Boxing Day is here! I cannot wait for the opening games of #WJC2018 Buffalo will once again exceed all tourney expectations and will be a gracious host tonhockey friends from all over the world. Drop the puck!#Sabrespic.twitter.com/nG5OA0juai
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