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Post by Elite Sim News (ESN) on Dec 2, 2008 19:55:47 GMT -5
It's that time again! Can't wait to watch some of these games. That's right sports fans...the NHL Network will be showing all Team USA and Canada pre-lim games along with the QFs, semis and medal games.
Kinda hard to go against Canada in this tourney, especially being in Canada...BUT here are my (worthless) predictions for the medals:
GOLD - USA SILVER - Sweden BRONZE - Canada
Lot's of interesting draft eligibles, as always. Should be a good one!
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Post by Elite Sim News (ESN) on Dec 2, 2008 20:04:21 GMT -5
I'll try and post the rosters as the are announced. USA will be tossing there's out tomorrow. Here's a look at my silver medal pick!
SWEDEN
G Jacob Markstrom (Minnesota) G Mark Owuya
D Victor Hedman D Tim Erixon D Sebastian Erixon D Erik Karlsson (Tampa Bay) D Nichlas Torp (Vancouver) D David Rundblad D Viktor Ekbom
F Oscar Moller (Los Angeles) F Mattias Tedenby (Los Angeles) F Magnus Svensson-Paajarvi F Mikael Backlund (Vancouver) F Marcus Johansson F Andre Petersson (Carolina) F Anton Persson F Jacob Josefson F Joakim Andersson (Boston) F Nicklas Lasu (Nashville) F David Ullstrom (Buffalo) F Carl Gustavsson F Simon Hjalmarsson (Washington)
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Post by Detroit Cherni on Dec 3, 2008 13:58:14 GMT -5
There is no way Canada can be defeated.
Canada - GOLD Sweden - Silver USA - Bronze
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Post by Elite Sim News (ESN) on Dec 3, 2008 18:02:05 GMT -5
USA
G Thomas McCollum (Vancouver) G Josh Unice (St. Louis)
D Jonathan Blum (Calgary) D Ian Cole (New Jersey) D Cade Fairchild (Boston) D Blake Kessel (Anaheim) D Ryan McDonagh (Toronto) D Ted Ruth (Colorado) D Kevin Shattenkirk (NYIslanders)
F Drayson Bowman (Phoenix) F Jimmy Hayes (Calgary) F Mike Hoeffel (Washington) F Tyler Johnson (Atlanta) F Danny Kristo (Philadelphia) F Jim O'Brien (Los Angeles) F Aaron Palushaj (NYIslanders) F Matt Rust (San Jose) F Jordan Schroeder F Eric Tangradi (Minnesota) F James Van Riemsdyk (Toronto) F Mitch Wahl (Carolina) F Colin Wilson (Minnesota)
***USA homer commentary*** Pretty solid roster in my mind. I would have preferred to see John Carlson over Cade Fairchild, but that's just me.
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Post by Detroit Cherni on Dec 3, 2008 18:09:56 GMT -5
Once again, you will NEVER stop the drive for five. GO CANADA GO!!! GO CANADA GO!!!
John Tavares......That's it! That's all!
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Post by Detroit Cherni on Dec 3, 2008 18:14:06 GMT -5
Here is our try-out roster:
Goaltenders/Gardiens de but Jake Allen L/G 6'1" 180 08/07/90 New Maryland, NB Montreal (QMJHL) STL '08 (2, 34) Chet Pickard L/G 6'1" 216 11/29/89 Winnipeg, MB Tri-City (WHL) NSH '08 (1, 18) Tyson Sexsmith L/G 5'11" 211 03/19/89 Priddis, AB Vancouver (WHL) SJ '07 (3, 91) Dustin Tokarski L/G 5'11" 189 09/16/89 Watson, SK Spokane (WHL) TB '08 (5, 122) Defence/Défense Keith Aulie L/G 6'6" 215 06/11/89 Rouleau, SK Brandon (WHL) CGY '07 (4, 116) Tyler Cuma L/G 6'1.5" 189 01/19/90 Bowmanville, ON Ottawa (OHL) MIN '08 (1, 23) Ryan Ellis R/D 5'9.5" 176 01/03/91 Freelton, ON Windsor (OHL) 2009 Dft/Rep. Cody Goloubef R/D 6'1" 194 11/30/89 Oakville, ON Wisconsin (WCHA) CBJ '08 (2, 37) Travis Hamonic R/D 6'0" 202 08/16/90 St. Malo, MB Moose Jaw (WHL) NYI '08 (2, 53) * Thomas Hickey L/G 5'11" 194 02/08/89 Calgary, AB Seattle (WHL) LA '07 (1, 4) Kevin Marshall L/G 6'0" 203 03/10/89 Boucherville, QC Quebec (QMJHL) PHA '07 (2, 41) Tyler Myers R/D 6'7.5" 213 02/01/90 Calgary, AB Kelowna (WHL) BUF '08 (1, 12) Alex Pietrangelo R/D 6'2.5" 204 01/18/90 King City, ON Niagara (OHL) STL '08 (1, 4) Brendan Smith L/G 6'1.5" 181 02/08/89 Mimico, ON Wisconsin (WCHA) DET '07 (1, 27) Jared Spurgeon R/D 5'8" 167 11/29/89 Edmonton, AB Spokane (WHL) NYI '08 (6, 156) * PK Subban R/D 5'11" 206 05/13/89 Toronto, ON Belleville (OHL) MTL '07 (2, 43) Colten Teubert R/D 6'3" 189 03/08/90 White Rock, BC Regina (WHL) LA '08 (1, 13) Patrick Wiercioch L/G 6'4" 185 09/12/90 Maple Ridge, BC Denver (WCHA) OTT '08 (2, 42) Forwards/Avants Jamie Arniel R/D 5'10.5" 183 11/16/89 Kingston, ON Sarnia (OHL) BOS '08 (4, 97) Jamie Benn L/G 6'1.5" 202 07/18/89 Victoria, BC Kelowna (WHL) DAL '07 (5, 129) * Zach Boychuk L/G 5'10" 175 10/04/89 Airdrie, AB Lethbridge (WHL) CAR '08 (1, 14) Matt Calvert L/G 5'10" 175 12/24/89 Brandon, MB Brandon (WHL) CBJ '08 (5, 127) Patrice Cormier L/G 6'1.5" 201 06/14/90 Cap-Pelé, NB Rimouski (QMJHL) NJ '08 (2, 54) Stefan Della Rovere L/G 5'11" 200 02/25/90 Maple, ON Barrie (OHL) WAS '07 (7, 204) Chris DiDomenico R/D 5'11" 170 02/20/89 Woodbridge, ON Saint John (QMJHL) TOR '07 (6, 164) Matt Duchene L/G 5'11" 201 01/16/91 Haliburton, ON Brampton (OHL) 2009 Dft/Rep. Jordan Eberle R/D 5'10" 181 05/15/90 Calgary, AB Regina (WHL) EDM '08 (1, 22) Tyler Ennis L/G 5'8" 165 10/06/89 Edmonton, AB Medicine Hat (WHL) BUF '08 (1, 26) Angelo Esposito L/G 6'1" 180 02/20/89 Montreal, QC Montreal (QMJHL) PIT/ATL '07 (1, 20) Taylor Hall L/G 6'0" 181 11/14/91 Kingston, ON Windsor (OHL) 2010 Dft/Rep. Cody Hodgson R/D 5'11" 189 02/18/90 Markham, ON Brampton (OHL) VAN '08 (1, 10) Nazem Kadri L/G 5'11" 174 10/06/90 London, ON London (OHL) 2009 Dft/Rep. Evander Kane L/G 6'1" 180 08/02/91 Vancouver, BC Vancouver (WHL) 2009 Dft/Rep. Riley Nash R/D 6'0" 176 05/09/89 Kamloops, BC Cornell (ECAC) EDM '07 (1, 21) Brayden Schenn L/G 6'0" 199 08/22/91 Saskatoon, SK Brandon (WHL) 2009 Dft/Rep. Brett Sonne L/G 6'0" 187 05/16/89 Maple Ridge, BC Calgary (WHL) STL '07 (3, 85) * John Tavares L/G 6'0" 203 09/20/90 Oakville, ON Oshawa (OHL) 2009 Dft/Rep. Dana Tyrell L/G 5'9.5" 182 04/23/89 Airdrie, AB Prince George (WHL) TB '07 (2, 47)
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Post by Detroit Cherni on Dec 3, 2008 18:15:50 GMT -5
WHO is going to break through that defense?
NO ONE!!!!
No Swedes! They're scared. No Russians! They don't like to be hit! No Czechs! They don't like to be checked. No Americans! You're almost there, but not ready for the big boys! No Finns! They can't compete.
NO ONE!
Five in a row boys! Five in a row. We're calling our shot!
ALL HAIL PAT QUINN AND TEAM CANADA!!!!!!
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Post by Elite Sim News (ESN) on Dec 3, 2008 19:37:14 GMT -5
I could care less about a d**n tryout roster. Canada is the gold medal favorite, no doubt. I just have a feeling about this Swedish bunch. I'd be more confident if they had a dominant player up front like they had with Patrik Berglund and Oscar Moller a year ago, but I'm stickin with the Swedes to win it! Paajarvi is going to have to be at his very best, along with Backlund, Josefson and Hjalmarsson. Sweden's D is reliant upon draft eligibles (Hedman, Tim Erixon and Rundblad) to be sharp. So why did I go with Sweden to win this tourney? Markstrom is the best keeper there (in my opinion) and with the talent they have throughout the lineup they can play with anyone. Remember Cherni, the Swedes beat Canada a year ago before falling in OT in the gold medal game. They aren't afraid (at least they shouldn't be) of Canada. The home ice advantage will be huge though. I think there's going to be more of a drop off after the top four this year (Canada, Sweden, USA and Russia). Finland's 89 and 90 class just isn't good enough, and I'm curious to see if they will allow Rajala and Granlund to play this year. For their sake, I would like to see them play this year just to get a taste. The Czechs aren't really exciting me that much either.
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Post by Elite Sim News (ESN) on Dec 15, 2008 10:18:25 GMT -5
CANADA
G Chet Pickard (New Jersey) G Dustin Tokarski (Atlanta)
D Keith Aulie (Vancouver) D Ryan Ellis D Cody Goloubef (Buffalo) D Thomas Hickey (Ottawa) D Tyler Myers (Minnesota) D Alex Pietrangelo (Buffalo) D P.K. Subban (Montreal) D Colten Teubert (Ottawa)
F Jamie Benn (San Jose) F Zach Boychuk (Tampa Bay) F Patrice Cormier (Minnesota) F Stefan Della Rovere (Los Angeles) F Chris DiDomenico (Calgary) F Jordan Eberle (Anaheim) F Tyler Ennis (Detroit) F Angelo Esposito (Anaheim) F Cody Hodgson (NYIslanders) F Brett Sonne (Minnesota) F John Tavares F Dana Tyrell (Edmonton)
Good for Angelo. I (not that it matters what I think) am glad to see him make the team. Is it just me, or is this team a little smaller than usual, especially up front? I don't think it matters much, as they have a good amount of skill and "grit", it just seems most teams in the past were bigger than this one. Oh, and sucks that Tyler Cuma was injured. I thought he would have a great tourny.
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Post by Anaheim GM on Dec 15, 2008 14:58:31 GMT -5
Canada wins ONLY BECAUSE of Esposito. This is the tournament that sends his stock back through the roof....
*On a side note...I really wish I believed all of the bull *bleep that spews out of my mouth...
I REALLY like the American choices...gritty defense. That is one of the better bluelines I've seen in quite some time.
Canadians are too talented at the forward position. We'll see which goalie gets hot!!!
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Post by Detroit Cherni on Dec 15, 2008 15:25:38 GMT -5
Have fun playing for second boys! Five in a row, here we come!
GO CANADA GO! GO CANADA GO!!
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Post by formerDevilsGM on Dec 15, 2008 16:12:03 GMT -5
GO CANADA GO! GO CANADA GO!! ?? I still dont undertand how come our 51st state gets to have a team in this championship....
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Post by Detroit Cherni on Dec 15, 2008 19:40:55 GMT -5
Your 51st State my a-s-s! Just remember the last time you tried to invade, we got you!
Don't Tread On Us!!!!! GO CANADA GO!
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Post by Elite Sim News (ESN) on Dec 16, 2008 0:21:32 GMT -5
Yeah, that's right. After reviewing the rosters of these three (I might want to wait to see what Russia puts together...no one seems to be talking about them...but they will have a pretty solid team as well), I have decided to OFFICIALLY flip flop and go with the USA to win the gold. I realize I'm setting myself up for major disappointment, as this country always seems to underachieve at the U20 tourny, but this USA team is just d**n good. JVR-Wilson-Schroeder is going to completely dominate this tournament. I know I'm gonna catch heat for this, and I don't care. As long as the Americans stay out of the box, Canada doesn't scare me offensively. That's right, I said it. Canada doesn't scare me offensively if they aren't on the PP. One thing is for sure...I CAN NOT WAIT FOR THIS TOURNAMENT TO START!!!!!! Canada's drive for five...not so much.
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Post by ottawagm on Dec 16, 2008 0:23:45 GMT -5
Ive got my money on Hedman and his boys this year.
Gold - Sweden Silver - USA Bronze - Finland
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