Pro Hockey Resume

By Dan Toman
Toronto – For many, holiday time is synonymous with primetime sports viewing. The NBA serves up some Christmas Day cheer with a slate of marquee matchups, while college football fills our stockings with bowl games for the final two weeks of the year. And for all the hockey fans in need of their fix before the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games, the gifts keep rolling in, starting December 26 when IIHF showcases the best young hockey talent in the world with the Under-20 World Junior Championships in Saskatchewan, Canada.

THE GOLD STANDARD

No secret here who the favorite is. Canada has dominated the WJC, winning gold the past five tournaments (2005-09). This year’s squad features six returning members from last year’s gold medal team.

Country: Canada

2009 result: Gold

Player to watch: How about line to watch? Canada’s top line features Taylor Hall, Adam Henrique and Greg Nemisz from the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL. Hall, the projected No. 1 pick in this year’s NHL entry draft, leads the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with 59 pts in 34 games, while Henrique and Nemisz both find themselves among the top ten leaders in points.

Currently on NHL rosters: D Alex Pietrangelo, St. Louis Blues. Canada’s 22- player roster includes 20 players selected in either the 2008 or 2009 NHL entry draft.

Homecoming: Jordan Eberle of the Regina Pats is second in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with 60 points in 28 games. The Regina native scored the winning goal in last year’s gold medal game vs. Sweden.

WJC history: Canada has medaled in 11 straight tournaments. Their 15 gold medals top all countries in the 32-year history of the tournament.

MEDAL CONTENDERS

Country: Sweden

2009 result: Silver

Player to watch: Defensemen Adam Larsson of Skelleftea AIK of the Swedish Elite Leagues has been compared to NHL defensemen Victor Hedman. Listed at 6′2, 209, Larsson is projected to be a top-5 pick in the 2011 NHL entry draft.

Currently on NHL rosters: Despite having a roster that features 18-NHL drafted players, Sweden’s roster will not include any players currently on an NHL team.

Hed-less: Unfortunately, Sweden’s most prized talent, Victor Hedman will not be joining his fellow countrymen at this year’s WJC. The 18-year old defensemen selected second overall in the 2009 NHL entry draft was made unavailable by the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Swedes will also be without the Top Defensemen of the 2009 tournament as awarded by the IIHF, in Erik Karlsson of the Ottawa Senators.

WJC history: It has been nearly thirty years since Sweden won their first and only gold medal at the tournament.

Country: Russia

2009 result: Bronze

Player to watch: Nikita Filatov of the Columbus Blue Jackets appeared in 13 NHL games this year, but after being sent down to their American Hockey League affiliate, he has returned to the KHL to play for CSKA Moscow. Since his return, Filatov has 5 goals and 5 assists in 6 games.

Currently on NHL rosters: D Dmitri Kulikov, Florida Panthers. National team coach Vladimir Plyushche remains hopeful that the Panthers will release the young defensemen in time for the tournament.

Goaltending, the age-old debate: At the time of Russia announcing their preliminary 33-player roster, the average age of their goaltenders was 18. Unlike many of the skaters, the goaltenders have no experience in the Russian professional leagues. Ramis Sadikov has a 3.63 GAA in 15 games with the Erie Otters (OHL)

WJC history: Russia has medaled in all but two tournaments this decade (2001, 2004).

Country: United States

2009 result: 5th

Player to watch: Forward Jeremy Morrin has 44 pts in 32 games for the Kitchener Rangers in the OHL this season.

Currently on NHL rosters: John Carlson of the Hershey Bears leads all AHL defensemen with 24 pts in 29 games. Carlson played three games this season for the Washington Capitals and is expected to suit up for team USA. The red, white, and blue line: The U.S., led by a strong defensive corps, remain a dark horse to reach the podium for the first time since 2007. In addition to Carlson, Cam Fowler of the Windsor Spitfires is third among OHL defensemen with 40 pts in 32 games to go along with a +26.

WJC history: Team USA captured their only gold in tournament history, with a memorable 4-3 comeback win over Canada in 2004.

Country: Czech Republic

2009 result: 6th

Player to watch: Czech captain Michael Jordan. The Plymouth Whalers’ defensemen has 21 pts in 29 games in the OHL this season.
Currently on NHL rosters: None.

Battered Czechs: Key injuries to top players will prevent the Czechs from sending their best roster to the tournament, including Jaroslav Hafenrichter who had 62 pts in 44 games for Salvia’s Prague last season.

WJC history: The Czechs have medaled just once since back-to-back titles in ‘01 and ‘02, winning the bronze in 2005.

OUTSIDE THE PIPES

Slovakia: Although the Slovaks lost to Russia in the bronze medal game, they are unlikely to realize the same success this year. The Slovaks needed a 44- save effort from goaltender Jaroslav Janus to win last year’s quarterfinal despite being outplayed by team USA. Top player Tomas Tatar of the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins finished second in last year’s tournament with 7 goals (team- leading 11 pts).

Finland: Following five podium finishes between 2001-2006, the Fins have failed to medal for three straight tournaments. With three teams in each group moving on to the Playoff Round, the Fins will be hard pressed to earn a berth at the expense of Sweden, Russia or the Czechs.

PREDICTED FINISH

Gold: Canada
Silver: Sweden
Bronze: USA over Russia

By: Inside College Hockey

Denver’s impressive sweep over North Dakota moved the Pioneers higher in this week’s Inside College Hockey Power Rankings, but not ahead of incumbent No. 1 Miami, carriers of an eight-game unbeaten streak.

Here’s how the Inside College Hockey editors and staff rank the nation’s top teams:

1. MIAMI
The good news is the RedHawks extended their unbeaten streak to eight this weekend. The bad news is that three of those eight games are ties, and they’ve all come during the past two weekends.

Last week’s ranking: 1

Record: 9-1-4 (6-1-3 CCHA)

Last week: W at Western Michigan, 3-0; T at Western Michigan, 1-1 OT

This week: vs. Bemidji State, at North Dakota (Subway Holiday Classic; Grand Forks, N.D.)

2. DENVER
“It’s definitely entertaining to watch,” Pioneer goalie Marc Cheverie told the Denver Post’s Mike Chambers on Friday following his team’s knock-down, drag-out, 1-0 win over North Dakota. Based on Mr. Cheverie’s weekend numbers — 58 saves, 2 goals allowed and an NCAA-best fourth shutout — he was just as entertaining.

Last week’s ranking: 3

Record: 8-3-1 (6-1-1 WCHA)

Last week: W vs. North Dakota, 1-0; W vs. North Dakota, 3-2

This week: vs. St. Cloud State, vs. St. Cloud State

3. UMASS LOWELL
UMass Lowell was 5-1-0 in its six Hockey East games last season against this week’s opponents, Providence and Maine. The River Hawks outscored the Friars and Black Bears 26-11 in those six games.

Last week’s ranking: 5

Record: 8-2-1 (4-1-1 Hockey East)

Last week: W vs. Merrimack, 6-3

This week: at Providence, vs. Maine

4. NORTH DAKOTA
The losses at Denver marked the first time the Fighting Sioux suffered a weekend sweep since dropping a pair to Michigan Tech on Dec. 15-16, 2006. “Hopefully it doesn’t happen again,” NoDak forward Chris VandeVelde told the Grand Forks Herald’s Brad Schlossman.

Last week’s ranking: 2

Record: 7-4-1 (5-4-1 WCHA)

Last week: L at Denver, 1-0; L at Denver, 3-2

This week: vs. Ohio State, vs. Miami (Subway Holiday Classic; Grand Forks, N.D.)

5. COLORADO COLLEGE
The Tigers are off to their best start since the 2005-06 season, when they burst out of the gate with an identical 9-2-1 record. CC fans hope the similarities end there; the ‘05-’06 club went 15-14-1 the rest of the way and lost in the first round of the WCHA and NCAA playoffs.

Last week’s ranking: 7

Record: 9-2-1 (6-1-1 WCHA)

Last week: W vs. Robert Morris, 4-3; W vs. Robert Morris, 4-1

This week: vs. Alaska Anchorage, vs. Alaska Anchorage

6. CORNELL
Tuesday’s home game against Colgate is Cornell’s last game at Lynah Rink until Jan. 22-23, when North Dakota visits.

Last week’s ranking: 4

Record: 5-2-0 (4-2-0 ECAC Hockey)

Last week: W vs. Princeton, 5-2; L vs. Quinnipiac, 3-2

This week: vs. Colgate, vs. Boston University (at Madison Square Garden)

7. BEMIDJI STATE
The Beavers are one of the nation’s two teams with 10 wins, and at this rate they’ll be the first to 100 goals. The Beavers have scored six goals in each of their past three games and have 49 for the season — one fewer than nine-win Ferris State, but the Bulldogs have played two more games than the Beavers.

Last week’s ranking: 9

Record: 10-1-1 (6-0-0 CHA)

Last week: W vs. Alabama-Huntsville, 6-1; W vs. Alabama-Huntsville, 6-3

This week: vs. Miami, vs. Ohio State (Subway Holiday Classic; Grand Forks, N.D.)

8. MICHIGAN STATE
The Spartans’ winless streak against Notre Dame stands at six following the tie and loss to the Irish this past weekend. In those six games dating back to Jan. 13, 2008, MSU has scored a total of five goals.

Last week’s ranking: 6

Record: 9-3-2 (6-2-2 CCHA)

Last week:T vs. Notre Dame, 1-1 OT; L vs. Notre Dame, 4-1 (at Fort Wayne, Ind.)

This week: vs. Wisconsin, vs. Minnesota (College Hockey Showcase)

9. QUINNIPIAC
The Bobcats extended their winning streak, which now stands at six games, with a pair of impressive wins at Colgate and Cornell. A key to success? Quinnipiac took first-period leads in both contests.

Last week’s ranking: 12

Record: 10-1-0 (6-0-0 ECAC Hockey)

Last week: W at Colgate, 5-3; W at Cornell, 3-2

This week: vs. Princeton, vs. Massachusetts

10. Massachusetts
The Minutemen have scored 34 goals in their eight wins, a tidy average of 4.25 goals per game.

Last week’s ranking: 15

Record: 8-2-0 (4-2-0 Hockey East)

Last week: W at Yale, 4-3 OT

This week: at Vermont, at Quinnipiac