2017 U18 Division I, II, III

[Belizarius]

3rd day, France wins the 3rd game 6-3 vs Hungary.
Not the greatest game by team France but still, these 9 points are the most ever for our team at this level. They have a chance to promote if they win tomorrow vs Norway !

Texier was a little bit quiet, not the ice time as usual. Still had 2-3 good chances, including a breakaway where he tried a move like Forsberg in '94. Decent backcheck or some takeaways, as well.
GK Richard was terrifice again. I really liked Sarlin, who had 2 goals and 1 assist.

 

[Belizarius]

Wow, Norway lost to Denmark.
And Kazakhstan is leading 4-0 over Germany.

France can promote with a win over Kazakhstan on Thursday...

 

[Belizarius]

wow, it's now 6-1 Kazakhstan :O

 

[kabidjan18]

Germany's european selection process was wildly prideful. Combine that with the misfortune of clashes with CHL and USHL playoffs for Gawanke and Ugbekile and they would genuinely be contenders for relegation of Hungary didn't have such a vice grip over that honor.

 

[airbus1094]

We're safe from relegation! Still in the fight for promotion, we'll need wins over both FRA and DEN, but that's a very tough ask.

Glad that the team is cementing its place in D1A, hopefully we'll look to aim for promotion in a few years!

 

[ozo]

Kazakhstan overcomes Denmark in OT. Would be cool to see Kazakhstan taking the gold.

 

[AstrophysicalJet]

Very dissapointing performance from the Denmark team to say the least.

 

[kabidjan18]

As expected, Hungary saves Germany from relegation. 5-0 after one.

 

[Belizarius]

France can win gold with a win vs Norway tonight.

 

[AstrophysicalJet]

As expected, Hungary saves Germany from relegation. 5-0 after one.

Havent followed DK U18 at all this year, was it a weak team?

 

[kabidjan18]

Havent followed DK U18 at all this year, was it a weak team?

I would say so, more of an uninspired team than anything. Past years featured some de facto stars who were reliably dominant. Rondbjerg hasn't been incredible really all this year, I think some people mentioned he's a low energy player but I feel there may be more issues. I was rooting for Denmark so I hoped Malte Setkov would lead the way but he's a D. The depth didn't really feel like it was there either. I'd say it was a slightly below average team without a star leader personality to carry it through tougher times.

 

[kabidjan18]

Germany beats Hungary 10-0. It could have been a lot worse.

 

[Maverick41]

Germany beats Hungary 10-0. It could have been a lot worse.

I don't get that team. They don't show up against the real competition but then they beat up on the one team that is clearly weaker.

 

[S E P H]

I watched half of Germany's games and it seemed to me that it was extremely weak coaching and managing. This German team is quite decent, should have competed with Norway and France for the Gold.

 

[AstrophysicalJet]

I would say so, more of an uninspired team than anything. Past years featured some de facto stars who were reliably dominant. Rondbjerg hasn't been incredible really all this year, I think some people mentioned he's a low energy player but I feel there may be more issues. I was rooting for Denmark so I hoped Malte Setkov would lead the way but he's a D. The depth didn't really feel like it was there either. I'd say it was a slightly below average team without a star leader personality to carry it through tougher times.

Not used to seeing a French U18 team best a Danish one, made me think it was a much weaker team than usual.

And usually always on par with Norway/Germany competing for gold.

And I must admit, it is dissapointing to hear about Rondbjerg, had Early 3rd round hopes for him, looks like a far ferch now imo.

 

[Belizarius]

After 2 periods, France leads Norway 2-1.
One period to play and promote for the 1st time ever !!!

 

[letsgocaps]

Great win. Not a strong game for Texier, missed the empty net with 10 seconds left.

 

[Belizarius]

Great win. Not a strong game for Texier, missed the empty net with 10 seconds left.

Yep !
Norway tried to win in regulation to keep a chance for gold.
And, after a monster save from Richard (39 saves!), Enzo Guebey didn't miss the open net from his goal line at 59'59" !

Awesome !

1st time ever France is promoted to the biggest stage of the world at this level !

 

[airbus1094]

Congrats to France, great achievement for them!

Happy to see the kaz team show some charterer and beat den, as well as some more consistency at this level.

 

[Alessandro Seren Rosso]

These tournaments need a playoffs or maybe a final game between the first and second team. Why France should get promoted if they lost to Kazakhstan? From a sports point of view having a couple of games more would be more exciting and more fair without having too weight on the players.

 

[Belizarius]

These tournaments need a playoffs or maybe a final game between the first and second team. Why France should get promoted if they lost to Kazakhstan? From a sports point of view having a couple of games more would be more exciting and more fair without having too weight on the players.

What ?
If Kazakhstan wins, they have 11 pts. France has 12.
What the problem ? Kazakhstan had to win games in regulation.

 

[Garl]

These tournaments need a playoffs or maybe a final game between the first and second team. Why France should get promoted if they lost to Kazakhstan? From a sports point of view having a couple of games more would be more exciting and more fair without having too weight on the players.

Why should Kazakhstan get promoted if they lost to Norway?

 

[Alessandro Seren Rosso]

Why should Kazakhstan get promoted if they lost to Norway?

It's not football. All hockey leagues in the world have the playoffs stage for a purpose...
These tournaments are the only hockey competition without a playoffs stage and I think it's redicolous.

 

[Maverick41]

It's not football. All hockey leagues in the world have the playoffs stage for a purpose...
These tournaments are the only hockey competition without a playoffs stage and I think it's redicolous.

I might be wrong, but maybe these tournaments cost more money than they make, and making them longer with more games (even if it is just one) could end up costing even more. Add to that the fact that 5 games in 7 days is not something most of these kids are used to. And again that would only become worse if you add more game(s).

So, I think there is a vested interest to keep these tournaments as short as possible.
They might even be worried about the players not missing too many days at school. I assume most of the kids are still in school. Not sure how the tournaments might line up with the school breaks.

I am not saying I am opposed to adding a playoff, but this is what I believe could be the reasoning the IIHF is using against it.

 

[Belizarius]

You just can't imagine a change just because the team you rooted for won't promote...
Kazakhstan played great, but still lost points, as Norway, where France didn't...