2021 Hlinka Gretzky

[kudla]

Hard time to be a swiss hockey fan following junior hockey. Especially since everybody knows that the swiss federation is unwilling and unable to do anything about it.

Majority of the Swiss players play in the domestic U17 league. Why are they not pushed atleast to the U20 teams? For example ALL slovak players at this tournament already have some experience with men hockey and it helped

 

[SanDogBrewin]

 

[Erikfromfin]

Any other Finn like this Kaskimäki guy, well deserved promotion to first line. From HIFK U20 quartet Kaskimäki, Ruusunen, Bau and Lundell I think his the most talented one I even put him ahead of Lassila now.

 

[Erikfromfin]

Oh didnt realize Czechs can still getto semis by winning Russia... hoping that Michkov is on fire again

 

[Faterson]

@Erikfromfin is just talking about Finnish prospects ranking not all players

That's what you get when your top prospect is half-Canadian, and the following pair's names sound Swedish rather than Finnish, and then @alko further muddles the situation with his sarcastic reply.

 

[theslatcher]

Sweden - Slovakia will be an interesting game to say the least.

 

[BusQuets]

That's what you get when your top prospect is half-Canadian, and the following pair's names sound Swedish rather than Finnish, and then @alko further muddles the situation with his sarcastic reply.

Kemell is as Finnish as it gets. The name barely exists outside of Finland.

 

[Antiillafire]

Terrible start for slovaks

 

[Faterson]

Kemell is as Finnish as it gets. The name barely exists outside of Finland.

I refer to "Joakim" primarily there. When I see "Joakim", I instantly think of Sweden, not Finland. As to his last name, you may be right, but it certainly doesn't strike us outsiders as typically Finnish, either. (We'd expect something like Kämmälainen instead.)

 

[Speyer]

Majority of the Swiss players play in the domestic U17 league. Why are they not pushed atleast to the U20 teams? For example ALL slovak players at this tournament already have some experience with men hockey and it helped

Its a rather week age group depth wise. Yes this could be said about most swiss birth years in the new century so far but the 04's are deifintely weaker in that regard than the 03's the 02's and the 00's who had more u20 experience at the same time of development. It also doenst help that Bichsel and Taibel who already showed that they can play at this level at the U18's last may have performed below their capabilities.

As far as pro experience goes, NLA and (a lot of) NLB coaches just flat out refuse to give junior players signifcant minutes to cover their own asses from criticism later on in case the season goes bad. While the currently bad talent pool has contributed to this problem it certainly cant explain it in itself as the comparison with the DEL shows quite clearly. It certainly speaks for itself when a guy like Bichsel who would be ready to play for Biel on a regular basis decides to leave for Sweden instead.

There are of course many more problems with swiss junior hockey but I dont want to get into that here, it has been discussed on this board several times. For example in this thread.

 

[VictorLustig]

Lekkerimäki-Östlund is creating something every shift. Just can't buy a goal. Öhgren also continuing his strong play, beauty pass before the goal.

But this team continues to give away pucks on the defensive blueline. Will cost them eventually.

 

[Kshahdoo]

Russia is destroying Czech is the 2nd. 4-1.

 

[tobu]

Amazing that Slovaks can keep the pressure up agaisnt Swedes.

Strbak having a huge game!

 

[Antiillafire]

Amazing that Slovaks can keep the pressure up agaisnt Swedes.

Strbak having a huge game!

While Slafkovsky has struggled today

 

[Svedu]

Kemell is as Finnish as it gets. The name barely exists outside of Finland.

One of the biggest wiseacres here has spoken.

 

[Antiillafire]

2-2 slovaks and Swedes tied. Much better second period for Slovakia. 2023 line playing very well. While first line has struggled to get going, although they are playing against great Swedish first line

 

[Kshahdoo]

Michkov with 2 goals so far. 5-2 Russia after two periods.

 

[Antiillafire]

This Czech team really misses hamara

 

[Dueling Banjos]

2-2 slovaks and Swedes tied. Much better second period for Slovakia. 2023 line playing very well. While first line has struggled to get going, although they are playing against great Swedish first line

Good game, on to the 3rd

 

[kudla]

Everyone sleeping on Maxim Strbak, he is one of the best 05 defensemen in Finland

 

[Antiillafire]

Everyone sleeping on Maxim Strbak, he is one of the best 05 defensemen in Finland

He’s looked great so far. Wouldn’t be surprised if he pushed out petrovicky for WJC spot

 

[BusQuets]

One of the biggest wiseacres here has spoken.

Joakim is actually not a swedish name either. It was first used in Norway from Nordic countries. Also Joakim was documented in Finland before Sweden too.

Surprised Russia didn't plot Finland out of the medal rounds. Can come to bite back them later.

 

[Svedu]

As a Finnish fan I hope Sweden wins this game just because I'm certain Slovakia would defeat us in a semifinal. They have some impressing elite talent this year and I prefer being an underdog because this Finnish roster is decent but nothing more than that.
Neither has Marttila as a coach impressed me. The defense looks out of position when he leads our young lions.
I´m missing Jesse Nurmi...
I know we have known talents in Hokkanen, Rönni etc. But it seems like Kemell is the only one with that special finesse.

Give us Sweden please.

 

[Antiillafire]

As a Finnish fan I hope Sweden wins this game just because I'm certain Slovakia would defeat us in a semifinal. They have some impressing elite talent this year and I prefer being an underdog because this Finnish roster is decent but nothing special.
I´m missing Jesse Nurmi.
I know we have known talents in Hokkanen, Rönni etc. But it seems like Kemell is the only one with that special finesse.

Give us Sweden please.

Russia looks the favourite without a doubt. I think Sweden actually may have the best chance of knocking them off in the semis though. They have an excellent top pairing on defense and a top line that is capable of shutting down Russia’s top line. Will be a fun finish

 

[VictorLustig]

Joakim is actually not a swedish name either. It was first used in Norway from Nordic countries. Also Joakim was documented in Finland before Sweden too.

Surprised Russia didn't plot Finland out of the medal rounds. Can come to bite back them later.

Joachim is a biblical hebrew name. Silly discussion.