2024 World Junior Championships Thread

[The Crypto Guy]

How’s our guys looking in the pregame?

 

[Ail]

How’s our guys looking in the pregame?

Sloppy overall imo. Power play looks lethal. Only saw two periods but they were not great defensively. Gauthier and Snuggerud were the most noticable.

 

[GAGLine]

This was an interesting read:

'There was just no precedent:' The inside stories behind the start of the USNTDP

Now a model of youth player development, the rise of the United States National Team Development Program wasn't always smooth sailing.

www.espn.com

Our entire top 4 came out of the NTDP.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Congratulations to Sykora who was named Captain of Slovakia!!!

Heart and sole player, coaching staff took notice. Nice honor for the kid!

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Extremely dirty hit. I sense a lengthy suspension incoming.

Better be. Thats BS

 

[GAGLine]

Slovakia is down 4-2 after 2 periods, but Sykora has a goal.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Just realized all the SVK games are on at 6am EST. That stinks, guess i’m not watching those live.

USA vs SVK game is also at 6AM

This is why I selfishly hate when they have the tournament in Europe.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Some names in the tournament for the 2024 draft:

Macklin Celebrini-Canada
Konsta Helenius-Finland
Emil Hemming-Finland
Veeti Vaisanen-Finland
Zeev Buium-USA
Adam Jiricek-Czech Rep.
Tomas Galvas-Czech Rep.
Daniil Ustinkov-Switzerland
Michael Brandsegg-Nygard-Norway

Very interested to see how Zeev Buium does. He's having a great year in the NCAA production-wise but my concern is that that's in large part due to the weak schedule DU has.

This WJC will be a good barometer for Buium. I still think he's a top-15 pick, but these next 2 weeks will make or break a potential top-10 entry.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Just realized all the SVK games are on at 6am EST. That stinks, guess i’m not watching those live.

USA vs SVK game is also at 6AM

This is why I selfishly hate when they have the tournament in Europe.

The WJC should alternate between Europe and North America. It's insane how much the IIHF caters to Hockey Canada when it comes to the WJC.

From 2009 to 2025, 10 of 17 tournaments are hosted by Canada. For comparison:

USA: 2
Sweden: 2
Finland: 1
Russia: 1
Czechia: 1

 

[GAGLine]

Slovakia beat Germany 6-5 in OT. Sykora finished with a PP goal and a secondary assist on the goal that tied it at 5 to send it to OT.

 

[Harbour Dog]

The WJC should alternate between Europe and North America. It's insane how much the IIHF caters to Hockey Canada when it comes to the WJC.

From 2009 to 2025, 10 of 17 tournaments are hosted by Canada. For comparison:

USA: 2
Sweden: 2
Finland: 1
Russia: 1
Czechia: 1

They're just following the money. Pretty sure I remember a bunch of posters saying over the last few years that nobody cares as much about the WJC outside of North America; maybe even outside of Canada?

It's similar to how the World Championships haven't been held in North America for 15ish years. It's a bigger deal in Europe.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

The WJC should alternate between Europe and North America. It's insane how much the IIHF caters to Hockey Canada when it comes to the WJC.

From 2009 to 2025, 10 of 17 tournaments are hosted by Canada. For comparison:

USA: 2
Sweden: 2
Finland: 1
Russia: 1
Czechia: 1

I don’t necessarily mind. It’s nice to see full arenas. Outside of Canada, the rinks are pretty empty until the QF games start.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

I don’t necessarily mind. It’s nice to see full arenas. Outside of Canada, the rinks are pretty empty until the QF games start.

I think that's just a misconception. For example, the 2019 WJC in Vancouver compared to the 2020 WJC in Ostrava and Třinec (The last WJC tournaments before the pandemic, so I think those are a fair compariso).


Rogers Arena: 18,910
Group stage attendance

9,266
16,417*
9,939
17,102*
14,523
10,279
17,012*
13,724
10,204
17,556*

Attendance overall: 71.9%
Attendance in games without home team: 59.9%


* denotes home-team played


Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre: 7,006
Group stage attendance

6,208
6,319
5,896
5,863
6,185
6,045
6,602
5,685
5,362
6,556

Attendance: 86.6%

-------------------------------------------------------------------

The 2020 WJC in Ostrava and Třinec

Ostravar Aréna: 8,693
Group stage attendance
8,693*
8,693
5,013
8,693*
8,693
8,693
6,102
8,693*
4,628
8,693*

Attendance: 88.1%
Attendance in games without home team: 80.1%

* denotes home-team played


Werk Arena: 4,915
Group stage attendance

1,397
4,471
4,915
4,915
4,109
3,012
2,375
4,915
4,154
1,571

Attendance overall: 72.9%

 

[GAGLine]

USA vs Canada on ESPN+ in 10 minutes

 

[Ail]

1-0 US, Hutson with a beauty pass to Finley in all alone.

 

[Ail]

Celebrini kicked one in but it counts because of Exhibition. 1-1, USA hasn't looked sharp.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Is Gabe playing?

 

[Ail]

Is Gabe playing?

Yes, quiet start to the tourny so far in both games I watched. He had a giveaway on his first shift, and didn't do much on the PP USA had. A few other notable decent passes, but overall quiet.

 

[huerter]

Yes, quiet start to the tourny so far in both games I watched. He had a giveaway on his first shift, and didn't do much on the PP USA had. A few other notable decent passes, but overall quiet.

Who made the royal road pass on the Cutter one timer on the PP?

 

[Ail]

Who made the royal road pass on the Cutter one timer on the PP?

IDK? I think Leonard had a nice pass on the first PP and Smith on the PP at the end of the period.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Yes, quiet start to the tourny so far in both games I watched. He had a giveaway on his first shift, and didn't do much on the PP USA had. A few other notable decent passes, but overall quiet.

Today is only the second preseason game. He’s played one preseason game.

Just had a good chance a few moments ago.

 

[Ail]

Fowler with a terrible rebound right to Geekie, 2-1 Canada.

 

[Ail]

Today is only the second preseason game. He’s played one preseason game.

Just had a good chance a few moments ago.

Right, meant the first game, and this game so far. Poor wording.

Howard to Rinzel with a nice shot, 2-2.

 

[Ail]

Howard with a nice dish to Leonard was the PP expires. 3-2 USA

 

[Ail]

Fortescue with a few good shifts so far, skating well. GP's line generating chances whenever they are on the ice this period.