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U18: Countdown to the U18 World Championships

Kabetogama said:
Stenberg-Forsfjäll-Nordh
Dower Nilsson-Edstrom-Wahlberg
Unger Sörum-Nilsson-Carlsson/Sagranden/Pettersson
Zether-Johansson-Carlsson/Sagranden/Pettersson

Lindstein-Sandin Pellika
Willander-Bergström
Landén-Wikman

Wahlberg might be playing with Unger Sörum and Nilsson. Don’t believe he clicked with Dower Nilsson and Edstrom.
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Will be interesting to see how much Stenberg progressed and if he can take charge in his 17 years old year.

Erikfromfin said:
Based on last tournament maybe something like this

Emil Järventie - Topias Hynninen - Kasper Halttunen
Jesse Nurmi - Rasmus Kumpulainen - Jesse Kiiskinen
Emil Kuusla - Konsta Helenius - Tuomas Uronen
Julius Miettinen - Tom Leppä - Roope Vesterinen
Arttu Alasiurua
Santeri Elo

Aron Kiviharju - Niilopekka Muhonen
Veeti Väisänen - Emil Pieniniemi
Kalle Kangas - Jimi Junkkari
Janne Peltonen
Mitja Jokinen

Eemil Vinni
Noa Vali
Visa Vedenpää
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That defence could win the championship, wonder if they can get enough scoring from the first 2 lines.
 
Anybody found anyone writing something about what to expect in this tourney? Like previews or predictions? Can't even find a betting company with odds. Looks to me like a four-way coin-toss between Canada, USA, Finland and Sweden. Czechs seems to me to be the team with the possibility of an upset, while Switzerland, Slovakia look like QF losses. Another coin-toss between Germany, Latvia and Norway. All games will be played at Raiffeisen & St Jakob, both with NHL sized rinks. Hlinka results: Hlinka-Gretzky Cup 2022 Results - Hockey/World
Some players to watch: Scout's Analysis: 2023 NHL Draft class looking elite after Hlinka Gretzky Cup
 
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Jumpy said:
Anybody found anyone writing something about what to expect in this tourney? Like previews or predictions? Can't even find a betting company with odds. Looks to me like a four-way coin-toss between Canada, USA, Finland and Sweden. Czechs seems to me to be the team with the possibility of an upset, while Switzerland, Slovakia look like QF losses. Another coin-toss between Germany, Latvia and Norway. All games will be played at Raiffeisen & St Jakob, both with NHL sized rinks. Hlinka results: Hlinka-Gretzky Cup 2022 Results - Hockey/World
Some players to watch: Scout's Analysis: 2023 NHL Draft class looking elite after Hlinka Gretzky Cup
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US has a powerhouse team and hasn't won in a few years.

Canada has a powerhouse team that is stronger than usual.

Sweden has been getting great results lately at this one.

Those are the 3 favs. Finn's are always tough and have some nice pieces but, I think, will be stronger next year.

Like you said.. Czechs might upset someone in quarters but aren't a big medal threat. Winning the quarter would be huge. Missing some good players but key guys are here so no complaints.
 
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Jumpy said:
Anybody found anyone writing something about what to expect in this tourney? Like previews or predictions? Can't even find a betting company with odds.
Click to expand...
This tournament doesn't really get that much attention. TSN/Canadian media does the bulk of the work beefing up the U20s significance, and they aren't going to do that with the U18s since it is running up against the NHL Playoffs, and Junior Playoffs which has made the U18s not a very significant event in Canada as far as to what degree it "counts" since a lot of top 17 year olds are still playing in the OHL/WHL/QMJHL Playoffs. Interesting to note that Macklin Celebrini is going for Canada even though the Tournament bumps against the first two rounds of the USHL Playoffs, granted Chicago has a Bye to the second round. The USHL Conference Semifinals are a best of three that run April 28 - April 30, and the U18s Semifinals and Gold Medal Game are April 29 and April 30, so Chicago will be without Celebrini for that round, but if they advance he would return in time for the Best of 5 Conference Finals.
 
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Jumpy said:
Yes, seems like. Last year JWC U18 ended with some 45 draft-picks, so should be an interesting place to be for scouts at least. The Hockey Writers does not have anything either.
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I agree, I think scouts pay a lot of attention, especially for international prospects that they don't see a lot of (how much does hockey media know about Europeans that go in say rounds 3-5? Probably zilch). Just doesn't carry over much to media coverage.
 
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(Not so) fun fact maybe, but Norway top four offensive prospects in this tourney measures 3* 5'7'' and 1* # 5'9'' accordning to eliteprospects. Hard to see any of them getting drafted even if they by a miracle should en up top four in scoring overall. Stian Solberg D should have a good shot. I believe Norway might have a chance of an upset against Latvia, Switzerland and Germany. There is some feistiness to this team. Then again, I am notoriously biased and have been overestimating Norway's chances for a decade now. My bet / hope is Canada vs Norway in the QF and propably some ugly numbers from a Norwegain perspective. Canada as winners, Sweden runners up. Czechs and Slovaks looks much better than the Swiss and Germans on paper I think, but haven't seen them this year. If anyone should meddle in the top four it is one of those.
 
Jumpy said:
Yes, seems like. Last year JWC U18 ended with some 45 draft-picks, so should be an interesting place to be for scouts at least. The Hockey Writers does not have anything either.
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WarriorofTime said:
I agree, I think scouts pay a lot of attention, especially for international prospects that they don't see a lot of (how much does hockey media know about Europeans that go in say rounds 3-5? Probably zilch). Just doesn't carry over much to media coverage.
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For scouts it’s one of the biggest tournaments of the year. Every team has multiple scouts there, including European scouts, crossovers, scouting directors and (A)GMs.

For the media, I know JD Burke is there for EliteProspects (or rather EP Rinkside) and Scott Wheeler and Corey Pronman are usually there for The Athletic. Not sure about pre-tournament coverage, but at least that’s three guys to follow on their respective outlets as well as Twitter.
 
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Any predictions who will lead this tournament in scoring? Previous 3 were Lekkerimäki, Michkov and Hughes. I predict Eduard Sale.
 
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