WC: Division 1B 2025., Tallin 26.04 - 2.05.

[tornaado66]

Friendly between EST-LTU ongoing right now. LTU 1-0 after 1st. Stream is behind the paywall in Eestihoki.tv

Estonia seems to have iced their bottom half of the candidate's list. They didnt publish it, but I counted these:

17+2

G: Vladimirov, Zuvela
D: Sildre, Kookma, A. Ossipov, Vasjonkin, Luht, Velja, Kudeviita
F: Kiik, E.Potsinok, M.Potsinok, Romanov, Timofejev, Linde, Puzakov, Stepanov, Kontseus, Nevolainen

I think 7-11 skaters from todays roster will get the spot for the WC.

 

[ozo]

Friendly between EST-LTU ongoing right now. LTU 1-0 after 1st. Stream is behind the paywall in Eestihoki.tv

Estonia seems to have iced their bottom half of the candidate's list. They didnt publish it, but I counted these:

17+2

G: Vladimirov, Zuvela
D: Sildre, Kookma, A. Ossipov, Vasjonkin, Luht, Velja, Kudeviita
F: Kiik, E.Potsinok, M.Potsinok, Romanov, Timofejev, Linde, Puzakov, Stepanov, Kontseus, Nevolainen

I think 7-11 skaters from todays roster will get the spot for the WC.

No more Lahesalu?

 

[tornaado66]

No more Lahesalu?

Indeed. Lahesalu will play his last ever match for Estonia on 21. april against Lithuania.
His stats since 1998 in all national team games - 181 GP, 74 points (10+64)

 

[bv29]

Indeed. Lahesalu will play his last ever match for Estonia on 21. april against Lithuania.
His stats since 1998 in all national team games - 181 GP, 74 points (10+64)

Will his jersey be raised alongside with Makrov and Petrov ?

 

[SoundAndFury]

Will his jersey be raised alongside with Makrov and Petrov ?

Well, if anything, he is even more deserving, so surely it will. Petrov especially, I don't think he even reached 100 games for Estonia, his number retirement was a bit puzzling. Lahesalu was an actual legend, an actual Estonian and had an actual pro career.

 

[bv29]

Well, if anything, he is even more deserving, so surely it will. Petrov especially, I don't think he even reached 100 games for Estonia, his number retirement was a bit puzzling. Lahesalu was an actual legend, an actual Estonian and had an actual pro career.

He was close to 100, around 90+ WC and OGQ plus some Baltic Challenge Cup

Bolded part; I don't think the numbers are actually retired rather honoured since I saw both #22 and #24 in circulation even after their "retirement"... maybe tornado66 can enlight us.

 

[Mrzli]

TEAMS

1. Korea (relegated from D1A)
2. Lithuania
3. Estonia
4. China
5. Spain
6. Croatia (promoted from D2A - mostly because Serbia chocked)


Friendly games of participating teams
07/04 Poland - Lithuania 2:1
08/04 Poland - Lithuania 2:0
16/04 Lithuania - Estonia
16/04 Serbia - Croatia
20/04 Estonia - Korea
21/04 Estonia - Lithuania
22/04 Croatia - Serbia
23/04 Estonia - China


My predictions

1. Lithuania/Korea
2. Korea/Lithuania
3. Estonia
4. China
5. Spain
6. Croatia

Croatia is by far the weakest team here and I would be very surprised if we manage to hold the score under double digits against Korea, Estonia and Lithuania.

For how long will you be allowed to troll like this?

You are genuinely not able to write a brief introduction, summary without taking a dig at Croatia.

Every thread related to Croatia or Croatian player is the same, with your attacks and often blatant lies (e.g. regarding bankruptcy of Sisak). I even think you're the same person that is writing infantile insults within comments during streams of every Croatian game.

Sincerely, why, how? What is the reason behind this pathological obsession?

And I'm not writing this solely because I'm Croatian, but I've genuinely not seen such a weird and persistent trolling (or flaming, whatever) on any non-hockey forum I frequent.

 

[bv29]

For how long will you be allowed to troll like this?

Every thread related to Croatia or Croatian player is the same, with your attacks and often blatant lies (e.g. regarding bankruptcy of Sisak). I even think you're the same person that is writing infantile insults within comments during streams of every Croatian game.

All I can say is that I am not troller. Regarding insults during streams, I don't follow chat (nor writing there) since I am concentrated on watching game itself.

I made very realistic prediction, don't know how long have you been following international (croatian) hockey, but finishing last for Croatia at D1B level (even this BelaRusLess one) is nothing surprising.

 

[tornaado66]

Will his jersey be raised alongside with Makrov and Petrov ?

Yes, exactly.

Well, if anything, he is even more deserving, so surely it will. Petrov especially, I don't think he even reached 100 games for Estonia, his number retirement was a bit puzzling. Lahesalu was an actual legend, an actual Estonian and had an actual pro career.

Petrov was a nice guy and always there for the national team if invited and fans here would rather have been dissapointed if they only raised Makrovs jersey.

He was close to 100, around 90+ WC and OGQ plus some Baltic Challenge Cup

Bolded part; I don't think the numbers are actually retired rather honoured since I saw both #22 and #24 in circulation even after their "retirement"... maybe tornado66 can enlight us.

Honoured is the correct word. Also I actually don't know what is the deal with the numbers, because our national team always uses numbers 1 to 30.

 

[SoundAndFury]

Petrov was a nice guy and always there for the national team if invited and fans here would rather have been dissapointed if they only raised Makrovs jersey.

I actually didn't realize they didn't retire the numbers. In that case, certainly, there is no downside to honoring one of your best players like that.

 

[Sanf]

Link for a friendly game Serbia - Croatia (19:00)

I was switching between this and Armenia-Kuwait. To be honest Croatia did not look good at all. Though I admitt I could regocnize only handful of Croatian players so I can´t say what kind of lineup they iced.

 

[ozo]

I actually didn't realize they didn't retire the numbers. In that case, certainly, there is no downside to honoring one of your best players like that.

Seen too few streams from Estonia. Sometimes both of their raised jerseys at rafters cover certain corner of the arena and makes me swear at the broadcast when I' cant see the action taking place

 

[bv29]

I was switching between this and Armenia-Kuwait. To be honest Croatia did not look good at all. Though I admitt I could regocnize only handful of Croatian players so I can´t say what kind of lineup they iced.

Close to full. And "did not look good at all" is actually very polite to say. We looked awful, but of course I am just a troller and croatian hater for predicting our relegation.

 

[Mrzli]

Close to full. And "did not look good at all" is actually very polite to say. We looked awful, but of course I am just a troller and croatian hater for predicting our relegation.

You are a hater because you literally hate everything related to Croatian hockey.

Not only does not a single comment of yours shows any joy regarding wins of Croatian teams or good progress of Croatian players, you are actively wishing our teams to lose and our players to not develop, while also spewing outright lies (several blatant lies about bankruptcy of Sisak).

So, you are maybe right that you're not a troll. You are much worse than that.

Maybe the answer lies in the surprising fact that you multiple times showed love for Serbian hockey teams and players? Unfortunately, even this level of sociopathy wouldn't be surprising in that context.

Oh, yeah, I almost forgot to mention your alt account, for which you then mistakenly replied from this account. Absolutely bizarre.

 

[bv29]

Not only does not a single comment of yours shows any joy regarding wins of Croatian teams or good progress of Croatian players, you are actively wishing our teams to lose and our players to not develop, while also spewing outright lies (several blatant lies about bankruptcy of Sisak).

That is not true, because there are no many reasons for joy in our hockey. If you think Croatia will play at 2030 Olympics or that Idzan will have HHOF career in the NHL, feel free to fantasize.

 

[Mrzli]

That is not true, because there are no many reasons of joy in our hockey. If you think Croatia will play at 2030 Olympics or that Idzan will have HHOF career in the NHL, feel free to fantasize.

What exactly is not true?

Is it not true that you never showed a single positive emotion towards some victory of Croatia, while pretending to be a Croat?

Is it not true that you are writing negative comment after negative comment regarding Croatian players, Idzan especially?

Is it not true that you multiple times blatantly lied about bakruptcy of Sisak?

Is it not true that you had an alt account in whose name you mistakenly replied from this account?

Is it not true that you, as a stark comparison to stance about Croatia - praised Serbian hockey?

Again, this isn't even only connected to the fact that I'm Croatian. I'm genuinely baffled because I've never seen such a bizarre behaviour on any forum I frequented.

You are not even trying to at least seem normal and write "yeah, we (Croatia) won!" once in a while. That's how deranged all of this is.

 

[PanniniClaus]

What exactly is not true?

Is it not true that you never showed a single positive emotion towards some victory of Croatia, while pretending to be a Croat?

Is it not true that you are writing negative comment after negative comment regarding Croatian players, Idzan especially?

Is it not true that you multiple times blatantly lied about bakruptcy of Sisak?

Is it not true that you had an alt account in whose name you mistakenly replied from this account?

Is it not true that you, as a stark comparison to stance about Croatia - praised Serbian hockey?

Again, this isn't even only connected to the fact that I'm Croatian. I'm genuinely baffled because I've never seen such a bizarre behaviour on any forum I frequented.

You are not even trying to at least seem normal and write "yeah, we (Croatia) won!" once in a while. That's how deranged all of this is.

Is it possible this person was somehow slighted by the Federation? Cut from a team, fired as an intern? Or as you say, is simply not a Croatian.

There cannot possibly be another explanation. The multi account thing.. anyone having multiple active accounts should be banned for life.

 

[Mrzli]

Is it possible this person was somehow slighted by the Federation? Cut from a team, fired as an intern? Or as you say, is simply not a Croatian.

There cannot possibly be another explanation. The multi account thing.. anyone having multiple active accounts should be banned for life.

Well, it is a possibility. Regarding my first comment here, where I mentioned comments in chat section during livestreams of Croatian games, that user (whether or not that is him) continuously wrote insults towards some people from Croatian federation.

But then again, that doesn't make sense that he would then also actively insult and hope for a failure of young Croat prospects like Idzan, who doesn't even play in Croatia currently. You can see this surreal habit of his in this thread.

Also, KHL Sisak, which is the best club in Croatia last couple of years, is outside of the capital Zagreb and managed by different people than those who lead the federation - yet, they are also a target for his attacks. He literally made up that the club will declare bankruptcy in 10 days and said that he heard it on local media. Not only did the bakruptcy didn't happen, such a thing was also not said in any Croatian media, local or national.

On the other hand, he multiple times wrote positive comments about Serbian hockey - "I hope Zvezda enters the league and KHL helps Serbian hockey. They have so much more potential than my country (Croatia)." Unfortunately, Serbs obsessing over Croatia online would also not be an unseen occurance, albeit this is ludicrous even by those standards.

And I'm not the first one to notice this, many senior members of this forum confronted him numerous times - e.g. @HungryFrank.

As for the alt account, you can see it here.

All in all, I don't won't him banned, because I see that he loves hockey, he follows even the lowest divisions and contributes in numerous threads.

But his attitude towards Croatia is nothing short of deranged.

I'm just a casual fan that likes to read discussion about international hockey, but this made me make an account, because it's just that weird.

 

[Sanf]

Close to full. And "did not look good at all" is actually very polite to say. We looked awful, but of course I am just a troller and croatian hater for predicting our relegation.

Well yes I was being polite because I only did see roughly half of the game. But the game seemed to be all the time in Croatian end and they could not create any offense really. I don´t disagree with the thing that Croatia is the weakest team going to this tournament. Though challenging Spain is not out the question.

I rather would not comment on the troll thing.

 

[bv29]

. I don´t disagree with the thing that Croatia is the weakest team going to this tournament.

Watch out, apparently when you write something like this it is trolling

 

[SoundAndFury]

We looked awful, but of course I am just a troller and croatian hater for predicting our relegation.

The Boy Who Cried Wolf - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I thought this one is taught in the primary school.

Dare I remind you, you predicted (amongst MANY other things) Croatian relegation at all age groups. When in actual fact they are steadily moving towards the medal at U18 and have already won bronze at U20. Maybe that's what makes you a troll, not that one time you are kinda sorta close to the truth, albeit in a very exaggerated fashion.

Like, I don't care, I too think Croatians hype up recent realities of their hockey more than they should. But what's the point of pretending you aren't doing what you are doing?

 

[HungryFrank]

I too think Croatians hype up recent realities of their hockey more than they should

I am pretty certain people in Croatia just hoped not to get relegated and I fail to understand how is it hyping too much. There are some troll posters, but if this guy can troll with bashing Croatia, they can with overhyping.

I also think Croatian hockey is in 2025 in better state than it was in 2019 or 2014. Perfect? No, but better yes. It is more of a sign how absolutely terrible the state was before than now being good.

I do think that having 12ish players playing in Alps is a big advantage on this level, compared to previous Croatian teams. I expect Croatia to finish 5th. If that's hyping up then so be it.

Like, let's be real here, on this board there is a strong vibe: "oh this guy has a contract in Liiga, he'll have 2 PPG easily at D1B level" and now, after 10+ years his national team is stuck in D1B like rock on the bottom of the sea and he barely cracks 1 PPG. Best player on paper? likely. Player one should tremble and shiver he enters the ice? no way.

 

[SoundAndFury]

I do think that having 12ish players playing in Alps is a big advantage on this level, compared to previous Croatian teams. I expect Croatia to finish 5th. If that's hyping up then so be it.

Like, let's be real here, on this board there is a strong vibe: "oh this guy has a contract in Liiga, he'll have 2 PPG easily at D1B level" and now, after 10+ years his national team is stuck in D1B like rock on the bottom of the sea and he barely cracks 1 PPG. Best player on paper? likely. Player one should tremble and shiver he enters the ice? no way.

That's pretty much exactly my point. I agree that it's a step forward for Croatia but at 1B level, who does it give you an edge against? Every team can ice a team of roughly low-level pros. Estonia, for example, has a strong contingent in AlpsHL, Embrich and Kulintsev were legitimate stars in that league. At 1B level, they are good depth players, at most. And that's why I said "more than they should". Because sure, it is a step forward but at the international level it barely moves the needle where, at the end of the day, top players make the difference.

Regarding the 2nd part, that's just complete nonsense. When Rooba started playing internationally, Estonia was a 1B/2A elevator team. This year is the 10th in a row for them at 1B. Players like him make the difference. I, for one, am shivering when he steps on the ice and wonder before the game how will we handle him this time.

"2 PPG" is completely unreasonable at the level where pro-level players are playing and I have no idea who was expecting it. For example, Dainius Zubrus had 4 points in 4 games, 1 PPG that is, in the prime of his NHL career at D1. Everyone understands this is not the cakewalk level that D2 is where most guys aren't professional.

1 PPG was always a sign of a master, especially when until very recently Rooba was the single threat on the Estonian team everyone focused against; everyone else was just some guys. Very much the same applied to Zubrus as well, his PPG started increasing when he got a better supporting cast.

So, once again, 2nd part is just a complete mess and I have no idea what's your point or the evidence to back any of that up. Because again, to me, Rooba is as scary a player as you are going to face at this level.

 

[HungryFrank]

Embrich and Kulintsev were never stars in AlpsHL. They had a ton of points because they played in Bregenzerwald and having PP monopoly is what that team can pay, but they are nowhere near the calibre of players playing in Ritten, Zell or Jesenice. Kulintsev had trials in Graz and he was a fill in Villach, but has shown nothing.

Maybe Alps doesn't move the needle here, but it is not a glorified beer league like IHL.

My point about Rooba is that he will not run up the score. He's the best player, but he is a player one can defend against on D1B level. So we have different definitions of shivering.

 

[SoundAndFury]

Embrich and Kulintsev were never stars in AlpsHL. They had a ton of points because they played in Bregenzerwald and having PP monopoly is what that team can pay, but they are nowhere near the calibre of players playing in Ritten, Zell or Jesenice. Kulintsev had trials in Graz and he was a fill in Villach, but has shown nothing.

I mean, Kulintsev scored over PPG and ultimately leveraged it into the ICEHL deal. I guess the definition of "star" is up to debate but I don't think many players from Ritten, Zell or Jesenice achieved something similar to it. Of course, he has shown nothing there because the level gap is huge, AlpsHL just is not good but again, what does that say about the Croatian players then...

Again, not sure when "running up the score" became such a focal point. Nobody aims to run up the score or cares about it.

We (Lithuania) have played against Kazakhstan, Belarus, Slovenia at 1A recently and I think a point can be made we are just as outmatched against such teams as the Croats are at 1B. And most games are very close. Like we only lost to Belarus with all their KHL players 3-4. But sometimes you get slapped by Slovenia 9-0 on the last day of the tournament with nothing left to play for. And I don't see why you insist it can't happen to Croatia. Like Rooba can score 5 points against Croatia, he can. He probably won't but again, that's not the reflection of his skill but the nature of the tournament.