Even if Kazkhstan gets regelated

[Newfoundland]

We all can agree that there is big difference between them now and 10 years ago, hell as I was typing this they made it 2-1. Everyone thought it was going to be 10-0 at least every game against them. Good to see the sport develop.

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[theVladiator]

I think some credit here goes to KHL. Having teams in non-traditional markets (China and Kazakhstan) helps spreading interest in the game.

 

[ViD]

I hope they stay and Belarus also comes back

 

[Newfoundland]

I hope they stay and Belarus also comes back

Would like to see France but with Texier's last junior year that hope is gone

 

[greasysnapper]

They're currently up on Denmark, but the sad thing about them is even if they don't (and they do have their best team in ages) all of their best players are going to age out and they don't have the type of skill coming up or left on the team. If they do stick around, next years scores are going to be very lopsided.

 

[SenzZen]

Regelators!!!

Mount up!

 

[Blender]

I was impressed with how well their team skates, but there is a massive talent gap between them and Switzerland even. Hopefully they keep building and improving.

 

[Newfoundland]

And they take game 1

 

[Atas2000]

They are not out yet

 

[Urbanskog]

I think some credit here goes to KHL. Having teams in non-traditional markets (China and Kazakhstan) helps spreading interest in the game.

Kazakhstan as a whole can not be said to be a non-traditional market. Northern Kazakhstan, particularly Öskemen (also known as Ust-Kamengorsk), has a strong hockey tradition and is home to numerous NHL-drafted players. Since it's a large country, there's of course regional variation and hockey is pretty much a non-factor in the south.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

I hope they stay and Belarus also comes back

I think the tourney already happened and it is Germany getting promoted, unless I'm wrong

 

[Scouter]

I think the tourney already happened and it is Germany getting promoted, unless I'm wrong

Correct.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

Correct.

I'm happy with that outcome I guess because Bokk and Seider will make Germany an exciting team to watch next year no matter what. I could see the Germans easily passing the Danes and competing with the Czechs/Slovaks/Swiss

 

[Pasha71]

Basically, there are five post-Soviet countries that can be classified as "traditional" hockey ones: Russia, Latvia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine. Kazakhstan used to play more or less regularly in World Championship, and at some point even made it to the Olympics a couple of times, including the wonderful 1998 performance (quarterfinals).

 

[Scouter]

I'm happy with that outcome I guess because Bokk and Seider will make Germany an exciting team to watch next year no matter what. I could see the Germans easily passing the Danes and competing with the Czechs/Slovaks/Swiss

Well 1st the Danes have to stay up, if they can they will probably be stronger next year, Czech's will be weaker next year no doubt, but still ahead of Germany, Slovaks are looking like they will be pretty vulnerable, the Swiss should be at least as good as this year if not better, so yeah, Germany might do something, I see it will be Germany, Slovakia and Danes/Kazaks duking it out to stay up.