Groups for 2022 World Juniors

[NyQuil]

It's amazing how Canada and Sweden are almost always in opposite groups.

That's what the Illuminati wants you to believe.

That it's "amazing" and not "carefully arranged".

 

[novisor]

What does wanting to see more exciting matchups have to do with winning the tournament? If we had played in a tougher pool and had teams that could potentially make us face some adversity along the way to the Gold medal game, it’s possible we wouldn’t have looked panicked the moment we went down in a game. Seems like you’re just taking a cheap shot at Canadians.

Yep. I really wanted some more exciting games in group play this year. It wasn't just a Canadian thing, as most games minus Czechs vs Russians felt boring. The groups for next year are not shaping up to improve on this nor does it look like Canada will face any adversity (minus NYE vs Finland).

 

[NyQuil]

Yep. I really wanted some more exciting games in group play this year. It wasn't just a Canadian thing, as most games minus Czechs vs Russians felt boring. The groups for next year are not shaping up to improve on this nor does it look like Canada will face any adversity (minus NYE vs Finland).

I think you have to consider COVID-19 as a fairly important element in terms of affecting the competitiveness of the tournament.

 

[novisor]

Looks like the NYE game vs USA is a dead tradition. When's the last time it happened? 2017 tournament (2016 NYE)? I know 2018 they played outdoors earlier in the tourney.

 

[novisor]

The group Canada was in legitimately ruined the tournament for me this year. Looks like next year will suck too.

It's amazing how Canada and Sweden are almost always in opposite groups.

I was thinking about this yesterday, probably had a huge part in the Swede's unbeaten streak. When's the last time they played in group play?

 

[Kamzik]

The group Canada was in legitimately ruined the tournament for me this year. Looks like next year will suck too.

It's amazing how Canada and Sweden are almost always in opposite groups.

I do not necessarily agree that Canada was in a weak group this year. They had their hands full with Slovakia, who nearly tied the game with 40 seconds left. The Germans were far better than the 16-2 result. First of all the fact that this was played during a pandemic and Germany had like 2.5 forward lines. The Germans also had really bad goaltending that game, and they gave up, conserving energy for their big games. A healthy rested Germany could have been much more of a challenge, this game should have been delayed. The only disappointing opponent was a weaker than usual Switzerland.

 

[Porvari]

I do not necessarily agree that Canada was in a weak group this year. They had their hands full with Slovakia, who nearly tied the game with 40 seconds left. The Germans were far better than the 16-2 result. First of all the fact that this was played during a pandemic and Germany had like 2.5 forward lines. The Germans also had really bad goaltending that game, and they gave up, conserving energy for their big games. A healthy rested Germany could have been much more of a challenge, this game should have been delayed. The only disappointing opponent was a weaker than usual Switzerland.

To be fair, Finland was a pretty disappointing opponent for Canada this year.

 

[garbageteam]

So was Russia, that game was awful. I thought the Czech game barring two massive early period blunders from their goaltender was the most interesting for all opponents pre-GMG.

 

[novisor]

So was Russia, that game was awful. I thought the Czech game barring two massive early period blunders from their goaltender was the most interesting for all opponents pre-GMG.

Covid definitely had it's impact, especially on the Germans but the group structure didn't help. Minus a late push from the Slovaks, none of the traditionally weaker teams gave Canada or any of the other big dogs a run for their money. Really boring this year, and topped it off with a terrible ending. I am 100% against those calling for less teams (or more for that matter in the tourney). Hopefully this is a one-off or rare occurrence. Last year having Canada - USA - Russia in the group was great.

 

[FinPanda]

I don't mind the groups. For Finns its good to have a challenge in groups and I don't mind facing a good team in the quarterfinal. It's a chance to pull an upset instead watching Finnish teams struggle against bottom nations. When we are an underdog we play a lot better. Why seeing Finland/USA isn't impossible and it happens quite regularly every few years. This year we lost to both, but next year we can beat both of them like in 2019. It happens.

 

[Odie Cleghorn]

Maybe Canadians should stop complaining about easy groups when their team could not win this tournament either.

maybe if they had been in the tougher group they would have adjusted their game and put up a better showing in the playoff round.

 

[FinPanda]

maybe if they had been in the tougher group they would have adjusted their game and put up a better showing in the playoff round.

Or just should've prepared better? It's the same for every team.

 

[Prntscrn]

I was thinking about this yesterday, probably had a huge part in the Swede's unbeaten streak. When's the last time they played in group play?

Looked it up. They've played eachother three times in the group play since the streak started, in 2008, 2011 and 2016.


I like the fact that Sweden gets to play in Red Deer, I think people in smaller towns generally appreciate the tournament more than in the bigger cities and actually attend more games than just the Canada games

 

[Tryblot]

Maybe Canadians should stop complaining about easy groups when their team could not win this tournament either.

USA had the advantage of being better tested. I wonder how the tables would have turned had usa had an easy group.

 

[Statsy]

I do not necessarily agree that Canada was in a weak group this year. They had their hands full with Slovakia, who nearly tied the game with 40 seconds left. The Germans were far better than the 16-2 result. First of all the fact that this was played during a pandemic and Germany had like 2.5 forward lines. The Germans also had really bad goaltending that game, and they gave up, conserving energy for their big games. A healthy rested Germany could have been much more of a challenge, this game should have been delayed. The only disappointing opponent was a weaker than usual Switzerland.

I think you made a couple of good points about Germany in their game vs Canada, but the one thing that needs to be pointed out is that Germany was offered the chance to defer the Canada game and rejected it under the notion that getting it out of the way early would leave them better prepared to win the games they needed to win. That notion was correct and helped them get to their first WJC playoff game ever.

 

[Statsy]

That's what the Illuminati wants you to believe.

That it's "amazing" and not "carefully arranged".

I’m just glad the Illuminati are taking an interest in junior hockey now instead of all that geo-political bullshit. We’re trying to grow the game, remember?

 

[Rob]

I remember during that 2018 tournament in Buffalo they moved the USA and Canada to the same group so they could play that outdoor game.
I would like to see them in the same group again just to have the NYE game.

 

[SantosHalper]

Finland - USA, gold medal game. Pennanen continues and many players returns with him. Team core is set already.

 

[ecemleafs]

In this tournament its always best to be in thr group of death for the gold medal contenders. Not like u won't progress but it really toughens ya up and gets u playing winning type hockey rather than having a cake walk. It be different if it were like a soccer group of death where someone big isn't progressing.

 

[19BurnabyJoe]

If there is one team that may be sneaky good next year, it’s the Slovaks. Have 14 players eligible to return next year, including Oleksii Myklukha and Matej Kaslik, who both will have significant QMJHL experience by that time. Two young players to watch out for on the Slovaks, include Filip Mesar, and Simon Nemec. Playing in their first tournament this year, they’re both still eligible for 2 more world juniors, and are draft eligible for the 2022 draft. Having top league Slovak experience at 16 years old, doesn’t hurt much either.

I quite enjoyed watching the Slovaks play this year. One of their biggest issues was the inability to create offence. Everything was super basic. Forecheck, power play etc. With time, a good year to grow and experience, I can see the Slovaks building of solid play this year, and developing a scoring touch for next year.

 

[Whalers Fan]

Finland - USA, gold medal game. Pennanen continues and many players returns with him. Team core is set already.

Team USA will be weaker next year. Expecting another gold medal game appearance is asking a lot.

 

[Rob]

Russia must have a lot of returning players?

 

[Lambo]

QF Finland vs Sweden again?

 

[Civetty]

The group Canada was in legitimately ruined the tournament for me this year. Looks like next year will suck too.

It's amazing how Canada and Sweden are almost always in opposite groups.

I find it more amazing how we are always in the same group as Russia.

 

[NorCalhockey]

No disrespect to Finland but I wanted to see a US or Russia matchup on NYE.

Looks like the NYE game vs USA is a dead tradition. When's the last time it happened? 2017 tournament (2016 NYE)? I know 2018 they played outdoors earlier in the tourney.

I remember during that 2018 tournament in Buffalo they moved the USA and Canada to the same group so they could play that outdoor game.
I would like to see them in the same group again just to have the NYE game.

Yes, I miss the Canada-USA New Year's Eve matches. It was an annual ritual for a little while, and now looks like it won't happen for the 4th(?) year in a row.

USA had the advantage of being better tested. I wonder how the tables would have turned had usa had an easy group.

In this tournament its always best to be in thr group of death for the gold medal contenders. Not like u won't progress but it really toughens ya up and gets u playing winning type hockey rather than having a cake walk. It be different if it were like a soccer group of death where someone big isn't progressing.

Team USA will be weaker next year. Expecting another gold medal game appearance is asking a lot.

I'm with @Whalers Fan on this one. Even though the US will be in the tougher group next year, giving them that adversity/grit for later in the tournament, I could see the US going out in the QF round. Too bad, as I would like the US to be the first defending champion to repeat, which has not happened for some time now...