U18: Hlinka Gretzky Cup

[SOLR]

Gonna make another list for the 2024 draft after the Hlinka, but probably something like this.

2024

1. Catton
2. Demidov
3. Celebrini
4. Levshunov
5. Eiserman

2025 (not counting the 2007 Canadian and American born players we've yet to see in junior)

1. Hagens
2. Misa
3. McQueen
4. Hensler
5. Martone

I'd have Jiricek 6th. Could definitely see a way he cracks the top 5, although I feel comfortable for now on those 5 as the top 5. And then for 2025, it's so early. Definitely a chance for Benak, but it'll depend on how much he physically grows.

Celebrini is just hurt, he's a much better player than Catton - it's not close either.

 

[Hinterland]

Not that it matters but I have disagreed with at Hinterland many times on this forum. Just a few days ago for that matter in our Ivan Hlinka thread. I don't agree with all of his takes at all. But its actually true that the Reber line really dominated possession vs the Slovak at times and was able to hold on to the puck in the opposing zone for long stretches of time. Especially in the first half of the game. Therefore I don't think the phrasing in question was completely wrong. But its equally true that the Slovaks dominated possession against some of the other Swiss lines. No one is questioning this.

Mostly early in the game the Slovaks were dominating play when the Reber line wasn't on the ice. That changed as the game went on though. Slovaks started to fade away and the other Swiss lines started to get going. Shots are misleading because the Swiss were overpassing while the Slovaks were just shooting from everywhere. Something the Swiss team should do more. In that misty arena I don't think goalies can see much and aside from Lachat all goalies of the group have been very underwhelming/shaky.

Honestly, based on previous games I have zero hope for Slovakian support today. This is probably gonna be a battle between Switzerland and Canada for the 2nd semifinal spot next to Finland.

 

[ijuka]

Gonna make another list for the 2024 draft after the Hlinka, but probably something like this.

2024

1. Catton
2. Demidov
3. Celebrini
4. Levshunov
5. Eiserman

2025 (not counting the 2007 Canadian and American born players we've yet to see in junior)

1. Hagens
2. Misa
3. McQueen
4. Hensler
5. Martone

I'd have Jiricek 6th. Could definitely see a way he cracks the top 5, although I feel comfortable for now on those 5 as the top 5. And then for 2025, it's so early. Definitely a chance for Benak, but it'll depend on how much he physically grows.

Really don't see Catton as #1. Honestly don't know where this even comes from. Him being even top 3 is a stretch as far as I'm concerned.

Catton didn’t really look bad though. He was put on the third line, and produced as such. It’s fair to say Celebrini did very well in a lead role, but for the role Catton was assigned, he didn’t do bad.

You always make excuses for "your guy". Ever wonder why he was put in a 3rd line role, and Celebrini in a leading one?

 

[Postulates]

Celebrini is just hurt, he's a much better player than Catton - it's not close either.

Hasnt been close since Celebrini was the one of two with Eiserman who made the prep team at Shattuck and Catton decided to leave, they have both done nothing to lose the gap

 

[kyle44]

Hasnt been close since Celebrini was the one of two with Eiserman who made the prep team at Shattuck and Catton decided to leave, they have both done nothing to lose the gap

Really don't see Catton as #1. Honestly don't know where this even comes from. Him being even top 3 is a stretch as far as I'm concerned.

I'm of the same view. Celebrini led the USHL in scoring and smashed the USHL record for points by a 16-year old (I know Hughes had a better ppg), and followed that up with the most dominant all-around performance I've seen from a 16-year old Canadian at the U-18. You could also make an argument for Wright's 16-year old tournament but that team was loaded.

Yes Catton was far better at the U-17; however, it is well established that Celebrini was sick at that tournament. His performance before and after the U-17 proves this was an isolated occurrence. I just don't see how, on paper or in evaluating the skillsets of Celebrini and Catton (at this point in time), you could make an argument for Catton over Celebrini.

There's no way to know for sure how Celebrini, Eiserman or Demidov would perform at the Hlinka-Gretzky, but I'd wager their dominance would easily meet or exceed Catton's. I'm a biased Canadian fan, and I'd love to see Celebrini and Catton go 1-2 in this draft, but I can't rank him ahead of any of the above 3 forwards based on what I've seen thus far.

 

[Speyer]

Mostly early in the game the Slovaks were dominating play when the Reber line wasn't on the ice. That changed as the game went on though. Slovaks started to fade away and the other Swiss lines started to get going. Shots are misleading because the Swiss were overpassing while the Slovaks were just shooting from everywhere. Something the Swiss team should do more. In that misty arena I don't think goalies can see much and aside from Lachat all goalies of the group have been very underwhelming/shaky.

Honestly, based on previous games I have zero hope for Slovakian support today. This is probably gonna be a battle between Switzerland and Canada for the 2nd semifinal spot next to Finland.

The Slovakian Goalie has been brutal so far. Maybe a change can help some. But we need to keep it at least close vs. Canada to have a chance.

 

[Postulates]

I'm of the same view. Celebrini led the USHL in scoring and smashed the USHL record for points by a 16-year old (I know Hughes had a better ppg), and followed that up with the most dominant all-around performance I've seen from a 16-year old Canadian at the U-18. You could also make an argument for Wright's 16-year old tournament but that team was loaded.

Yes Catton was far better at the U-17; however, it is well established that Celebrini was sick at that tournament. His performance before and after the U-17 proves this was an isolated occurrence. I just don't see how, on paper or in evaluating the skillsets of Celebrini and Catton (at this point in time), you could make an argument for Catton over Celebrini.

There's no way to know for sure how Celebrini, Eiserman or Demidov would perform at the Hlinka-Gretzky, but I'd wager their dominance would easily meet or exceed Catton's. I'm a biased Canadian fan, and I'd love to see Celebrini go 1-2 in this draft, but I can't rank him ahead of any of the above 3 forwards based on what I've seen thus far.

Eiserman would have smoked this competition probably like he did the u18s despite his 3rd line role there and is at the WJSS instead + ntdp kids dont play here
Celebrini was better at u18s than Catton as well and is only not here because he is injured

 

[kyle44]

Eiserman would have smoked this competition probably like he did the u18s despite his 3rd line role there and is at the WJSS instead + ntdp kids dont play here
Celebrini was better at u18s than Catton as well and is only not here because he is injured

Yes, I'm aware of all of this. I'm just saying we can only speculate in the absence of them actually playing in the tournament. I have little doubt those 3 would form the top 3 scoring leaders at this event, and it wouldn't be particularly close. Hagens and Helenius would be up there as well.

 

[Erikfromfin]

And Kiviharju has been top of scoring boards these tournaments for years already he would have destroyed this tournee aswell

 

[kudla]

The Slovakian Goalie has been brutal so far. Maybe a change can help some. But we need to keep it at least close vs. Canada to have a chance.

Switzerland needs to lose to Canada by at most 2 goals in order to advance to the semis.

 

[Speyer]

Kirsch with the start. Oh boy.

 

[Hinterland]

Kirsch with the start. Oh boy.

Could be a genius move but based on his "performance" vs Slovakia it's more likely an idiot move. I was actually a believer. I believed this team could eliminate Canada. I'm not confident anymore. Kirsch is a great prospect but still very very raw. Playing him against Canada in such an important game is probably a bad idea when you have about five better options.

 

[Speyer]

Could be a genius move but based on his "performance" vs Slovakia it's more likely an idiot move. I was actually a believer. I believed this team could eliminate Canada. I'm not confident anymore. Kirsch is a great prospect but still very very raw. Playing him against Canada in such an important game is probably a bad idea when you have about five better options.

Lets hope he proves you wrong and goes hero mode in this game. He already made a good save, point blank.

 

[Speyer]

Damit Bosson needs to burry that one on the breakaway.

 

[Erikfromfin]

wait... Switzerland has player named Forget?

 

[BerthMania]

wait... Switzerland has player named Forget?

It's a common last name in Quebec also, it's pronounced ''for jet'' haha

 

[Hinterland]

Don't think you can fault Kirsch for any of the goals...having said that I think at least Neuenschwander and Lachat don't let in the 2nd one. I know it was a shot from close range right inside the slot but not a particularly good one and Kirsch was kinda out of position. Can't really blame him though and it was just too passive a period from Switzerland. They can't sit back like that. Also, the soft play by Ustinkov ahead of the 1st goal was really dumb.

It's a common last name in Quebec also, it's pronounced ''for jet'' haha

Well, that's where his father (hockey pro Dominic Forget) is from...

 

[Speyer]

Don't think you can fault Kirsch for any of the goals...having said that I think at least Neuenschwander and Lachat don't let in the 2nd one. I know it was a shot from close range right inside the slot but not a particularly good one and Kirsch was kinda out of position. Can't really blame him though and it was just too passive a period from Switzerland. They can't sit back like that. Also, the soft play by Ustinkov ahead of the 1st goal was really dumb.



Well, that's where his father (hockey pro Dominic Forget) is from...

Switzerland isn't used to the pace of this game. Ustinkov thought he could make this play like the are up against Slovakia. They need to speed up decison making and take less risks when on the puck defensively.

 

[ORRFForever]

How has my boy McQueen looked?

He's just did something STUPID, STUPID, STUPID !!!!

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

He's just did something STUPID, STUPID, STUPID !!!!

How did Canada end up with 4 min in penalties? Bullshit officiating?

 

[Dominance]

How did Canada end up with 4 min in penalties? Bullshit officiating?

Literal insanity that an extra 2 went to Canada out of that scrum.

 

[ORRFForever]

How did Canada end up with 4 min in penalties? Bullshit officiating?

Craig Button made the call before the officials did. McQueen was supper aggressive and it came back to haunt Canada.

**

Well...

We are exactly where we want to be. Canada has dominated - we could easily be up by 6. Too bad we're not because one unanswered goal by the Swiss and we're done.

 

[Dominance]

Craig Button made the call before the officials did. McQueen was supper aggressive and it came back to haunt Canada.

Super aggressive he was not. He went into the scrum and initiated shoving the way players do after every whistle. He ended up being wrestled to the ground in a head lock. In absolutely no circumstances should Canada somehow end up having to kill a penalty as a result of that play.

 

[ORRFForever]

Super aggressive he was not. He went into the scrum and initiated shoving the way players do after every whistle. He ended up being wrestled to the ground in a head lock. In absolutely no circumstances should Canada somehow end up having to kill a penalty as a result of that play.

Fair enough.

I'll let you and Button battle it out.

 

[ORRFForever]

We cannot get that 4th goal.

**

It is so odd to see a "Lindstrom" play for Canada.