GDT: U18 Round Robin/QF's

[theslatcher]

I'll chime in a little from the Czech perspective (which could very well be VERY different from the Swedish one).

We are in all those tourneys every year. BUT... we got silver at Hlinka and then 80% of our roster left for CHL. So we are sending C and D teams to those tourneys. It's a lot of games but not many guys made the final roster. In fact, our final roster hasn't played together (mostly) since last August at the Hlinka.

USNDTP (which I love) are the same guys together all season. Belarus has something similar. I wish the Czechs would adpot it.

But, I don't see much value in a November U18 tournament where the Czechs have maybe 3 guys that will make the final cut (Benak, Jiricek would've and then it thins out fast).

Our U17 and U16 look very strong and I guarantee a lot of them will be gone after Hlinka too! Hard to sustain momentum.

Sweden uses them to try out players, find out who'll play the big tournaments.

Button just finished saying he thinks Canada is the favourite going into this tournament, he's drinking good scotch today.

When isn't he?

 

[hockey20000]

just dont lose 8-0 to sweden again ffs lol

 

[hockey20000]

goalllllllllllll

 

[jj cale]

1-0, Luchanko

 

[theslatcher]

The hell is this PP.

 

[jj cale]

Excellent penalty kill and then a goal .

 

[theslatcher]

Fernström 2-1, Zetterberg with the nice play & dish

 

[jj cale]

Good crowd here for this game which I like to see, empty stands sucks.

 

[hockey20000]

canadas team seems stronger then normal just looking at the names this year?

 

[hockeyprospects9]

What a flop

 

[MeHateHe]

There go the Swedes, gooning it up already. We peaceful Canadians are just at their mercy.

 

[jj cale]

Mckenna!!

 

[theslatcher]

Insert Wolverine looking at picture with Frondell here.

 

[jj cale]

What a flop

Not even close, clear penalty, keep your sticks down boys.

 

[hockeyprospects9]

Not even close, clear penalty, keep your sticks down boys.

Never said it wasn’t a penalty, still a flop

 

[jj cale]

Never said it wasn’t a penalty, still a flop

He drove him right in the face, guys go down on that stuff, period.

Mckenna with some sweet mitts to snag his 2nd.

 

[hockeyprospects9]

He drove him right in the face, guys go down on that stuff, period.

Crosscheck to the chest…

 

[macbowes]

McKenna is so good. His processing and hands are elite. Constantly mixes in head fakes and other deception. Unreal.

 

[jj cale]

He crosschecked him in the chest…

and then lifted up and two handed him in the face...............cmon.

Time to move on.

 

[McMozesmadness]

Some thoughts after the first…

Tij Iginla and Gavin McKenna were the best players on the ice for me. If you’re wondering why Tij is skyrocketing up lists. Go watch that period. As for McKenna. Disgusting. He has the best hands I’ve ever seen on a prospect

I liked Luchenko, Spence and Mews a lot too. Although with Mews he was a bit of an adventure in his own zone. Which tracks with what I saw in the OHL. When your team has the puck he’s great. When you don’t he’s a liability

For the Swedes I really liked Zetterberg and Sahlin Wallenius

 

[Juxtaposer]

I watched a lot of Medicine Hat towards the beginning of the season and it’s incredible how much McKenna has improved just in this season. He’s on a different level than he was six months ago.

 

[jj cale]

Mckenna almost gets the hatty with a great shake and bake move.

 

[hockey20000]

rip bob cole 90 years old

 

[jj cale]

What horrible news, Bob Cole has passed away R.I.P...............one of the all time greats.

 

[Chainshot]

Oh man, that's sad news about Bob Cole.