Day 5 of the IIHF World U18 Champs saw some decisive victories surrounding one highly entertaining and competitive matchup that again contained those crazy Latvians! Here are some thoughts on the fifth day of action:
CAN - CZE
- Canada came out with a strong effort that really displayed some of the depth they have on their roster and rode it to a comfortable victory.
- Brendan Gaunce who has been a terrific and unheralded player so far for Canada really got the ball rolling. His PK play and defensive zone responsibility have been better than any other forward in the tournament so far and he proved he has the offensive touch to go with it. He seems highly motivated and could prove to be the driving force behind any potential Canadian success. I'm very pleased with what he has shown so far.
- Matt Dumba and Kerby Rychel continue to be consistent and determined players for Canada. Rychel is oozing confidence and has shown tremendous focus. Can't say enough about him. Dumba has been a true leader and has toned down his (at times) risky play in favor of opportunistic and intelligent aggression.
- Scott Laughton has been a beast in the faceoff circle for Canada. Very aggressive and determined in the dots. Wins a lot of draws clean, but almost always wins draws that begin contested. Very good small area battle in this kid.
- Felix Girard made his tournament debut to round out Canada's roster. An energetic defensive forward, his presence will be a big boost as the competiton heats up.
- Petr Sidlik has been very strong and reliable all tournament long. He has proven very good at calming the play down and leading the Czech breakout. He is smooth and intelligent and while not overly flashy, his decision making has really stood out in a positive way.
- Patrik Machac made his tournament debut for the Czechs after his Brampton Battalion team was ousted from the OHL playoffs. While he seemed a little subdued at times, Machac has blazing speed and can really push defenders wide opening up middle lanes for teammates. He connected on a brilliant pass with Dominek Volek for what was arguablly the nicest goal of the game.
FIN - DEN
- The combo of Teuvo Teravainen and Arrturi Lehkonen was too much to handle for the Danes, who have put up good fights against top competition in all their games but just haven't shown the depth or team play ability to upset anybody.
- Teravainen looked like a man playing against boys and was able to dazzle around the puck all game long.
- Lehkonen has great hands and always seems to find holes in coverage while Teravainen has the puck. Lehkonen has a nose for the net and is deadly with the puck in any sort of space in the offensive zone.
- Danish defender Bjorn Uldall, who has been a strong player internationally for the Danes all year long, displayed some very good two-way potential in this game and seemed to finally be settling in to a comfort zone in this tournament after some inconsistent play early on.
- Finland seems to adapt their gameplan to their opponent, something that has helped them gain success so far in the tournament, but you can't help but get the feeling that it could be playing with fire come the playoff rounds. They do however have the talent to back it up.
RUS - SUI
- Switzerland has been a bit of a disapointment so far and the effort they needed in this game was nowhere to be seen.
- Russian Captain, Anton Slepyshev, who is a top rated prospect and is highly under the microscope in this event had a breakout game. He had been overshadowed by Yakimov and Nichushkin in previous games but managed to steal back some of his thunder in this game.
- Daniil Zharkov continues to impress, showing great puck presence in this game. His shot is lightning quick and if it doesn't go in, it either misses the net or creates some sort of rebound, and he doesn't miss the net often.
- Yegor Malenkikh has been a very interesting player for the Russian's, he seems to be gaining confidence with each game and has shown some good rushing ability in the past two games.
- Sandro Zangger was really the only Swiss player worth mentioning in this game. His effort level and energy have been consistent in both directions all tournament long, and while not the flashiest or smoothest player, he is highly effective and shows some strong potential for development moving forward. He certainly has a good head for the game.
LAT - GER
- This game was the crown jewel of the day. A back and forth seesaw affair that had a bit of everything.
- Latvia continues to play a very entertaining and likeable style of hockey that is both bold and passionate. Characteristics that international hockey fans know Latvians hold in abundance.
- Germany has countered with a silent, strong work ethic mixed with some dazzling speed and very good technical team play.
- Dominik Tiffels had a great game for Germany and his stretch passes were some of the first of the tournament that have managed to create consistent breakins on the aggressive and physical Latvian defenders.
- Leon Draisaitl is one of the best perimeter passes in the tournament. He has a big powerful frame, protects the puck well and makes accurate passes with great poise and crispness. The young German has a ton of potential, especially if he can acknowledge the minor defensive deficiencies and lack of consistent two-way effort in his game.
- Latvia's Robert Lipsbergs was possessed in this game and wowed with his determination to follow up on original shots. His constant motion after shooting led to 2 of 3 goals on the game, while his above average shot led to the winner.
- While Lipsbergs, Bluegers and Jevpalovs have been the most dangerous offensive weapons for Latvia, their supporting cast has shown very well also. Edgars Kulda is one player that always seems to be doing something positive for his team and while he hasn't put up big numbers he has been a catalyst for good on his team and has proven to be one of their most consistent workers.
- Latvia has made some serious noise in this tournament but Germany still has a very real shot of moving to the quarterfinals as well. A German win against winless Switzerland combined with a Russian loss to the undefeated Swedes would cause a 3 way tie for the final spot, and the resulting tiebreakers could sink the Latvians hopes of moving on. One thing is for sure, it will be a very interesting finish in group B.
Day 6 brings some of the most anticipated matchups of the entire tournament. Sweden vs. Russia and USA vs. Canada headline a very important day of action. Russia is in a must win situation unless they feel comfortable leaving their fate to the result of the Germany vs. Switzerland game which could have major implications in both the quarterfinals and relegation games. Also on top is a very important game between the host Czech Republic and Finland. This game has major tournament implications as well as both teams need a win to dictate their quarterfinal fate. A Czech win combined with a Canadian loss would create a log jam for the playoffs and the tie-breaker could end up being decided by the actual scores of these games.
Also of note, the U18 Div1 will be decided today as Norway and Slovakia do battle in Piestany, the winner will gain promotion to the top group for the 2013 U18 World Champs.
What a great time of year!
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