Monday 28 May 2012

Memorial Cup Review

The Memorial Cup made the trip to Shawinigan and the Cataractes decided it needed a little more than the week it was to spend there.  As predicted, it was a very competitive and intense week of action.  My predicted finishes didn't quite work out, but that just made it better in my mind.  It was a week of great passion, sacrifice and heroics, and truly honored the namesake of the trophy that was presented to the victors.

As far as the one ice performances go, here are some notes from my perspective:


Edmonton Oil Kings
- Stephane Legault doesn't get much credit but there certainly is a lot to like to the steady forwads approach to every shift.  I was impressed with him as a midget player but he got lost in the shuffle a lot of the time in his WHL games that I scouted.  He's reliable with a strong work ethic and a team first menatlity.  While not one of the most exciting prospects on the Oil Kings, he deserves a shout out and I think he has a bright CIS future ahead of him and could turn that into a very good professional playing career as well.

- Henrik Samuelsson did a great job of showcasing his professional appeal.  He really parlayed playing this late into the season and the extra exposure it grants into a very strong performance that will boost his draft stock, less than a month before the draft.  He also earned himself a spot on the tournament All Star team.

- Griffin Reinhart really impressed with his development yet again.  I've had the pleasure of watching go from bantam to midget to the WHL and it's obvious that he has a long career ahead of him at the next level as well.  This is a kid who still has a lot to show and will be a major reason why the Oil Kings could come back to this event again next year, this time as the favorite.

Saint John Sea Dogs
- Jonathan Huberdeau is so dynamic and entertaining to watch.  His neutral zone goals during the tournament were another indication of just how dynamic and intelligent he can be with the puck.  He can brush it off as luck but it's obvious he has that extra sense and can react  to that "thinking without thinking" phenomena so well.  As technically and physically talented as he is, his mind is the true appeal and the true reason he will succeed at the NHL level very soon.

- Ryan Tesink was such a good pest, he was even driving me nuts as I watched the games.  So easy to hate a player like this in the moment, but very wise to think about how having a weapon like this can benefit you.  As long as I'm not looking at him, I love him.

- Zack Phillips and Tomas Jurco were up and down for me at this event.  I'm a big Phillips fan, he can do so much good around the puck and has really improved his two-way game but it felt like he was trying to do too much a little too often.  Jurco and Coyle were in a similar boat to me.  I refuse to peg any blame on them as I still believe they represented their team, league and individual talent levels well but was a bit surprised they weren't as spot on as they could have been.

London Knights
Max Domi always draws attention from scouts and fans, usually from a curiosity or admiration due to his famous father but Max is a very dynamic talent who builds his fan base with very different skill set than his father.  Tie was no offensive slouch in his junior days, but he never possessed the abilities of his son.  Max will get a lot of attention next year as he heads into his draft year, where he is already projected to be a 1st-2nd round prospect.

Jared Tinordi is the kind of player that scouts drool over.  He's huge, fairly mobile and will go through the wall for his team.  His skating still needs some work and he has a ton of room to build on his massive frame but Tinordi's development is something that Montreal fans have to be excited about.  I give him another 2-3 years before he's pro ready, but Tinordi looks like he could be one of the first in a new trend of hybrid 90's-2000's defenders.  Skilled, tough, intelligent and will spear you in the throat if he doesn't like you.

Austin Watson was one of the top 5 most ready to play in the NHL prospects in the entire event.  A big bodied player with good skills, his pro appeal on the offensive side is only minor at this point, but his defensive play has his appeal skyrocketing.  Watson was arguably the best two-way forward in the whole tournament, along with Shawnigan gunner Michael Chaput.  His faceoff presence and shot blocking ability had me thinking he had already played several seasons under Barry Trotz in Nashville.  I have a feeling those two will get along nicely.

Memorial Cup Champion - Shawinigan Cataractes
Michael Chaput was selected in the dispersal draft after Lewiston folded in the summer of 2011.  The Cataractes knew they got a top notch offensive player at that point, but little did they know just how much of an impact he would ultimately make.  The 3rd round pick of the Flyers in 2010, his rights were traded to Columbus the next season.  Chaput was dominant all week long in all three zones of the ice, winning faceoffs, scoring goals, starting and finishing plays from a variety of areas and situations.  He was the perfect and easiest choice for MVP of this year's Memorial Cup and looked like the most ready NHL player during the week.

Brandon Gormley is a player that I have been extremely high on for several years now.  The PEI native was an Andrews Hockey School mainstay, who the Andrews (Al and Josh) lit up to talk about.  To me, he is pro ready already.  He was the best defender at the World Juniors and looked like the most ready to step up the NHL player on any roster at that event and if it weren't for the possessed play of Chaput during this event he would have struck me in the same way again.  Either way, he is not far from being an NHL blueliner and already seems to have the maturity of a player several years his elder.

Kiriil Kabanov wasn't the Russian who scored the heroic overtime winner, that honor belonged to Anton Zlobin, but Kabanov was an absolute beast in the final and was hands down the most consistently dangerous player on the ice.  This is the glimpse of the Kabanov that could turn into a seriously impactful professional player.  I was impressed with his drive, team play and consistency and the taste of the championship should reinforce the behaviors we want to see more of from the talented Russian.



With that the major scouting season comes to an end.  The final touches will be put on the ISS draft guides and they will be sent out shortly.  Focus for me will now turn directly to the NHL draft and media interviews (maybe a little golf too...) while the teams soak in their season triumphs and prepare for next year.

Congratulations to all of the participants (players, coaches and staffs) of all 4 teams, who made this a memorable and exciting Memorial Cup tournament and a huge congratulations to the champion team and city of Shawinigan.

Friday 18 May 2012

Top 25 Players to Watch at the 2012 MasterCard Memorial Cup

With the Memorial Cup set to kick off tonight, I thought I would offer a small primer of my top 25 players to keep an eye on during the tournament.

This year's field is stacked with 4 extremely quality teams that have deep rosters and should prove to be one of the most competitive and entertaining tournaments in recent memory.

25 - Henrik Samuelson - Edmonton - Son of Ulf, Henrik has inherited the family sandpaper but is also a capable offensive weapon as well. Likely a 2nd round pick in June's NHL entry draft.
24 - Kirill Kabanov - Shawinigan - Slick offensive Russian can be a bit Jekyll and Hyde, but when he's on he can really take over a game.  He will be a major wildcard in this tournament.  Kabanov is a 3rd round choice of the New York Islanders.
23 - Max Domi - London - The son of legendary NHL tough guy, Tie Domi, Max Domi is a slick offensive dynamo with explosive scoring talent.  He is not eligible for the NHL draft until 2013.
22 - Morgan Ellis - Shawinigan - Versatile defender will need to be on top of his game.  He has come a long way in his Q career and will need to provide steady defending with some offensive contribution as well if the Cataractes are going to steal some wins.  He's a 4th round pick of Montreal.
21 - Travis Ewanyk - Edmonton - Ewanyk can really make a difference in a game with his strong two-way play.  He will be relied on to kill penalties, shut down top offensive opponents and create energy for the Oil Kings.  A 3rd round pick of the Oilers, he's a very unsung and underrated prospect.
20 - Tyler Maxwell - Edmonton - A smaller, speedier and opportunistic offensive forward, Maxwell can be easy to underestimate but finds open ice very well and is the kind of player you can't ignore.  His production is crucial to the Oil Kings attack.
19 - Scott Harrington - London - He has developped into a very reliable two-way defender.  He has some offensive upside but is most succesful in shutdown roles.  He is a very likeable player who does his job well and will be key to London's hopes in this tournament.  Harrington is a 2nd round selection of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
18 - Mark Pysyk - Edmonton - Smooth skating defender who moves the puck well, Pysyk is the Oil Kings captain.  A 1st round pick of the Buffalo Sabres, Pysyk is very good at strating transitional rushes and can skate with anyone.  He will need to be a factor for the Oil Kings in every game.
17 - Austin Watson - London - A 1st round pick of the Nashville predators, Watson is a big power forward who has a serious knack for showing up when the games have higher value.  His prowess in short term competitions should not be ignored.  With all their firepower, Watson could prove to be the most difficult Knight to contain in this setting.
16 - Seth Griffith - London - Undrafted diminutive playmaker always seems to find a way to get it done around the puck. He can set up, he can finish and he can start. Dangerous from a variety of areas around the ice, he can burn you a lot of ways.
15 - Nathan Beaulieu - Saint John - The offensive minded defender is relied on to launch a lot of the Sea Dog's transitional attacks and QB their PP. He's a 1st round selection of the Montreal Canadiens.
14 - Michael St. Croix - Edmonton - Talented offensive player will need to live up to his billing and will be the likely head of the Oil Kings attack. St. Croix is a 4th round pick of the New York Rangers.
13 - Vlad Namestnikov - London - A 1st round choice of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Namestnikov has been one of the best playmakers for London all playoffs long. His speed and quickness can really get opponents in a frenzy.
12 - Tomas Jurco - Saint John - Dazzling puckhandler with scorers touch, when he is on and moving he is extremely difficult to contain. Opponents need to limit his space around the net or they will pay. Jurco's talented mits are property of the Detroit Red Wings via their 2010 2nd round pick.
11 - Laurent Broissoit - Edmonton - One of the front runners to be Canada's starter for the next WJC, Broissoit could get a lot further in that bid with a solid performance on this stage. He is a 6th round pick of the Calgary Flames.
10 - Stanislav Galiev - Saint John - Speedy winger often takes a back seat to some of the other top tier talents on the Sea Dogs roster but Galiev has really put his stamp on this team so far during the playoffs and could again be a major factor in their offensive production. He is a 3rd round choice of the Washington Capitals.
9 - Michael Bournival - Shawinigan - Very skilled two-way centreman is going to have to be on top of his game as he will likely see major minutes against top opponents and if he can outmatch them, that could be key to the Cataractes chances. Bournival is a 3rd round pick of the Avalanche (EDIT: since traded to the Canadiens de Montreal).
8 - Griffin Reinhart - Edmonton - Big two-way defender can do a bit of everything and is a potential top 10 pick in this year's NHL entry draft.  He has the benefit of another week of top tier exposure going for him and should be a standout for the Oil Kings.
7 - Jarred Tinordi - London - Playing in the province of the team that drafted him (Montreal) in the 1st round could prove to be some added motivation for the Knights leader.  Tinordi is big, physical and mean.  An intimidating combination of skills that can really afford the Knights some dangerous transition attacks.
6 - Zack Phillips - Saint John - Phillips has had a tremendous season and continues to show very strong development.  He has great hands, sees the ice well and plays a reliable two-way style.  He is one of the most talented technical players in this event and is a 1st round pick of the Minnesota Wild.
5 - Jonathan Huberdeau - Saint John - He was dominant and electrifying in this event last year and is back and poised for a repeat performance.  He has the star power around him to afford him a little extra space here and there which could be the undoing of a lot of teams in this tournament.  Huberdeau is the 3rd overall pick of the Florida Panthers in the 2010 NHL draft and is expected to crack their roster next season.
4 - Charlie Coyle - Saint John - A 1st round selection of the San Jose Sharks whose rights were traded to Minnesota, Coyle has dominated the QMJHL since defecting from the US ranks.  The Sea Dogs have a ton of weapons but none have been firing as effectively as Coyle during the playoffs.
3 - Curtis Lazar - Edmonton - 2013 eligible playmaker led Oil Kings in WHL playoff scoring with 19 poitns in 20 games.  Will be counted on again to make an impact.  Ranks among the best forwards available in 2013.
2 - Olli Maatta - London - Perhaps a bit of a surprise this high on the list, Maatta has been lights out in the playoffs so far for the Knights.  Reliable two-way defender whose offensive intelligence has really shown in the playoffs.  A likely 1st round pick in this year's draft, his stock continues to sore and will explode if he keeps it up in this tournament.
1 - Brandon Gormley - Shawinigan - The 1st round selection of the Phoenix Coyotes is steady and intelligent.  Host Shawinigan is a major underdog but they do boast Gormley who can really make a difference for a team.  The Coyotes look like they could use him right about now.


Honorable mentions: Jonathan Racine (SHA), Micheal Chaput (SHA), Yannick Veilleux (SHA), Alex Dubeau (SHA), Mitch Moroz (EDM), Stephane Legault (EDM), Martin Gernat (EDM), Charles-Olivier Roussell (SJSD), Mathieu Corbeil (SJSD), Ryan and Matt Rupert (LDN), Andreas Athanasiou (LDN), Greg McKegg (LDN), Jared Knigth (LDN), Michael Houser (LDN)


This tournament will be almost too close to predict, but where's the fun in that!  Saint John has to be the favorite having one it last year and with most of their core players returning for a second run.  London looks to be the deepest and most versatile team which gives them a real shot at beating anyone.  Edmonton is versatile, deep and gritty and have some unheralded game breakers as well as a solid defensive corps and should produce the most competitive games with every team.  Shawinigan lacks the firepower but they do have some reliable and intelligent players that are capable of frustrating opponents and outthinking them on the ice.

My prediction: Saint John defeats London in the final game.  London just barely gets there in a barn burner with the Oil Kings and Shawinigan puts up a great effort but just can't match the depth or offensive talent of the three league champions.

Should be a great tournament, can't wait for the puck drop tonight!

Tuesday 15 May 2012

World Championship Thoughts, Notes and Standouts

This year's edition of the IIHF World Championships has really displayed the narrowing gap between the elite ice hockey playing countries. Sure the likes of Canada, Finland, Russia, Sweden, USA, Slovakia and the Czech Republic remain firmly at the top of the elite echelon of teams in this event but they have faced stiffer and stiffer competition from nations that used to provide less of a test than a morning skate would. That has created some tense and tightly contested games but has also managed to show which teams are contenders and which are pretenders. It has been obvious which teams have enjoyed the nightlife a little too freely on some nights, and that is not a knock against anybody, because the players should be able to take in the local sights, sounds and flavors, especially in amazing cities like Helsinki and Stockholm, just not too much!

Here are some thoughts from the Helsinki group as the stage comes to an end Tuesday:
Belarus - Belarus has been a very interesting team to watch so far during this tournament.  Of all the teams playing in Helsinki they seemed to bring the most consistent game plan game in and game out but have also produced some of the best performances from individual players in the event as well.  They are a nation that is capable of putting together team's to compete with the highest caliber opponents but generally need to rely on the bounces falling their way to win or knock off the bigger teams, and that just hasn't happened for them in Helsinki.

Standouts - From their first game against Finland, goaltender Vitali Koval stood on his head.  He has made highlight reel save after highlight reel save and has given Belarus a chance to win almost every game he has played in.  His glove has been lightning quick all tournament long and his focus has been razor sharp.  In front of him 23 year old Dmitri Korobov has been a pleasant surprise as well.  The young defender has proved very good at finding the weakside lane during zone play and has found the net on multiple occasions so far in the tournament.  The forward group has some NHL firepower but it has been the veteran presence of KHLer Alexei Kalyuzhny that has paced their attack.  Kalyuzhny sees the ice well away from the puck but is also adept at dishing off to his speedier linemates before finding outlets for them around the net.


Canada - The favorite on paper, Canada has taken a bit of time to gel as a team but after two tough tests against Finland and Switzerland, they seem to have rebounded and found an identity, something that was clearly lacking in their OT loss to the USA.  Many of the Canadian players are getting a serious lesson in how serious the Finns take their hockey as they haven't been able to do much around Helsinki without it making the papers, and while most of these players are used to such attention, this tournament usually provides some sort of relief from that, but not this year.  On the ice it seems the team is capable of beating any of the other top countries but has also shown a bit of sleepiness at times.  It will be interesting to see how focused the group is heading into the playoff stage.

Standouts - John Tavares has really raised his game, his skating stride and overall speed seem much improved and he has looked like a man who is really taking this opportunity to win some support for an Olympic team spot seriously.  Tavares and Jeff Skinner have been the two players who have displayed the most consistency throughout the event for Canada and have been very exciting to watch.

Ryan Murray, the lone non-NHLer on the Canadian roster has not looked out of place.  The 19 year old, projected top 5 pick in this year's NHL draft, has not seen a ton of ice time but has made the most of the ice time he has received, including time on the team's 2nd PP unit.  It's clear that he is capable of playing against men and while he hasn't made much of an impact, he has been reliable and has looked mature beyond his years.


Finland - Finland started off the tournament very strong with great team play wins but it was evident this was going to be a team that struggled to score. Their performance dipped a bit with the pressure and media coverage they have received and it cannot be easy to get over the frustration hurdles that present themselves in a tournament like this when every on and off ice moment is scrutinized so harshly.

Standouts - Valtteri Filppula has been sensational. His skill level and speed are pacing his team. We've known for a while that he is a talented player but Detroit has done a magnificent job cultivating his puck management skills but has also created a ton of evident confidence. He looks poised to knock up his NHL performances a notch and has been one of the most consistently impressive players in the tournament.

Some none NHL players that have stood out for Finland are Leo Komarov, Antti Pihlstrom and Juuso Hietanen. Komarov might be the new worlds best pest. He has good speed, decent hands and applies great physical pressure. He loves to get under the opponents skin and often has at least three or four of the opponents players leaning over their bench yelling at him. He has the tools to be effective at the NHL level in his role very soon. Pihlstrom is another player who can play an intense and energetic physical style. His work ethic is off the charts and he has also shown some excellent offensive timing around the net as well. A very good penalty killer, he is looking like he is due for a return to the NHL.  Juuso Hietanen is a relative unknown on the international circuit but after several stints watching the national team from the stands or press boxes, Hietanen has carved out his place this season. A smallish puck moving defender, Hietanen has great vision with the puck and is a quick decision maker. He isn't a physical force and isn't going to win many battles against bigger stronger opponents but he is very good positionally, anticipates well and as mentioned before really gets things started around the puck. Hietanen has been one of Finland's most used players during the tournament and has been very good QBing their top PP. 

Also worth noting has been the play of Petteri Vehanen. Finland's backup goaltender has been touted as perhaps the best goaltender outside the NHL at the moment and showcased his skills well when called upon during this event. A very quick and athletic keeper, Vehanen finds loose pucks quickly and can prove very difficult to deceive in shooter vs goalie situations. 


France - I brought it up before the tournament and France has really proven that I sometimes know what I'm talking about...or at least get lucky once in a while!  The French have deep squad sprinkled with good offensive talent, committed defenders and a strong team work ethic. They have managed to upset top group mainstays, Switzerland and Belarus and continue to earn more and more respect as an elite hockey development program.

Standouts - Yohann Auvitu has been getting lots of attention from the Finns and not just because the second half of his name is pronounced the same as one of the more unfortunate Finnish words. Auvitu won a Finnish championship in the SM-Liiga this year with JYP and has been a steady offensive presence for the French, helping launch their attacks from the backend.  Auvitu skates well, has very good puck presence and vision and is still very young.

Up front the French boast a deep and versatile forward group that has shown some serious confidence.  It helps having NHLer Stephane Da Costa in the mix but the most consistently noticeable and effective forward on the French team has been Yorick Treille.  Treille plays for Sparta Prague of the top Czech league and is a big bodied power forward with good playmaking ability and net presence.  His puck protection skills have allowed the French to spread out the opponents defensive zone schemes and create some varied offensive attacks.  He hasn't put up huge numbers but make no mistake he has been vital to the French success in this event.



Kazakstahn - Over-matched and outplayed for much of the tournament, the Kazaks return to the top group has them predictably facing relegation again, but this team has proven they are not the pushovers they once were on the international stage and are one of the best examples of the improvement of the quality of this sport outside the more known hockey playing nations.

Standouts - Vitali Kolesnik has been extremely reliable for the Kazaks facing a constant barrage of shots yet controlling the quality of any rebounds he's offered and often challenging the angle well enough to limit the effectiveness of most shooting lanes. Talgat Zhailauov has been one of their most noticeable skaters. He's not the biggest player but he is a smooth and fast technical skater with good hands. He has been a good presence on the forecheck and has been able to match the tempo of some of the higher skilled nations with his play. 


Slovakia - The Slovaks have gone through the tournament with relative predictability so far.  They have competed well in every game and have beat a top tier team, something they always seem to do in international play.  They have gotten strong goaltending, stellar defence and some balanced scoring from their versatile group of forwards but will need to do more than rely on Chara's ability to keep opponent's top guns at bay if they are going to make any more noise in this event.

Standouts - Apart from Chara, young sniper Tomas Tatar has been another fine example of the Detroit Red Wings development system.  Tatar is looking like another of their European "steals" already.  He has great speed, tremendously quick hands and always seems to be in the right place at the right time.  Watching him buzz around the ice has been one of the tournament's early pleasures and judging by his performance in Helsinki thus far, it shouldn't be long until that is an NHL fan's pleasure.


Switzerland - Not the typical style of Swiss hockey we have seen in the past this particular group has some real sandpaper to them and it has made them a very interesting team to follow. Their aggressive and gritty style helped them push the Canadians and Finns but also proved to be their undoing in arguably the tournament's biggest upset when they lost to France.

Standouts - Damien Brunner has had Swiss hockey fans buzzing all season long. Brunner has emerged as one of the Swiss A League's most dynamic offensive forces and has carried that play into this tournament. A very quick and agile skater, Brunner has good hands but is most effective because of his ability to streak into open lanes and find holes in coverage away from the puck. The jury is still out on whether his style would translate to the North American game as he is fairly slender and doesn't have the ideal skill set for winning space in small contested areas. There have been plenty of NHL pro scouts keeping tabs on him though.

That sandpaper I mentionned has been most evident in the play of Switzerland's youngest player, Nino Niedereitter. El Nino has been playing with some serious fire and seems to be in some sort of skirmish after every play. Nino is looking more and more like a man and is showing good strides in improving his diversity and versatility.  His scoring still needs some improvement in terms of consistency but the excitement keeps growing around the young prospect.


USA - Much like the Canadians, the US squad has been wildly inconsistent with their efforts, looking undefeatable at times and just plain bad at others.  They have good team speed and a well rounded energetic young roster that can score and grind it out if need be.  Their goaltending has been lackluster so far during the tournament and could prove to be their undoing but both goaltenders are also capable of stealing games and they may just be waiting for the right time to do so.

Standouts - No US player has impressed more than young Carolina Hurricanes defender Justin Faulk.  Faulk has been incredible so far and teams continue to struggle to find an answer for his big shot from the point on the powerplay.  Ryan Lasch is not a household name, but the diminutive American speedster led the Finnish league in scoring this year and has made himself comfortable playing top 6 minutes for a US team loaded with NHL talent.  He is very quick and extremely opportunistic around the puck.  His energy level has been noticeably higher than many of his NHL caliber teammates.

I'm getting ready to head back to Canada from Helsinki, and while I will continue to monitor this tournament closely my attention will shift a bit to the Memorial Cup tournament, stay tuned for my thoughts on that and some closing thoughts from this event throughout the playoff round.

Thursday 3 May 2012

2012 IIHF World Championship Preview

For those of you who don't me that well, or at all, I am a passionate fan of the sport of hockey with a background in coaching and scouting.  I tend to write about all sorts of topics from scouting prospects and junior leagues to ideas for rule changes and opinions on NHL issues.  What most people don't know, is that my biggest passion is the international hockey scene.  Having been fortunate enough to see a lot of the hockey playing world and experience the love for the game in so many different cultural settings has only amplified this love.

When I was younger, I looked at the World Championships as most Canadian hockey fans do.  It's almost a second thought, no one seems to care if we win or lose, although we expect to win but if we don't oh well we didn't send our best players.  Internationally, the game has come a long long way in my experience with it.  The major hockey playing nations such as Russia, Canada, Sweden, Finland, didn't have to send their best players to be competitive or even challenge for medals.  Those days are gone and the gap between the relegation teams or Division 1 teams and the top group is substantially smaller than it has ever been.

The World Championships is a gift to hockey fans every year, a gift that is still uncherished in North America.  I leave for Finland tomorrow afternoon and I can't express how fond of and excited for this tournament I now get every year.  Sure, part of that is that I get to adventure off to European cities, but that isn't anything new in my life since I ventured down this path.  What really gets me going is how these European cities are flooded with hockey tourism.  The life, the atmosphere, the passion.  When I moved to Finland in 2006, they had only ever won the World Championships once, in 1995.  You couldn't go in a bar in the entire country that didn't have some sort of recognition of that glorious victory.  The players, coaches and staff of that team were legends and revered by the younger generations who grew up with aspirations of matching this achievement.  Well, that generation did just that last year and the party that ensued was epic at a level that only the Finns could pull off.

People in North America don't realize how much this tournament means to the rest of the world, but we're starting to grasp it.  Ask the people of Halifax about Latvians and every single one will have a hilarious story about a run in with a boistorous and excitied Maroon-cladded fan from the 2008 World Championship.  Or the people of Quebec City who saw their Collisee flooded with Russian hockey fans.  Hockey fans are amazing people who breed outstanding legends all over the world.  Get caught up in that passion, keep a close eye on this event, even the countries you don't think can play hockey, can, and play it very well.  Last year's tournament has one game that sticks out in my mind as being something I wasn't prepared for and it was the intensity of a budding hockey rivalry between the two emerging hockey nations of Austria and Slovenia.  Neither squad boasted an NHL player, but both were loaded with passionate and talented young professionals and the game was more than worth the price of admission.

With all of that being said, here are some predictions and players to keep an eye on (keep in mind teams can continue to add players or remove from their roster at this point):

Belarus
Not considered an elite hockey nation, Belarus has a strong hockey playing population and with the addition of the KHL to Minsk, the popularity of the sport continues to gain momentum.  It has been 10 years since Belarus stunned Sweden in the quarterfinals of the Salt Lake City Olympics but the goaltender that stole that show, Andrei Mezin, is back.  Add explosive offensive talent Mikhail Grabovski of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Belarus is once again an absolute wildcard with the potential to beat anyone if they put it all together again.

Keep an Eye On: Sergei Drozd
Potential Young Star: Roman Graborenko
Prediction: 8th

Canada
Always the powerhouse and always in the mix as far as favorites for this event go, Canada has not been great in recent years but a young, hungry roster and the promise of potential Olympic team positions (should the NHL agree to send players) could be a winning combination for Hockey Canada brass.  A gold medal may be tough to come by, but you can bet this roster will showcase the Canadian product well and should contend for a medal.  A tournament win and a Finland failure to medal would leave Canada as the top seed for the Sochi games.

Keep an Eye On: Too many to mention but Jordan Eberle and Jeff Skinner seem ready to make a mark on this event.
Potential Young Star: Ryan Murray - a likely top 5 pick in this year's NHL draft.
Prediction: 2nd

Czech Republic
This is a very good offensive entry for the Czechs but they are lacking a bit on the other side of the puck.  David Krejci and Tomas Plekanec will lead the charge in creating that offense and Milan Michalek is a prime target to finish off some of those opportunities but the they will need to rely on strong systems play with a relativley defensive minded group on the backend and not a lot of puck movers.  Somebody always seems to step up for the Czechs though and it could very well be the grizzled old vet himself, Petr Nedved.  Yes, that Petr Nedved.  Nedved is actually making his Czech team debut after having difected to Canada in the early 90s.  Nedved has completed his 5th straight season in the Czech league, making him IIHF eligible to represent his home country.  It will be great to see him at this stage again.

Keep an Eye On: Petr Caslava
Potential Young Star: Tomas Vincour
Prediction: 5th

Denmark
One of the true emerging hockey nations, Denmark's program has come a long way and they are no longer the push overs of old.  Denmark boasts a ton of technical skill and speed which could make them one of the more exciting teams to watch during this tournament.  Frans Nielsen, Jannik Hansen and Lars Eller are the big names that will lead the way for the Danes, but don't overlook the young and talented Philip Larsen on defence.  The Danes have learned a lot from the Swedes and Finns when it comes to developing talent and with two goaltenders working in the "Finnish goaltending factory", Denmark could make some noise.

Keep an Eye On: Jesper Jensen (there's two of them, so he/they should be everywhere!)
Potential Young Star: Philip Larsen
Prediction: 10th

Finland
The main host of this year's event, Finland is also the defending Champion, and the hype for this event has been off the charts in Suomi.  Finland has a love for sport that few countries can match, and the crown jewel of sports for the Finns is jaakiekko (ice hockey).  Helsinki will be rocking and the Koskenkorva will be flowing.  The roster is loaded with players with National team experience.  Finland should play a similar two-way gritty style that helped them win last year's title.  They have exceptional goaltending, reliable defence and a versatile forward group.  They should be able to match up against everyone and could prove to be a tough team to knock off during the elimination stages of the tournament.  Finland should compete for a medal.

Keep an Eye On: Antti Pihlstrom
Potential Young Star: Mikeal Granlund...not a potential star....already a star
Prediction: 3rd

France
Many would be surprised by the growing talent base in France.  Their program from the grass roots up has made huge strides in the past 5 years and they continue to show potential to be a breakout power in the not too distant future.  A strong international result could be a huge boost to the program that continues to find momentum without one.  They are producing top level professional talent and cultivating it well.  Their proximity to countries like Switzerland has also helped their competition levels.  They may even boast a first round NHL prospect this year if Timothe Bozon hears his named called in June in Pittsburgh.

Keep an Eye On: Cristobal Huet (yup, he's still there)
Potential Young Star: Stephane Da Costa
Prediction: 14th

Germany
Germany used to have to rely on strategy to compete with the top teams in international play.  They would trap up and play a very boring and frustrating style.  They have ventured away from that and it has paid major dividends with their youth systems.  While other countries have caught up to them, Germany continuously produces top level talent, and they are starting to reap the rewards of this.  This team will still be led by the veterans that always seem to represent their country but will be sprinkled with glimpses of the future, a future that is very bright and a long time coming.  The time might not be now for them, but it's not far away and they will impress and surprise.

Keep an Eye On: Philip Gogula
Potential Young Star: Dennis Reul
Prediction: 11th

Italy
Italy has benefited from some good decision making, an organized professional structure and the 2006 Olympics.  The country known for their soccer players has started to see some of those athletes move over to hockey.  Their community is tight and they have gained a lot from having import professionals come over and raise the level of their leagues.  They can know put together very competitive national teams at multiple age groups and are starting to forge a style and reputation for their players that is almost the polar opposite of how we see their soccer players.  The gritty and rugged Italians (weird right?) aren't intimidated anymore and are on the road to producing a higher and higher calibre of player domestically.  Not likely a threat to the major nations for some time yet, they are on the hockey map and will not be going anywhere anytime soon.

Keep an Eye On: Andreas Bernard
Potential Young Star: Marco Insam
Prediction: 15th

Kazakhstan
The Kazaks will actually have one of the most experienced rosters coming into this tournament.  After a few years out of the top group, they return with a group that is very familiar with the task at hand.  It will be an uphill climb for Kazakhstan to avoid the relegation stages but they will be capable of winning games if taken lightly.

Keep an Eye On: Dmitri Upper
Potential Young Star: Konstantin Savenkov
Prediction: 16th

Latvia
Latvia has become the pride and joy of this tournament in recent years, not just because of an improving level on the ice and certainly not because of their results, but because of the passion the team and their fans bring to the host cities every year.  They don't quite have the star power to rely on that they did in the days of Sandis Ozolinsh, Arturs Irbe and the late Sergei Zholtok but their depth is much improved and that star power isn't far away form returning with the young prospects such as Zemgus Girgensons and Teodors Blugers waiting in the wings.  They will have the experience of former NHL top coach, Ted Nolan and some young faces ready to take over the reigns.  They likely won't be able to knock off any of the top teams, but they will try and they always prove to be one of the most entertaining and likeable aspects of this yearly event.

Keep an Eye On: Kaspars Daugavins
Potential Young Star: Roberts Bukarts
Prediction: 12th

Norway
It has always boggled the mind how Sweden and Finland can be so good at this sport and how Norway lags so far behind.  Norway finally seems to be serious about the sport and they now prove to be a serious opponent for every nation.  In the 90s Norway was regarded as a stat padding opponent, but now Norway competes well at every level.  Their professional leagues are outstanding and improving year after year and their youth system continues to impress with the quality of their young prospects.  Norway has leap frogged a ton of nations into becoming one of the next nations on the cusp of hockey's elite group.

Keep an Eye On: Jonas Holos
Potential Young Star: Andreas Martinsen
Prediction: 13th

Russia
Their likely isn't another nation, other than perhaps Finland, who will be more fired up to win at this tournament than Russia.  The push for Sochi is becoming very clear, and like Vancouver was for Canada, a gold in hockey would mean a success for the hosts.  That push is clearly amplifying and the Russians will come out swinging.  They have the goaltending with Semeon Varlamov, they have the scoring forwards with arguably the most exciting and most productive offensive players in the world in Pavel Datsyuk and Evgeni Malkin but they also have a ton of players with something to gain, and that's what makes them scary. 

Keep an Eye On: Datsyuk and Malkin (apart they are pretty good, together they can melt your mind)
Potential Young Stars: Evgeni Kuznetsov has gotten a ton of love and hype but Vladimir Tarasenko might just be better. Either way that's an excellent one-two punch of talented youth.
Prediction: 4th

Slovakia
For such a small nation, the Slovaks have one of the best percentages of developing players for elite professional hockey than anywhere else.  Slovakia is in hockey's elite group of nations and always seem to ice competitive and dangerous squads.  Having big Zdeno Chara anchoring their team will certainly help.  Their has been a gradual changing of the guard for Slovakian ice hockey and they will have to without the big offensive guns they used to threaten with but their replacements are on the way and this could prove to a very big moment for some of those players.  Slovakia always seems to impress when they shouldn't and this is a year where they shouldn't be able to play with the top teams, but I think they will do so anyways.  Mark them down as a wildcard and potentially the most underrated as well.

Keep an Eye On: Anyone you can see around Zdeno Chara...
Potential Young Star: Tomas Tatar
Prediction: 7th

Sweden
The other hosts of this event, Stockholm will host the B pool this year before taking over and switching with Finland for next year as the main host.  The home cooking should be a welcome boost to a team that has complimented its aging stars with examples of their world class development system.  The Alfredssons, Franzens and Zetterbergs will still lead this team, but it will be the Landeskogs, Karlssons and Hedmans that will hold the fate of the Swedes successes.  If Sweden has one weakness it will be in goal, but calling Jhonas Enroth a weakness would not be wise.  The diminutive netminder has been stealing games for his country for years, and let's not forget he almost stole a job from Ryan Miller.  The Swedes are deep, versatile and dangerous, how they mesh could be the biggest obstacle.  They will be looking to give back some of the torment the Finns subjected them to after losing 6-1 in last year's gold medal game, what better place to extract that revenge than the Finnish capital.  Anything less than a medal for Sweden would be shocking.

Keep an Eye On: Jonas Brodin
Potential Young Star: Calle Jarnkrok
Prediction: Gold

Switzerland
The Swiss are still a couple years off from being able to capitalize on their young stars like Nino Niederreiter and Sven Bartschi but they still boast an very good transitional defensive group, led by New York Islanders captain, Mark Streit.  Nino will continue to rake in the experience but shouldn't expect a fairy tale just yet.  The Swiss will be a force to be reckoned with in the not too distant future but for now they are going to grind some games out and force opponents to play their style.  They should float around the middle of the pack all tournament long and will not be a push over by any stretch of the imagination but also lack the depth to beat any of the top nations, especially if those nations are firing on all cylinders.

Keep an Eye On: Roman Wick
Potential Young Star: Nino Niederreiter and Luca Sbisa
Prediction: 9th

USA
The US program does a very good job of fielding young competitive teams every year but they, like Canada, use this program to tryout players for the Olympic and World Cup events.  It is tough with so many of the top talents from your system playing in the NHL playoffs still or recovering from the grueling season.  They are not lacking for talent but only have 6-9 of their top players on this roster.  With that being said, they are deep, young and they do have some emerging talents on their roster.  They might not be the big bad Americans we saw in the 2010 Olympics, but there is some of that element present and some new dimensions that could prove to be very beneficial in the international style of play.

Keep an Eye On: Cam Atkinson, Bobby Ryan, Paul Stastny
Potential Young Star: Justin Faulk
Prediction: 6th



As much as I love junior hockey, top level professional hockey and the NHL, I have learned to love this event like a European.  As exciting as the NHL playoffs are, they don't do as much for hockey worldwide as this event does.  However, the fact that both are going on simultaneously and will this year be broadcast to more countries than ever is huge and will only make for better quality of the game and more opportunities for players, coaches and fans.  Some may disagree with me, but my experience has led me to believe that International hockey truly is the game at its purest.

I will continue to blog from Helsinki on the games and from the Coaching Symposiums over the next couple of weeks.  I promise they will be shorter and easier to read, haha!

Follow me on twitter @rossmaclean for less wordy updates!