VSN Presents: S86 WJC Preview

[animal74 1,605]

Credit: @kirbithan

 

Welcome to VSN’s preview of the S86 World Junior Championship! Last season’s gold medalists, Team Europe, are looking to defend their title and the team they beat, Team USA, has come back stronger than ever trying move past their silver medals from the last two tournaments and with their first gold since S81. Teams Canada, World, and Asia all have intriguing rosters but also certain weaknesses. One area that is a strength for every team is in net. In fact, the goaltending is so elite and even across the board that it hasn't even been factored into the rankings. One goaltender will help their team to the gold medal but each team has two goalies that are capable of the feat.

 

The rankings were based on each team's top forward line and defense pairing and their depth overall.

 

Here are the teams in alphabetical order:

 

Team Asia
GM: @Tetricide
Last Five Finishes (S85-S81): 5th, 5th, 2nd, 2nd, 5th

 

Forwards (Rank: 5th):

With only one forward who played in the VHLE in S86 (Jeffrey Bezos @jsdeac), Asia will be icing the youngest and least experienced forward group in the tournament. They are not without talent, but they will rely heavily on the VHLM’s 2nd and 3rd-leading scorers: Mac Atlas @v.2 and Jimi Jaks @kelvi.

 

Defense (Rank: 3rd):

Having returning defenders Isamu Knievel @TMGSosa (see below) and Reese McFleury @Spaz will help form a decent backend. Their overall depth gives them a slight edge over Canada. 

 

Goaltending:

Ilya Bryzgalov @Devise is back for his third WJC after not making the cut last year. His experience will be needed but he may get pushed by newcomer Alexander Minion @UnknownMinion who is fresh off of leading the Oslo Storm to the Renaissance Cup after being named the VHLM’s Top Goaltender in S85.

 

Key Player:

D Isamu Knievel is the only player returning to Team Asia that played for Asia in the last tournament (the other two returnees played for USA). He spent the year with Davos where he led all rookies in penalty minutes. He is one of the best defenders in this tournament and Asia will need him to be tough yet disciplined to keep the crease clear of opponents.

 

X-Factor:

Goaltending.

With one of the strongest tandems in the tournament, Bryzgalov and Minion need to be at their best to give Asia a chance at a medal. Goals will be hard to come by so saves will be of utmost importance.

 

 

Team Canada
GM: @Dom
Last Five Finishes (S85-S81): 3rd, 1st, 3rd, 1st, 4th

 

Forwards (Rank: 3rd):

Only ranked 3rd due to a little less depth than USA and Europe, Canada’s top four forwards have the chance to dominate as much as any in the tournament. A potential top line of the VHLE’s 2nd, 3rd, and 4th-highest scorers (Larry Abass Jr @RileyL, Babay Shrimp @Blazzer, and Sadie St-Louis @sadie) has the ability to score goals by the bunch. That trio were also 3rd, 4th, and 1st respectively in goals and St-Louis and Abass Jr co-led the league with three hat tricks each and were tied for 2nd in power play goals. Add into the mix VHLE playoff scoring leader Randy Bobandy @AJW and offense should not be a problem for this group.

 

Defense (Rank: 4th):

Canada’s backend will be led by returning defenseman Rex Wolffe Gregor @oilmandan a solid all-around player and Sigma Freud @CODENAMEJIMMY who is coming off a monster 96-pont season in the M. The second pairing are younger but provide a little bit of everything. 

 

Goaltending:

This could be Canada’s greatest strength or a bit of an Achilles’ heel. Both Joel Castle @animal74 and Ash Sparks @DarkSpyro are elite goalie prospects who can play lights out for stretches but who also have a tendency to have a bad game at inopportune times. They may each play half the games before a starter is chosen for the medal round.

 

Key Player:

C Randy Bobandy is a big two-way center who will start on the top line and can match up against other team’s top players. He has Junior Showcase Tournament gold and a Renaissance Cup and can put up goals in bunches.

 

X-Factor:

Confidence.

Canada’s players have won more championships and tournaments collectively than any other team in this year’s WJC. For example, the third line are all from the Founder’s Cup-winning Marlins. They will need to draw on that knowledge and winning attitude to give them an edge.

 

Team Europe
GM: @qripll

Last Five Finishes (S85-S81): 1st, 3rd, 1st, 4th, 2nd

 

Forwards (Rank: 2nd):

With four returning forwards from last year’s gold medal winning roster, Europe has the slightest edge over Canada with its group up front. S86 Renaissance Cup-winning teammates Nikolas Kauppi @Tetricide and Sunglasses Joyo @JetsGoalie101 will be counted on as will Rome’s leading scorer, Wann Kerr @VattghernCZ. Germany’s Alexander Stroheim @Stroheim, the VHLM’s leading scorer should also add some offensive pop.

 

Defense (Rank: 5th):

On paper, Europe’s defense is not quite on par with the rest of the teams but they may also be the most underrated. Both Jens Lekman @Bobcat and Elias Lampi @Pifferfish, the M’s top scoring defenseman, are very good and have excelled in other tournaments and can add huge doses of offense at times.

 

Goaltending:

Karl Pedersen @JeffD may have led Europe to gold last year but his development has not progressed as many have hoped. Rising up the ranks is Fuukka Rask @Jubis, widely considered to be the best goalie not playing in the VHL. He may get the chance to lead Europe in the crease.

 

Key Player:

D Jens Lekman is poised to use this tournament as his springboard into becoming one of the most talked about prospects. He will need to be at his best for Europe to repeat.

 

X-Factor:

Goaltending.

If Rask gets the opportunity to start and plays like he can, Europe will be difficult to beat. Pedersen can play well if called upon or share his gold medal knowledge with his protegee.

 

USA's Jeremy Swayman makes a save as teammate John Poremba Jr ties up Canada's Larry Abass Jr.

 

Team USA
GM: Oatex

Last Five Finishes (S85-S81): 2nd, 2nd, 4th, 3rd, 1st

 

Forwards (Rank: 1st):

The Americans have by far the deepest group of forwards in the tournament. All of their forwards played in the VHLE aside from one, William Futch @Futch, who played in the VHL and all of them played in the tournament last year. While only one forward cracked the Top-10 in VHLE scoring (Lorenzo Cobberson @Hendrix Cobberson) they can roll three solid lines that may overwhelm the competition. 

 

Defense (Rank: 1st):

USA’s defense corp is also the deepest in the tournament. They are all excellent in their own zone and should be able to provide a lot of offense as well as John Poremba Jr @CrlineDijohn14 is the highest scoring returning defenseman from last year, Skor McFleury @Alex was one of the top offensive dmen in the E and Kronchy Kardashian @Garsh was almost a point-per-game player in the M.

 

Goaltending:

Jeremy Swayman @Agito has something to prove as he was pulled in the 2nd period of last year’s gold medal game against Europe. He’s been runner-up a lot so far in his young career. Can he win it all with this team in front of him? If he falters, Justin Lion @Emperor_Fun is the least experienced goalie in the tournament but he did just lead San Diego to the Founder’s Cup.

 

Key Player:

LW Jon Webber Jr @Webberj led last season's tournament in goals, assists, and points. If he comes even close to that production this time, USA will be almost impossible to stop.

 

X-Factor:

Experience.

With almost the entire roster returning from last year’s tournament, the Americans have their eyes set on avenging two straight silver medal finishes.

 

 

Team World
GM: @Emperor_Fun
Last Five Finishes (S85-S81): 4th, 4th, 5th, 5th, 3rd

 

Forwards (Rank: 4th):

While Team World has a solid group of forwards, they lack the amount of elite talent that USA, Europe and Canada have and their depth is not quite as robust. But with over half of them returning from last year and the entire group being solid players, they have the ability to compete and surprise the critics. They may have the most underrated third line as their three VHLM players were all point-per-game players with time on special teams. Dirk Diggler @Tbeez99 was second in the M with 10 game-winning goals.   

 

Defense (Rank: 2nd):

While not the flashiest group, Team World’s four defensemen are big, mobile, physical and very good defensively. Every entry into their zone will be contested and those that dare enter will be punished. How they fare against some of the tournament’s high-octane offenses will be interesting to see.

 

Goaltending:

If opponents get through the defense then they’ll have to deal with either Geoffrey Bezos @Quik or Lachlan Summers @kirbithan in net. Both netminders are excellent puck stoppers that are capable of taking over a game. Bezos led all VHLE starters in save percentage.

 

Key Player:

LW Fred Hampton @TownBizness led the VHLE in scoring with 106 points and 9 game-winning goals. He will be relied on to drive the offense.

 

X-Factor:

Physicality.

This group is not afraid to get dirty. Defenseman Womp Womp Womp Womp Womp Jr @AdamEss led last year’s tournament in hits and was second in the E with 314 and forward Johnny Kalamazoo @KzooJohn was 8th with 212. Everyone on this roster will finish their checks. They may beat teams into submission before out-scoring them. 

 

Enjoy the S86 World Junior Championship as the VHL’s next generation of international stars battle for gold. May the best team win!

 

@animal74
VSN Writer 

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