VSN Presents: S91 World Junior Championship Recap

[McLovin 466]

(Shoutout @Zetterberg for the amazing graphic for VSN's coverage this season!)

 

VSN Presents: S91 World Junior Championship Recap!

 

Welcome to this special edition of VSN, where today we will be recapping the S91 WJC! It was quite the tournament, with upsets, star power, comebacks, and everything in between! We’ll take a deep dive into the Round Robin first, and then cover the individual Medal Round games! So without further ado, let’s get right into it!

 

Round Robin

 

 Team Europe: 8-1-1 | 22 Points, 1st in WJC Round Robin: 

 

This season's WJC started off with a bang for the Europeans, looking to make yet ANOTHER Gold Medal Game appearance and defend their throne that they’ve dominated for almost 10 seasons now. In the Round Robin, Europe looked like they were well on pace to achieve their goal as well, with 4 players either at or over a point per game pace throughout the first round of the Tournament. On the backs of Joseph Dubois @Dubois & Phillip Rave @tcookie especially, the point production was lethal, and Europe proved to be a top offensive team once more, outscoring almost every opponent they faced. Even in the games they lost, it was very competitive, and this was achieved thanks to the outstanding goaltending provided to them by Karl Herzlich @LastGoon007 & Clark @cl4rk, who put up .948 and .920 save percentages respectively! When all gears are turning like this, it’s no surprise that Team Europe was ready to go deep into the Medal Rounds, but we’ll cover what happened next in the Medal Round section!

 

 Team World: 7-2-1 | 21 Points, 2nd in WJC Round Robin:

 

With their incredibly strong defensive core and strong goaltending, Team World came into this tournament with the perfect situation on their hands. They came ready to shut down any offense in the WJC, while also being able to put up a significant number of goals for themselves, and it reflected remarkably strong in the stats. THREE players put up 13 points in the 10 games they played in the Round Robin, and had another two players nearly at or equal to a point per game pace as well. Considering 3 of those top 5 scorers were also defensemen, it provided World with a dynamic offense that many teams in the tournament struggled to keep down. Similarly to Europe as well, the goaltending provided great help in getting them a solidified second place finish in the first section of the tournament, with Dalkr Vidarsson @KaleebtheMighty especially putting on a good show, racking up a 4-1-1 record, with a .930 save percentage, and a 1.81 goals against average. World definitely had the best two-way setup at this point, and they were looking to go very far in the Medal Rounds carrying this momentum!

 

 Team Asia: 5-3-2 | 17 Points, 3rd in WJC Round Robin: 

 

A pleasant surprise at the midway mark of the Round Robin, Team Asia certainly lived up to VSN’s prediction that they would play upset to many teams hopes at winning critical games for optimal standing going into the Medal games. Rin Kagamine @Rin, Toby Kadachi @ROOKIE745, & Vlad Von Carstein @Dom all put up 12 points in their 10 games played, and certainly carried the offense, and likely the team, to a very respectable record in the tournament. The big surprise, however, came with the goaltending. David Slezak @ShawnGlade went undefeated in his 4 games played, putting up an incredible .949 save percentage as well! With only a 2.5 goals against average to show as well, Slezak stood on his head game in and game out to keep Asia competitive, and is easily Team Asia’s MVP in VSN’s book. With the momentum on their side, they went into the Medal round with a very optimistic outlook on the tournament thus far, and we’ll cover how the rest of the WJC went for them in a bit!

 

 Team USA: 5-5-0 | 13 Points, 4th in WJC Round Robin 

 

In a bit of a surprise, Team USA didn’t have the Round Robin many people were expecting them to have, and looking at the team, the stats they put up, the games they played, it is very surprising to see them this low. Despite that, however, the Americans did remarkably well despite what their record shows. Mina @Baozi & Chris Sanzone @handfullofbubba both put up very respectable offensive numbers, and as a defenseman and forward respectively, it’s nice to see both ends of the ice contributing to the scoresheet in this way. The goaltending was quite strong too actually, both putting up over .930 save percentage showings in their games played. My guess as to why the Americans were down here would probably have to be chalked up to a lack of depth, as was predicted in the VSN’s coverage of the WJC a few weeks ago, but it didn’t hamper them nearly as much as it could have, giving the Americans a strong fighting chance in the Medal Rounds should the goaltending step up and win in a big way like they did in the Round Robin!

 

 Team Canada: 0-8-2 | 2 Points, 5th in WJC Round Robin

 

Man, what is there to say here? We knew Canada was going to struggle with the lack of depth similar to Team USA or Asia this tournament, but I don’t think anybody expected a goose egg in the wins column! Looking at the team as well, it baffles me how they were so unlucky despite their production numbers. Eno Velvson @Nykonax & Joshua Schwarzer @Velevra both had very strong showings offensively, putting up 13 & 11 points respectively. Even the goaltending was strong, especially in the case of Toddly Bobbly @ToddlyBobbly, who in his two games played put up a .957 save percentage, and a 1.98 goals against! With numbers like that, it completely blows my mind that they couldn’t get a single win. Not much is left to be said other than they hope and pray that their luck swings their way in the Medal Round, cause I think Canadians everywhere want to forget the Round Robin even happened.

 

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Medal Round:

 

Onto the second half of the tournament, we get to the nitty gritty, the place where every game matters and nobody is safe! The wildcard and semifinals were intense matchups, and a BIG upset happened that we’ll cover in this article. Let’s take a look at the games and see what happened!

 

Wildcard Game: Team Canada  vs Team USA 

 

In a hail mary attempt to salvage their tournament, Team Canada came into this game with one goal: Win a game. And they certainly came to fight for their place against Team USA. Goal scoring opened up with a goal from Joshua Schwarzer 7 minutes in, but Team USA answered back within 14 seconds and tied the game up at 1. Schwarzer wasn’t happy with that, as 10 seconds after Team USA tied the game, he put up ANOTHER goal, giving Canada the 2-1 lead. Mina tied it back up on a powerplay marker at two a piece, and that ended the first period. Team USA came out firing in the second period, notching two goals, including another powerplay goal with 35 seconds left in the period to make it a 4-2 Team USA game. Team USA got the insurance marker at 3:45 in the third to make it a 5-2 game, and despite a Joshua Schwarzer hattrick, Canada fell short 5-3 to knock them out of the tournament.

 

Semi-Finals: Team USA  vs Team Europe

 

The game everyone reading has been waiting for, the big upset. Team Europe came into this tournament with one goal in mind: Pure gold, and it would take a miracle on ice to prevent them from achieving that goal. Well, Chris Sanzone had an idea of how to start that off with a goal at 18:56 in the second to give Team USA a 1-0 lead going into the third. An uncharacteristically quiet first two periods for Team Europe, they had to pull out all the stops to make their dreams a reality. A second marker by Sanzone gave them the 2-0 lead at 2:42 in the third, but Xiver Zilla wasn’t going to go down fighting, and found a way past the brick wall that was Olober Syko. It wasn’t enough however, as Team USA pulled off one of the greatest upsets in recent WJC history, knocking Team Europe off of their throne, and for the first time since S85, ensuring Team Europe doesn’t make a Gold Medal appearance. Team USA sending themselves off to the Gold Medal game, the only question was who would face them? Team Asia or Team World?

 

Semi-Finals: Team Asia  vs Team World

 

Ready to fight for their own tournament lives, Team Asia faced off against the juggernaut Team World. In the first period, Team World went up 2-1 against Asia, off two quick goals in the first five minutes of the period. Period two wouldn’t get any easier for Asia, as a quick goal 19 seconds in made it a 3-1 game. Asia couldn’t muster up a great offense against Dalkr Vidarsson, who was standing on his head facing 32 shots by the end of the game, and with a goal from Grimgor Ironhide at 17:29 into the third making it a 4-1 game, Asia ran out of steam, and Vidarsson shut the door, giving Team World a ticket to the Gold Medal game! With this though, Asia still had an opportunity to upset Team Europe, who were reeling from the loss against Team USA, but they had to prepare for a fight, because nobody expects Team Europe to let something like that happen twice in the same tournament.

 

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Bronze Medal Game: Team Asia  vs Team Europe 

 

When you poke a sleeping bear, you get exactly what you pay for, and I won’t even mince words, Team Europe came out absolutely swinging against Team Asia in this game. While the first period was relatively quiet, only showing a goal from Phillip Rave to put Team Europe up 1-0, the second was an absolute massacre. FOUR goals from Europe, including two powerplay markers put them up 5-1 with 20 minutes still left to play. With an early goal by Xiver Zilla in the third to make it a 6-1 game, Karl Herzlich put on a show, stopping 38 of 39 shots faced, and blanking Asia in their Cinderella run for a medal. While disappointing, Asia can be proud of their season, as they fought to the bitter end to make it happen. I fear for the WJC next season however, as I feel Team Europe is going to take earning a Bronze Medal personally, and be out for blood against the rest of the tournament come this time next season.

 

Gold Medal Game: Team USA  vs Team World 

 

The big game! The David vs Goliath showdown that’s been hyped up since our roster predictions, Team USA has made it to the Gold Medal game, and they face down the World in this winner take all game. The puck drops, and for the first twelve minutes, the score is even. Leif Reingaard breaks the stalemate, and puts Team World up 1-0, ending the period on some good momentum. This carried over into the second, as on the powerplay, Spanish Moon Moth got a marker to put World up 2-0! Team USA wasn’t going to go down without a fight, and on their own powerplay, Logan Ninefingers cut the lead in half. However, Team World have proven to be special team champions this tournament, and on another powerplay, gets their third goal to make it a 3-1 game. The story of the game however came in the third, as Dalkr Vidarsson absolutely blanked Team USA, stopping 33 of their 34 shots of the game and securing Gold for Team World! An incredibly fun game, Team World now has a Championship they intend to defend and fight for going into next season.

 

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At the end of the day, the WJC is one of the most fun tournaments the VHL has to offer. It’s always a blast watching the future of the league represent their countries and continents, fighting for their peoples right to take home the Gold and etch their name in VHL history! This has been an incredibly fun tournament to watch, and even more fun to write! So I thank all our readers for supporting VSN’s coverage of the WJC, and we look forward to seeing you here again for S92’s WJC!

[Ricer13 2,796]

@KaleebtheMightyDalkr Vidarsson was the MVP of this one. Hell of a performance all tourney long. 

[KaleebtheMighty 1,509]

3 minutes ago, Ricer13 said:

@KaleebtheMightyDalkr Vidarsson was the MVP of this one. Hell of a performance all tourney long. 

 

It was a great team win, Vidarsson couldn't have stood on his head without fantastic defensemen and a great scoring offense to push us through!

[Mysterious_Fish 379]

32 minutes ago, McLovin said:

Semi-Finals: Team USA  vs Team Europe

 

The game everyone reading has been waiting for, the big upset. Team Europe came into this tournament with one goal in mind: Pure gold, and it would take a miracle on ice to prevent them from achieving that goal

Well USA has done it again! A Miracle on Ice

 

33 minutes ago, McLovin said:

It wasn’t enough however, as Team USA pulled off one of the greatest upsets in recent WJC history, knocking Team Europe off of their throne

[ucyXpher 1,408]

Great article! Looking forward to the S92 edition of the WJC already!

[ShawnGlade 1,010]

Sad I couldn't get Asia a medal

[Spartan 4,399]

@BrutalBoost

[CowboyinAmerica 2,889]

As a player from Italy, I'm proud of our fellow Team Asians for our group stage run.

Edited January 12 by CowboyinAmerica

[Victor 10,937]

8 hours ago, CowboyinAmerica said:

As a player from Italy, I'm proud of our fellow Team Asians for our group stage run.

Si

[McLovin 466]

Claiming 2/2