Team Scandinavia Breakdown

[FacePuncher 1,343]

 

The defending gold medalists are back, and they've brought a nice mix of new and old with them. Gone are the old dogs Jorma Ruutu and Simon Valmount, and in are players like Thor Odinsson and Tobias Klingberg. Can this top heavy roster get it done once again? This is the squad that @Banackock put together:

 

FORWARDS

 

Alexei Koponen - @Draper - Koponen is the heart and soul of this team. He finished third in the league in points, and has solidly entrenched himself into the MVP conversation once again with his great two way play. Scandinavia will look for him to bring that same two way play as he centers their top line

 

Max Mølholt - @Molholt - Just one year removed from winning the scoring title and putting up a solid two way effort, Molholt finished with just 83 points and 55 hits, a far cry from his last year's performance. Scandinavia is hoping that pairing him with Koponen on the first line will help spark his old production.

 

Niels Skovgaard - @Tim - Skovgaard had his first full season in Cologne, and it treated him well, as he got his production up to points per game level and nearly doubled his hit count. Yet another two way forward on this team, he will slot in on Koponen's left side to form what could be the fiercest line in the tournament.

 

Joel Jarvi - @gregreg - Jarvi was on Team Scandinavia last year, but as a defenseman. Now he will be tasked with the job of centering the second line. Jarvi never skipped a beat, winning about 58% of his face offs and leading the Cologne in scoring, something the national squad are hoping will continue into the World Cup.

 

Thor Odinsson - @boom - Odinsson is making his first appearance after being left off the gold medal roster last year, something he was not pleased about at all. Now he is back with a vengeance, having just completed one of the greatest rookie seasons in recent memory, finishing 8th in scoring with 89. He will take up the wing on the second line.

 

Theo Axelsson - @solas - Making his second World Cup appearance in his young career, Axelsson didn't have as good of a season as Odinsson did, but he did bring the physical presence, something this team loves. Axelsson will bring him and his 324 hits to the team's second line.

 

DEFENSEMEN

 

Golden Jedtssen - @Kel - Jedtssen played well for Riga. While he didn't crack the top 50 in points again, he dished out over 150 hits and blocks, great numbers for the team to have and reflecting their style perfectly. He will be tasked with being the shut down defenseman on the top line.

 

Kerkko Hyvarinen - @diamond_ace - Oh how far Hyvarinen fell this season. Last year he was in the top 50 in point getters, and finished 8th in hits with 255. This year he dropped way out of the top 50, and finished with just 103 hits and blocks. Team Scandinavia is really hoping that pairing him up with Jedtssen will help bring back some of that magic from last year.

 

Marquis Hyvarinen - @Munk - This Hyvarinen has been the face of Calgary for a long time. This year was a breakout campaign for him, finishing 27th in points, and getting 100+ hits and blocks. Marquis is probably the most offensive-minded defenseman on the team, and he will bring that skill to the second line.

 

Tobias Klingberg - @Mr.Baller - Another Calgary defensemen, Klingberg took a while to develop, but made a solid impact in his rookie season, mainly with his playmaking abilities. He's also a fairly physical player with 112 hits, something that is basically a prerequisite to be on Team Scandinavia, and he will put that to work on the second pairing.

 

GOALIES

 

Joanna Åkerfeldt - @enigmatic - Åkerfeldt is making her second appearance in the World Cup, which reveals a glaring weakness in Skandinavia: they have the lowest ranked goaltending in the tournament. The national squad will hope that the extra experience in net will help as she starts for the team

 

Filip Lundqvist - @NYR84 - In what is not at all a desirable position, Lundqvist is the only other eligible goalie for Team Scandinavia. He was a burnout in the VHLM, and has been a free agent for 2 seasons now. Fans will be hoping that Lundqvist stays off the ice the whole World Cup.

[BOOM 8,745]

Great read. And yes...... I'm out for redemption.