World Cup Power Rankings

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Pre-Tournament Power Rankings

 

1. Europe

 

Forwards: 3rd The "weakness" of Team Europe is its forwards, where there's a fair amount of question marks. Why was Humbert almost left off the roster? Can Ravenwing and Blacker step up in their debuts? Is St. Pierre still the elite player he once showed potential for? These are important questions that could decide Europe's fate.

Defensemen: 1st Here we find the Hamilton brothers and their buddy, World B. Free. The same group that played in S48 is back and with much more chemistry. If Phil can rebound to the form he had last year, this team could be overpowering.

Goalies: 1st Of course you can't talk about Team Europe without talking about WinGod, the face of the national team. This will be his final showcase, and after his record-breaking S50, it should be good. Let's not forget their back up, Greg Clegane, however, who is just 2 years removed from a record breaking campaign of his own.

 

2. Canada

 

Forwards: 2nd This is where Team Canada gets most of their older players, with Parechkin and Faux leading the charge. This top line will be interesting to see. Lincoln and Unassisted are teammate's and just finished 1-2 in the points standings, but neither are very physical and get pushed around. Parechkin could change that.

Defensemen: 3rd Velvet is still the poster boy for this group, and it's starting to look pretty solid now. Jim Lahey and Ted Doughty join the ranks and should hopefully start improving to be solid compliments. Nuck played last year on Team Mercs, so he's no stranger to international play.

Goalies: 4th I've got some good news and some bad news. Good news is that Atticus von Braxton IV is a genuine starting goaltender, something not every national team can say they have. The bad news is that he's not a top flight starting goalie like the people ranked higher have. AVB4's play could make or break Team Canada.

 

3. World

 

Forwards: 5th Well, at least there's hope for the future, right? With Karnage and Reencarnacion gone, this team is in desperate need for someone to step into their shoes. Right now, those two people seem to be Bogdan Podarok and Pietro Maximoff. Podarok showcased a little bit of that elite potential he showed in the VHLM, while Maximoff is just one year removed from a rookie of the year trophy. They will need to step up, sooner rather than later.

Defensemen: 2nd The Captain, Biggy K, gives this unit the elite member they need to lead this talented blue line. Felipe Rodriguez has talent, but hasn't been able to unlock his full potential, is this when it starts? Rounding out the unit is young prospect Bobby Digital, who is known for being less than gentle, and Theo Matsikas, who needs no introduction.

Goalies: 2nd Here is where Team World can make up some ground. Ariel Weinstein worked miracles for Calgary this season and brought them back to the playoffs. Can he do the same with Team World? Backing him up is Jakab Holik, who holds the future of this national team in his gloves.

 

4. Scandinavia

 

Forwards: 1st If there's one thing that can win games for Team Scandinavia, it's their incredible forward core. The top line of Koponen-Mølholt-Skovgaard is incredibly frightening. Behind that is defenseman-turned-center Joel Jarvi, and two young guns in Theo Axelsson and Thor Odinsson.

Defensemen: 4th The Hyvarinens are both looking to improve on last season in this group, both playing in separate lines. Making his debut is Tobias Klingberg. If he can come in and make a big impact to start out, he could make this a gold medal repeat

Goalies: 6th This is Team Scandinavia's kryptonite. Joanna Åkerfeldt makes her second World Cup appearance, but is still the worst starter out of everyone. She will need a lot of support in front of her.

 

5. Mercenaries

 

Forwards: 6th The Mercs weren't very good at forward last year, and they got worse. The key will be with their second line, where Sven Wolf and Asher Donovan might be able to get something going,

Defensemen: 5th Escabar returns to this team with a few new faces. Nikki Kissanen impressed enough in the minors to warrant a selection here. Former Davos forward Pavel Komarov is looking to make his mark like his father did.

Goalies: 3rd This is what can turn the Mercs into a medal winner. Sandro Clegane is back at it again, and if he can thwart these shooters like he did last tournament, they have a fighting chance. Dmitry Dadonov is the backup, making his first international appearance. He probably won't see much action, but he's more than able if his number gets called.

 

6. USA

 

Forwards: 4th This is the strongest area for the Team USA, and is still developing, so that's good news for any fans out there. Sir William Covington III is still the leader of this team, but Diana Maxwell is making noise around the league. The second line of Gowecny-Roberts-AK47 is bubbling with potential.

Defensemen: 6th There's still potential here, but it's not easy pickings. The top pairing is really all that will make an impact, as Titan Kronos and Shayne Gow will likely see the bulk of the ice time on the point. 

Goalies: 5th Thank goodness for Apollo Skye. Without him, Team USA would be without a strong #1 goalie prospect. Skye has a lot to learn, but he also has a lot of room to grow, so that bodes well for the national team

[BOOM 8,745]

You're doing a great job with these writeups. Thanks for the effort.

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1 hour ago, boom said:

You're doing a great job with these writeups. Thanks for the effort.

No problem. This is probably my last one till the actual World Cup starts, I'm all out of ideas. Also I'm so far behind on other things that I need to get working

[FacePuncher 1,343]

Day 1 Power Rankings

 

1. Canada (+1)

 

Game Results: beat Mercenaries 3-2(SO), beat World 4-2

 

Canada almost had a game stolen away from them by Sandro Clegane, but in the end they came out victorious. Despite the close game they played well, outshooting their opponent by 15 and only having to go to extra time after a game tying goal by a bot. Against a much tougher Tea, World squad, Canada dominated, holding them to 18 shots and taking advantage of Ariel Weinstein. Zach Parechkin has been their best player, scoring three goals in the tournament so far.

 

2. Europe (-1)

 

Game Results: beat USA 3-2(SO), beat USA 4-1

 

These two games better have served as a wake up call for Team Europe. In their first game they were utterly outclassed by USA, winning only because of the good graces of WinGod. The next was a beat down, but they still failed to generate more shots than their opponents, and once again Wingate saved 35 of 36 shots to lift their team to a W. If this is how they perform in the easy part of their schedule, it'll be hard for them to beat the top dogs in the competition unless something changes. Hans Wingate has obviously been their best player this week, with an incredible tournament-leading .959 save percentage.

 

3. World (0)

 

Game Results: beat Scandinavia 3-2, lost to Canada 2-4

 

It www a tale of two games for Team World. In the first game, team world put on an offensive show, scoring 4 goals by 4 different players to beat their biggest rivals in this tournament, Team Scandinavia. On the other hand, in their second game they were held to just 18 shots in a beatdown from Canada. The team needs Ariel Weinstein to improve on his tournament-worst .868 save percentage. The best player of the tournament has been none other than Biggu Kyanon, with 2 goals, 3 assists, and 9 blocked shots.

 

4. Scandinavia (0)

 

 Game Results: lost to World 2-3, beat Mercenaries 3-2

 

This team had a rough first few games. First the team took a hard loss to Team World, then won by just one goal over the Mercs. As expected, Joanna Akerfeldt has had her struggles in net. On the bright side, the top line has been as potent as predicted (minus a disappointing Max Molholt), combining for 5 goals, 5 assists, 5 hits, 32 shots, and 2 blocks. These next to games will be key for Scandinavia, as they take on USA and have a rematch with Team World. Niels Skovgaard has emerged as the top performer for this team, scoring 3 goals, 2 assists, and having the third most ice time on the team.

 

5. USA (+1)

 

Game Results: lost to Europe 2-3(SO), lost to Europe 1-4

 

The US outshot Team Europe by 16 over 2 games. Yeah, read that again. Team USA had been counted out by many, including myself, but after coming a shootout away from victory, and beating Europe at every position but goalie, they have placed themselve firmly in the medal conversation. Looking good after possibly the hardest part of their schedule, this could get interesting. Jordan Maverick has been the surprise MVP so far, leading the team in goals, hits, and shots.

 

6. Mercenaries (-1)

 

Game Results: lost to Canada 2-3(SO), lost to Scandinavia 2-3

 

The Mercs went down in the Power Rankings, but their stock still rose. They held each team they played to a one goal lead, and almost completed an epic comeback against the top rated team. They went down because of Team USA's great performance, but this is still a team that cannot be counted out of the medal race. Sandro Clegane has been the best player on the team, as per usual, with a .937 save percentage and a 2.40 GAA

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Day 2 Power Rankings

 

1. Canada (0)

 

Game Results: lost to World 2-3(SO), beat USA 2-0

 

Canada had a bad second day, despite keeping their first spot. First, in a heartbreaking 7 round shootout, Canada lost to Team World, the team they had just beaten 4-2 the previous day. Then, despite shutting out USA, they did it despite being grossly outshot. The team is still the favorite for now, though. Atticus Von Braxton IV has been the star these past 2 games, stopping 59 of 61 shots and shutting out USA.

 

2. World (+1)

 

Game Results: beat Canada 3-2(SO), beat Europe 3-2

 

After a first day that can only be described as shaky, Team World slammed the door on any doubters with two wins against the top 2 teams. Weinstein still has some room to improve, but his performance was much better. After beating Canada in a shootout, They went to play against team Europe and pretty much dominated the pace of the game. Bogdan Podarok has been the most valuable player this second day, scoring 2 goals, 2 assists, and 7 shots, though for some odd reason his GM ( @Toast ) has made him take 37 faceoffs, of which he won only 10, because he's not a freakin center!

 

3. Europe (-1)

 

Game Results: beat Mercenaries 5-2, lost to World 3-2

 

Team Europe finally had their first real challenge on day 2. And they lost. Team Wirld handed them a 3-2 loss that wasn't as close as it seemed, as World scored the first three goals and just coasted to the end. It is important to note that this was done with Greg Clegane in net instead of Hans Wingate, but Clegane is still a better goalie than anyone else has in the league. Tyson Kohler was the best player for Europe, scoring a hat trick and  generated 34% of his team's shots.

 

4. USA (+1)

 

Game Results: beat Scandinavia 5-3, lost to Canada 0-2

 

Every time USA has outshot their opponents, they have lost. That's a crazy thought, but also bodes well for them. After beating Scandinavia in a rough matchup, Team USA outclassed Canada like they did to Europe the day before, but were once again thwarted by a hot goaltender. Jordan Maverick is still the top player on the team, scoring a goal and garnering 2 assists, adding 11 shots and 7 hits.

 

5. Scandinavia (-1)

 

Game Results: lost to USA 3-5, beat Mercenaries 4-1

 

Things aren't looking good for Scandinavia after losing to team USA. Despite that, the team did outshoot JSA by a wide margin, but their weakness reared its ugly head as Joanna Akerfeldt let in 5 goals on 27 shots. The team was able to rebound, though, with a commanding win over the Mercs. Max Mølholt has a great couple of rebound games, with 2 goals, 3 assists, 18 shots, and a hit and shot block each.

 

6. Mercenaries (0)

 

Game Results: lost to Europe 2-5, lost to Scandinavia 1-4

 

The Mercs showed promise on day one with two one-goal losses, but then two three-goal losses has pushed them out of serious conversation for a medal. In both games they were outshot by double digits. Even Sandro Clegane didn't perform well, as he let in 9 goals on 84 shots and lost the CleganeBowl. Asher Donovan was the best player on the team, grabbing 2 assists, 13 shots, 10 hits, and 2 blocked shots.

[FacePuncher 1,343]

Day 3 Power Rankings

 

1. Europe (+2)

 

Game Results: beat Scandinavia 3-2(SO), beat Mercenaries 2-0

 

It's not pretty, but Europe is tacking on win after win. They've been outshot by every team but the Mercs, but thanks to the wonderful play of Wingate they have compiled a 5-1 record. Europe barely squeaked by Scandinavia, and have a much tougher schedule coming up, so it's time to find out if they're contenders or pretenders. Hans Wingate has of course been the best player this week, stopping 50 of 52 shots with a shutout

 

2. USA (+2)

 

Game Results: beat Canada 3-2, beat World 4-1

 

We didn't know if they were for real or not, but now there is no denying it, Team USA is back. They got their revenge from AVB4 shutting them out by beating Canada in a close game. Then they went to play Team World and utterly destroyed them, outshooting them by a whopping 24 shots in a 4-1 victory. Apollo Skye played his heart out for the Americans by stopping 63 of 66 shots faced, surely raising his draft stock.

 

3. World (-1)

 

Game Results: beat Mercenaries 3-2, lost to USA 1-4

 

Continuing the up and down trend, Team World went from a great day 2 where they looked like a gold medal contender, to a dismal day 3 where they looked more like a quarterfinal squad. The 3-2 victory over the Mercs was too close for anyone's liking, and they followed it up with an absolute beating from USA, they rematch against them next, can World continue the trend with a bounce back day? Pietro Maximoff was the top player for Team World, with 3 assists, 10 shots, and 2 hits.

 

4. Scandinavia (+1)

 

Game Results: lost to Europe 2-3(SO), beat Canada 5-4(SO)

 

There's still life in the north! After a heartbreaking shootout loss to Europe, Scandinavia took notes and turned the tables with a shootout win versus Canada. The team generated more shots in both contests, and hope to continue their winning ways, but they have two tough matchups against the top 2 teams this week. Wins would mean solidifying themselves as medal contenders. Max Mølholt was the top player on the team with 1 goal, 3 assists, 15 shots, and a hit and block.

 

5. Canada (-4)

 

Game Results: lost to USA 2-3, lost to Scandinavia 4-5(SO)

 

Is this a little harsh? Yeah probably. But I'm not in the business of taking it easy on teams who lose twice in one day. The former top ranked team fell hard this week, losing to two teams they should have beaten. This puts a serious dent in their gold medal chase, and they may have to revisit a few things in practice. Unassisted was the top player for Canada, with one goal, 3 assists, and 9 shots.

 

6. Mercenaries (0)

 

Game Results: lost to World 2-3, lost to Europe 0-2

 

Well, it seems like the end of the road for Team Mercs. After almost coming back to beat Team World, they were shut out by WinGod, leaving them with still one point in six games. Nothing has been clicking, as the Mercs have the least goals scored and shots made, as well as the most goals allowed and most shots allowed. Sandro Clegane has still been doing a good job, however, and in day 3 he has 67 saves on 72 shots.

[Higgins 3,618]

RIP CANADA

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Day 4 Power Rankings

 

1. Canada (+4)

 

Game Results: beat Mercenaries 4-0, beat Europe 3-2

 

@Higgins was mad about the rankings yesterday, so he made his team practice non-stop until the next game started, and it paid off. After shutting out the Mercs and outshooting them by 23, they scored three unanswered goals to start out against Europe and just coasted on to victory. They can prove themselves at top dog with games against Scandinavia and Europe. Zach Parechkin was dealing out punishment for Team Canada, with a whopping 13 hits, and also added 2 assists and 5 shots

 

2. USA (0)

 

Game Results: beat Scandinavia 5-1, lost to Mercenaries 2-3

 

Could this USA success be a flash in the pan? It doesn't seem like it, but that's the worry. Their performance reminds many of the S48 Team Mercenaries, who were at one point first in the standings, but then lost some important games, finished .500, and lost in the first round. They are hoping to not do the same thing, and have key games against Team World and Team Mercs to prove this. Jordan Maverick has been an absolute monster for this team, with 2 goals, 3 assists, 18 shots, 5 hits, and 2 shot blocks, though Appolo Skye's 58 saves on 62 shots is impressive as well.

 

3. Scandinavia (+1)

 

Game Results: lost to USA 1-5, beat World 0-3

 

Scandinavia is back in the top 3, but it's a shaky rating. While a dominant shutout of team world showed how their overpowering offense could bury a team, while their four goal loss to team USA showed that their defense can put them out of a game. Scandinavia ends their schedule with tough matchups agains Europe and Canada. Joel Jarvi has been an offensive powerhouse lately, with three assists and 17 shots!

 

4. World (-1)

 

Game Results: beat Europe 4-3, lost to Scandinavia 0-3

 

As much as I hate to say it, this is the right place to put Team World. After another surprising win against Europe to sweep the series, they followed it up by getting shut out by Joanna Akerfeldt of all people. Lucky for them, they are currently in second, and have matchups agains US and Mercs, with that US game being incredibly important for that second seed. Felipe Rodriguez was the best player for the team, grabbing 2 assists, 4 shots, 6 hits, and 5 blocks, showing an extraordinary defensive effort.

 

5. Europe (-4)

 

Game Results: lost to World 3-4, lost to Canada 3-2

 

I've been waiting for an excuse to rip apart Europe, and here it is. It's officially become clear that this is Team Wingate, and when Wingate has bad games like he did yesterday, this team loses. Coming into the hardest part of their schedule, Europe has been swept by Team World and is trying to avoid the sweep from Canada. Tyson Kohler was the best player for the team, with one goal, 2 assists, and 10 shots.

 

6. Mercenaries (0)

 

Game Results: lost to Canada 0-4, beat USA 3-2

 

They got the win folks! No one could cool off the red hot Team USA, who had won 4 of their last 5 and probably should have won the other one. Then in comes the upset special, thanks to Jace Hines game winner in the third period. It's a little late for them to challenge for a higher seed, but a win will work wonders for their confidence. Sandro Clegane was once again the top player, stopping 81 of 87 shots he faced.

[Gunner 165]

Line change coming for Mercs tonight. Gotta get something going.

[FacePuncher 1,343]

1 minute ago, Gunner said:

Line change coming for Mercs tonight. Gotta get something going.

Do me a favor and get something going AFTER you play Team World  

[TheLastOlympian07 2,388]

RIP Europe

[FacePuncher 1,343]

Day 5 Power Rankings

 

1. USA (+1)

 

Game Results: lost to World 1-3, beat Mercenaries 6-3

 

I didn't know who to put here, so I went with the hottest tea, that no one knows why they're winning. After a round game against Team World and a redemption win against the Mercs, the team is going into the playoffs with high hopes. Jordan Maverick once again commanded people's attention, with 2 goals and assists, and 14 shots and hits, though Kai Roberts 1 goal and 4 assists also stood out to people  

 

2. World (+2)

 

Game Results: beat USA 3-1, lost to Mercenaries 2-4

 

World's play against the Mercs is very concerning, since over 2 games they were outscored 6-5, but the win against USA clinched the 2 seed, and as the only team to sweep Team Europe(in a dominating fashion), the potential is there. If this young team can win, it'll be a great sign, as well as a wonderful accomplishment for Kyanon. Bobby Digital was the top player, with 3 assists, 10 hits, and 2 blocks, proving you don't need shots to make an impact.

 

3. Europe (+2)

 

Game Results: beat Scandinavia 3-0, beat Canada 2-0

 

You would think that a team coming off two shutouts would be ranked higher, but all the concerns are still there that we talked about yesterday. Greg Clegane was a mountain in net, stopping everything sent at him, but they still got outshot 49-54 and you saw what happens when their goalie falters. So after clinching the first spot, a medal seems likely, but gold is far from certain. Greg Clegane was obviously the best player, stopping all 54 shots.

 

4. Scandinavia (-1)

 

Game Results: beat Canada 3-2(OT), lost to Europe 0-3

 

First of all, keep in mind that 1 through 5 are all contenders so it's hard to rank these guys, but the reason I put Scandinavia here is because of the concerns about their goaltending. Despite that, they actually had a pretty good final day. They took Canada in OT for the second time this cup, and despite getting shut out by Europe, they grossly outshot them. Niels Skovgaard was the top player, scoring 2 goals(including the OT winner), 17 shots, 1 hit, and 2 blocks.

 

5. Canada (-4)

 

Game Results: lost to Scandinavia 2-3(OT), lost to Europe 0-2

 

This team is just confusing. After losing twice on day 3, they rebound strong on day 4, only to lose twice on day 5. That lack of consistency is not something that bodes well for this team, though if the current trend continues they could blow their Quarterfinal team out of the water. Zach Parechkin was the top player, grabbing a goal and an assist each, and also putting up 9 shots and 14 hits!

 

6. Mercenaries (0)

 

Game Results: beat World 4-2, lost to USA 6-3

 

The Mercs are still here, but they strung together back to back wins, an impressive feat! The team isn't exactly a powerhouse, but they could be gaining some positive momentum, which could spell trouble for Canada. Asher Donovan was the top player on the team, with 2 goals, 3 assists, 8 shots, 9 hits, and a block.

[Da Trifecta 1,896]

Oh look, it's ME

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Quarterfinal Power Rankings

 

1. USA (0)

 

Game Result: beat Scandinavia 7-4

 

USA had the best win possible against Scandinavia. Not only was is a blowout, but it addressed their main weaknesses greatly, the team was outshot by 14, but not only did Apollo Skye step up to the challenge, but the offense negated the effects by scoring a touchdowns worth of goals. Sir William Covington III scored one goal, 3 assists, and had 6 shots, 2 hits, and 2 blocks, just one of three players to score 4 points(the others were Travis Gowecny and Diana Maxwell)

 

2. World (0)

 

No Games Played

 

3. Europe (0)

 

No Games Played

 

4. Mercenaries (+2)

 

Game Result: beat Canada 3-2

 

Meet David, everyone. The Mercenaries did the unthinkable when they beat Canada in the first round by the slimmest of margins. After that win, can they continue the success against first place Europe? Well, the Mercs defense held a better Canadian forward core to just 20 shots, and Sandro Clegane could spell Wingate against his national team, so don't count them out. Sven Wolf had a very solid quarterfinal, scoring a goal and an assist, as well as winning 24 of his 39 faceoffs.

 

5. Scandinavia (-1)

 

Game Result: lost to USA 4-7

 

It's official, the defending gold medalists are out of the Cup. Scandinavia's poor goaltending was abused by USA, as they scored 7 goals on just 30 shots. Theo Axelsson played well, scoring a goal on 6 shots and 8 hits, while Marquis Hyvarinen got a pair of first period goals.

 

6. Canada (-1)

 

Game Results: lost to Mercenaries 2-3

 

In one of the most embarrassing tournaments yet for Canada, a squad that was a preseason favorite to get a medal fell to last place Mercenaries. Now Canada will leave with nothing, a heartbreaking end to a team many thought were trending up. Despite the loss, Bronson Faux went out with a solid performance, with 1 assist, 2 shots, and 6 hits.

[JardyB10 4,865]

Now do it again!

[FacePuncher 1,343]

17 hours ago, JardyB10 said:

Now do it again!

I'm on it now, chill fam!

[FacePuncher 1,343]

Semifinal Power Rankings

 

1. World (+1)

 

Game Result: beat USA 5-3

 

It's crazy to think that Team World might actually be looking forward to playing Europe in the finals. So far this team has beaten Europe in both meetings, but playoffs is a whole different beast. Team World has only one medal to its name, a bronze, so no matter what happens this team will be considered the greatest in their history. Biggu Kyanon was the top player, with two goals and assists apiece, 4 shots, and 1 block.

 

2. Europe (+1)

 

Game Result: beat Mercenaries 2-0

 

Europe was the lucky recipient of the Team Mercs upset of Canada, getting to play a team they have dominated in this tournament so far. Wingate added another shutout to his resume. Europe returns to the gold medal round for the 4th Cup in a row, hoping for redemption after last year. Europe will be recieving their 7th medal, and either gold or silver would be their 3rd of that kind. LeAndre St. Pierre was the top player on the team, scoring a goal and an assists, generating 10 shots, and having one hit and one block.

 

3. USA (-2)

 

Game Result: lost to World 3-5

 

Team USA has fought their way into medal contention, and in order to finish with a medal they will have to keep fighting. The team dropped the ball against Team World as they exposed their poor goaltending with 5 goals. The matchup against the Mercs should be an easy win on paper, but they've already lost to them once. Bronze would be their 6th medal, and their 3rd of that color. Jordan Maverick AKA Mr. USA was once again the top player, scoring 1 goal, 1 assists, and having 7 shots and 3 hits.

 

4. Mercenaries (0)

 

Game Result: lost to Europe 0-2

 

The Mercs were running on high when they went into the semifinals, but they hit a big stop sign when they came up against Europe. The team still has a shot in the bronze medal round, however, against a US squad that they have beaten before this tournament. If the Mercs can pull it off, it will be their second bronze medal. Sandro Clegane was the top player on the Mercs, stopping 33 of 35 shots.

 

5. Scandinavia (0)

 

No Games Played

 

6. Canada (0)

 

No Games Played

[TheLastOlympian07 2,388]

I was on the other team Mercs team that won Bronze  

[JardyB10 4,865]

Me too!