A Look At Team Europe: Forwards

[bluesfan55 103]

Team Europe: Forwards

 

Team Europe has a promising bunch of young players ready to take the world on in the next WJC. Here’s a look at their forward group. 

 

Jet Jaguar

TPE: 174

Nationality: Ukranian

Team: Halifax 21st

Position: C

 

Halifax forward Jet Jaguar is one of the best centers in the VHLM this season. The 6’3” 27-year-old is a crisp skater (80) and shutdown defender (78), but he excels as a playmaker. He’s put up 20 assists and 14 goals for a total of 34 points, which are solid numbers on a contender in Halifax. Jaguar was one of numerous chips traded by Philadelphia, who seem to be stocking up on draft picks for next season. Jaguar will be a top 6 forward for Team Europe, and no doubt will be a defensive presence on the ice. 

 

Maximilian Kirbsson

TPE: 207

Nationality: Swedish 

Team: Houston Bulls

Position: C

 

The first of two capped players on Team Europe is Houston two-way forward Maximilian Kirbsson. He can do everything. Passing? Check (80). Scoring? Check (75). Skate? Check (73). Defend? Check (70). Kirby, as he’s affectionately called, can do it all. He’s been killing it for the Bulls (55 points, averaging over a point per game) and is one of the stars of Team Europe, where he’ll most likely center the first line. 

 

Kari Jurri

TPE: 209

Nationality: Dutch

Team: Houston Bulls

Position: LW

 

Dutch winger Kari Jurri will most likely get to play with his friend and linemate Maximilian Kirbsson on the first line. Jurri has one less point than Kirbsson (54), but is more of a scoring threat (83 scoring compared to Kirbsson’s 75). Jurri is a true sniper who adds a scoring threat to any line he plays on, and should form a great partnership on the first line with Kirbsson and Aaltonen. 

 

Mikko Aaltonen

TPE: 192

Nationality: Finnish

Team: Las Vegas Aces

Position: RW

 

Another player traded by Philadelphia in their quest for all of the draft picks was talented Finnish right winger Mikko Aaltonen. Aaltonen is a pure scorer like Jurri (80), but can also defend well (75). Aaltonen is scoring just over a point per game (43 points in 41 games), and will round out the first line with Jurri and Kirbsson. That’s a hell of a line right there. 

 

Arnor Sigurdsson

TPE: 169

Nationality: Icelandic

Team: Yukon Rush

Position: RW

 

Icelandic winger Sigurdsson has been one of a few bright spots on a struggling Yukon Rush team, with 34 points and a massive 84 hits. Look for him to be a physical presence while on the ice. 

 

Shawnomir Jagr

TPE: 169

Nationality: Czech

Team: Saskatoon Wild

Position: RW

 

Jagr is another pure scorer on this team (80), but can also defend well (70) and handle the puck (70). The Czech winger has scored a massive 60 points in 41 games, and is a lock for top 6 minutes. He’s arguably the best player in the VHLM not named Hunter Hearst Helmsley, and will contend for top scorer at the tournament. 

 

Anton Edvin

TPE: 140

Nationality: Estonian

Team: Halifax 21st

Position: RW

 

The Halifax winger came into this season as a relative unknown, but has excelled on the 21st this season. He’s scored 56 points (mainly due to his 78 scoring), and is no slouch on defense (70). Edvin is probably the best inactive on this team. 

 

Hans Gruber

TPE: 125

Nationality: German

Team: Saskatoon Wild

Position: C

 

Hans Gruber is a true playmaker and probably the most underrated player on this team. The German has scored 33 points on the season, with a whopping 26 assists. He’s a fine passer (70) who doesn’t forget about his defensive responsabilites (70). Gruber has all the tools to break out at this tournament.

 

 

And that’s pretty much it, bar Polish winger Wlodzimierz Zajaczkowski (apologies for spelling it wrong), who’s been a solid VHL player for Calgary. Let’s go Team Europe!

 

 

 

[TheFlash 317]

Lets go Europe!!!