Hot WJC Start for Asia

[Erik Summers 451]

Hot WJC Start for Asia

 

The WJC got under way today with it's first six games and a lot of people came away shocked by the results. First off, lets look at how things stand:

Asia:       2-0-0

Europe:   2-1-0

World:     1-1-1

Canada:  1-1-0

USA:        0-2-0

 

The pre-tournament coverage from the VSN was spot on so far. They got the order of four of the teams correct, but Asia proved to be even more polarizing than expected. Instead of being the last place team, they are currently undefeated. What is more impressive is that they have handed losses to both Europe and World, the teams many predicted to make the gold medal game. A hot start isn't everything, but when only eight games decide who plays for gold, winning your first to goes a long way.

 

So how do we account for Asia's unexpected success? It seems likely that most teams would be planning against the dominant top line of Asia, but the second line of forward has step up to perform well above what was expected. Five of Asia's eight goals so far have come with the second line forwards on the ice. Ryo Yamazuki II has been on a tear with five points in two games, throwing his name into contention for WJC MVP if he keeps this pace.

 

This second line came in especially clutch in the game against Team Europe. With ten minutes remaining, Europe was up 3-2 after two goals early in the third. Team Asia had been playing in spurts all game, and they were able to sustain some offensive zone pressure. After forcing Sjostrom to cover the puck, they lined up for an offensive zone face-off. Despite losing the draw, Shush Nyko was able to body Kidd off of the puck. Manzer stepped in to lay a perfect pass across to the tape of Yamazuki and a quick shot resulted in the tying goal.

 

Team Asia then followed that up with a goal of the tournament candidate, winning a face-off in their own zone and then working the puck down the ice unimpeded before a sniper shot from the Ovi-Spot by Havlova.

 

You can't talk about over-performing on Asia's roster without mentioning their blue line. Omdahl and Clark have been putting excellent offensive production on the ice, and Manzer and Fitzwell played a major part in Asia's shutdown of Team World's offense. Team world has one of the weaker forward groups in the tournament, but out-shooting a team 47-20 in a measure of defensive dominance.

 

Finally, we have to talk about the goal-tending. When you take one of the best goalies in the VHLM and they continue to perform in a tournament like this, it is hard to call it over-performing. However, it still seems that many had their doubts about Team Asia's goalie situation, so this needs to be said. The kid is for real! Maybe this WJC will finally put Spyro's doubters to rest as he looks not only for a gold here, but also to unseat Saskatoon at the top of the VHLM.

 

We will see how the rest of the games play out, but first-time GM Erik couldn't be happier with how his team has performed this year.

[Cxsquared 455]

[Elmebeck 378]

Watching the WJC is like watching a training session in Saskatoon, all teams are dominated by SSK players.  

[Banackock 8,160]