WJC Team Review

[Zetterberg 863]

Now that the WJC rosters have been announced I decided to take a closer look at the players selected and how well I think each team will preform

 

Starting off with @bigAL's Canadians

 

It's pretty clear looking at team Canada's roster they are a favorite to win this year. They have a very strong offensive core Lead by SS Hornet who is the highest rated player in the tournament who is currently sitting at 21 points in his first VHL season. There power shows when you see that the rest of  their centers are JaredN who is Mississauga's #1 center and Andrew Su one of the Vancouver wolves up and coming stars. There defense isn't anything to laugh at either, it's lead by Alex Letang, Las Vegas' starting d-man. With two returning player Burrows and Letang you can tell they are going to be going as hard as they can to make up for last seasons loss. They are stacked up with high level guys ready to Defend the net at all costs. Speaking of defending the net, Canada has some very solid goaltenders, Starting is Woody McPine The top VHLM team, Minnesota's starting goalie who has had a ton of success this season with a 0.903 save percentage. Backing him up is Jacob Tonn, Mississauga's starting goalie, He has also had a good season having a save percentage of 0.905 and if needed will be a star in net. 

 

 

 

Next up we have @Hylands33 's Team Europe

 

Due to last season's success Hylands has a lot of pressure to succeed this season, fortunately for him he equipped a very solid roster. At the top of his offensive line up is the man with a million trophy's Richard Pension Ottawa's top performing player last season who managed to win 7 trophies. It also features Valtteri Vaakanainen the second highest rated player in the WJC, he is an all star forward who's main strength comes from his Scoring ability and his lock-down defense. The top line also features Mexico city's first liner, Chris Hylands who was drafted first overall in the S72 VHLM dispersal draft. On defense they have Zyrok12 the Malmo Nighthawks next star defense man who was the Yukon Rush's Captain and was a huge part in why they made it to the finals. Paired up with him is Spencer Elsby one of Philadelphia's Co-Captains and top defense men who has been terrorizing forwards all season. Team Europe has only 3 player who played on the team last season but you can be sure they will be hungry to get another taste of the gold. In net Europe is starting Zamboni Driver, Mexico's top goalie who is sporting a nice 0.900. They will defiantly be a force this season.

 

 

Third is my own Team World

 

It's obvious that Team World are the underdogs almost every year they have to select there depth players from Countries out side of Asia, North America, and Europe and then share remaining players with team Asia. Last year World suffered an unfortunate placing ending up in last, however this year does look more promising. Leading the team as core pieces is Aleelee Kiak, Gary Neal, Xaiver Laflammant, and Laterall Mitchell all players who played on team world last year and are ready to get revenge for last season short comings. Although just because players weren't picked up by there original countries doesn't mean they don't have value, take Jer Lefebvre a solid center man who is the Philadelphia reapers Assistant captain who is currently sitting at 43 points and a solid +30 +/- There defense is also nothing to laugh at either as they picked up DeFenz Mann a really solid player who is at 50 points and he is rated higher then 3 of Canada's defense men 2 of USA's and all of Asia's. In net is Grekkark Gyrfalcon and Hex Valentine, they will be alternating games due to how closely rated they are. Gryfalcon is sitting at a 0.900 save percentage while Valentine is at 0.888.

 

 

Moving on to @fonziGG's Team Asia
(World has beef with Asia so this review may be a bit harsh but it's all love)

 

Like World, Asia is considered an underdog in the tournament which holds up this go around. Now I wouldn't be doing a good job without giving them some credit, they do pose a threat having Valdamir Shaposnikov last season's MVP who is also one of Helsinki's rising stars and they also have Jungkok, a kpop icon turned hockey player who is one of Vancouver's rookies, who finished his last vhlm season with 102 points. Also at offence is Kazimir Komerov a highly skilled player who is sure to help Asia try and reach it's goal, he is sitting at 76 points. Their top Defense man isn't bad either, Viktor Alexei Kamenov is a solid piece of Mexico City's players he is a lock-down defense man who has a 29 +/-. where Asia really is lacking is in depth, they have very solid players who are sure to have great careers in the upcoming seasons but as for right now they are not quite at the level of the other contestants, looking at Asia's goalie situation they are starting Bacon, the Miami Marauders top goalie who is still in a development stages of his career is sure to be a solid Goalie for next season, currently he is sitting at a 0.867 save percentage.

 

 

Finally we have @Shaka's Americans

 

Team USA has a lot to prove this season after losing to Asia and Canada last season putting them out of medal placement, This season is looking good however as they have some very solid players playing for them, up at the front lines for offence we have Robin Winter one of Davos's Rookies who left the VHLM with a nice 120 points, they also feature two VHL rookies, Gino Digianntonio who plays for the vancouver wolves and Vin Calia a Moscow Menace Centerman two former S71 Rush Players who managed to help bring the Rush to the Finals that season. On defense they have former teammates General Zod, on of Calgary's newest defense men who finished his VHLM career with 74 points, with him is Randy Marsh one of the Seattle bears Rookies who finished is season with 46 points, What remains to be seen is will the rivalry between Seattle and Calgary effect how well these two play together or will there chemistry from playing on Las Vegas together make them a powerful duo. In net USA has John Poremba  of the Philadelphia Reapers, he has had a solid season so far sitting at 0.894 save percentage.

 To sum it up I would have to say Canada is the team to beat this season however with so much talent in the other teams anyone could take home the gold.

[Banackock 8,049]

Awesome write up buddy @Zetterberg