S72 WJC Update #2

[hylands 845]

Welcome back to another season of the World Junior Championship; as such, it is time for another Daily Review! These series are about best players, surprises, and let downs from the most recent games. Stick around and follow us, as VSN is here to be the media outlet for you and your entertainment!

     

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WJC Update #1|Under 250|Ringless|VHL Weekly

 

Day 2 of the World Junior Championships provided us with some intense games that were vital in determining how the standings look right now. Team USA has shaken off their shock loss to Team Asia and are perched firmly atop the standings with 16 points and a 6 point lead over 2nd placed Team Europe, who has a game in hand on them. Middle of the pack Team Canada appears to be struggling, unable to find any consistency. Team Asia went on the biggest slide today, falling all the way from 1st to 4th after losing all 3 games they played. Rounding up the teams are Team World, still looking for their first win, they have only a single point through 5 games.

 

Team United States of America

Team USA has shown to the world that they are a force to be reckoned with. This team’s offence is firing on all cylinders and they are dismantling opponents on sheer offensive prowess alone. Sporting the top three point-getters in the tournament in Jack Feriancek, Mickey Dickson, and Adam Syreck it’s no secret what the game plan for Team USA is. Perhaps fuelled by revenge, they marched out as 5-1 victors against Team Asia in a game that they dominated from start to finish. Two quick goals early in the game from Dickson and Feriancek really put Team Asia on their heels and they never really got into the game. Not quite as dominant of performance but their game against arch-rivals Team Canada was one for the ages. A back and forth contest which had each team giving everything they had until the very last whistle. This game had five lead changes and Team USA had the last laugh as Vin Calia potted the game-winner on the power play midway through the 3rd period. Next, in what we can probably safely label as the game of the tournament, Team USA knocked off Team Europe 8-7 in an absolutely insane contest. 53 shots to 48 for the Americans in another back and forth game had everybody clamouring for more. As is usual in these tournament games, special teams played a big factor as Lucas Brandt scored the game-winning goal short-handed.

 

Team Europe

Another solid day from the Europeans and they will be sleeping happily knowing they are in 2nd place. After being taken to a shootout by Team World earlier in the tournament, Team Europe set out to crush any doubts of their abilities in their second game. Gregg Stallion had a solid game, scoring two goals and earning the first star as he helped Team Europe see off Team World 5-1. They lost a heartbreaking game to Team USA after putting up 7 goals, so they definitely have some work to do on the defensive side of things. Valtteri Vaakanainen had 4 helpers and he is tied for 3rd place in tournament scoring, so it looks like they can count on their star man to produce going forward which could very well be their key to success. Their final game against Team Asia didn’t look to be going their way until a remarkable 3rd-period comeback. A great never say die attitude was on display and they were able to secure the comeback victory after Richard Penisson linked up with Chris Hylands with under two minutes to go in the game.

 

Team Canada

Consistency is hard to come by for Team Canada this year. Another average day for the Canadians as they lose one and win one, and they are planted firmly in the middle of the pack. Having said that it’s not all doom and gloom for this squad. All of their losses have been by one goal and one would think that the puck luck will have to go their way soon. However, with this being such a short tournament they have got to make some luck of their own. SS Hornet and Alex Letang led the way for Team Canada in a tough 5-4 loss to Team USA. They showed great tenacity to tie the game up on three separate occasions but the offensive juggernauts in Team USA were too much to handle. Their game against the surprise of the tournament so far, Team Asia, was a much better result and they wound up on the right side of a 3-1 game in which Joe Exotic had two goals including the game-winner. With three games remaining for Team Canada they have to be targeting three wins, as anything less will have them on a tough path to the finals.

 

Team Asia

After starting off the tournament on the highest of highs, Team Asia finds themselves on day 2, experiencing the lowest of lows. They never really got going in their game against Team USA and were in a 3-0 hole very quickly. Jeremy Lin picked up his first goal of the tournament in this 5-1 loss. It seems to be goalscoring that is Team Asia’s Achilles heel, they have a solid defensive core and are fine on that end, but the bulk of their goal scoring has come from three main players in Shaposhnikov, Jungkok, and Komarov. They are going to need their second and third line players to step up and put some points on the board if they want to find any long term success at this tournament. They found that scoring touch against Team Europe, but their defensive play took a hit as they eventually lost this one 6-5. James Rose and Viktor Mjers got their first goals which is a sign that maybe Team Asia is trending in the right direction and they may still surprise some folks after being written off by many.

 

Team World

The window is nearly shut for Team World already. With just a single point and not a win to their name, you can pretty much count this team out. It’s clear to see this team just hasn’t scored enough and has conceded way too many. Outside of their top 3 players, there just hasn’t been enough contribution to winning games. When they have their secondary scorers contributing, they will find much more success, as was on display in their game against Team USA. Jeffrey Pines will be happy to have scored his first goal and point of the tournament and likewise for Cassius Gardner who also scored his first of the tournament. They still came up short, however, as Team USA managed to pepper their goal with 65 shots. Team World just can’t seem to get the balance right and they are cemented firmly at the bottom of the standings as we wrap up day 2.

 

That will be all for today’s World Junior’s update. Please join us tomorrow with @Mr_Hatter recapping the day's action.

 

Spoiler

Players Mentioned: @Jackie4967@Brewins15@Spade18@VinCal@twists@SweatyBeaver@bluesfan55@Jubo07@McWolf@Spartan@Joe Exotic@jman9theman9@ng1291@tfong@Gooningitup@MattyIce@InstantRockstar@rory@jhatty8

 

Edited June 10, 2020 by Hylands33

[VinCal 112]

Great stuff. Where can we find the tournament standings?

 

[Jubo 1,839]

6 minutes ago, VinCal said:

Great stuff. Where can we find the tournament standings?

https://vhlportal.com/VHLM/WJHC/72/Standing.php

[VinCal 112]

thank you

[rory 1,915]

1 goal, that's good eats

[bluesfan55 103]

i heard ppg penisson