World Hockey Championships Preview
Some Teams and Players to Watch in Halifax and Quebec City
The IIHF World Hockey Championships are underway in Canada; here's a quick look at some of the contending teams vying for the World title.
For the first time in its 100-year history, the World Hockey Championships is being held in Canada. The hosts will be looking to defend their title and become the first team since 1986 to win it on home ice.
Part I previewed Canada, Russia and the United States. Here's a look at the best of the rest.
Czech Republic
In the past 12 years, the Czech Republic has brought home more world titles (5) than any other team, including Canada (4), their last being in 2005 in Vienna. Once again, the Czechs will be a side to be reckoned with.
Up front, the Czechs boast 7 frontline NHLers, including New Jersey’s Patrik Elias and Buffalo’s Ales Kotalik and could add a couple more depending on how the 2nd round of the NHL playoffs go.
The team’s strength, though, is their blueline corps. Led by Jersey’s Karel Rachunek and Toronto all star Tomas Kaberle, the Czechs will ice a top 6 who all play in the NHL. As with many of the European teams, the Czechs will only go as far as their goaltending takes them. That means they’ll need Milan Hnilicka of the Russian league’s Salavat Yulayev Ufa to stand on his head.
Sweden
For all the great Swedes playing in the NHL, the team they’re sending to the Worlds is surprisingly thin on guys who ply their trade in North America.
While 2 of their 3 goalies are NHLers, it’s worth noting that neither Mikael Telqvist (Phoenix) nor Erik Ersberg (Los Angeles) led their teams to anything but an early spring.
With that in mind, you can’t blame Swedish fans if they looked at their projected defense and started weeping in their meatballs. When the best they can ice is oldster Kenny Jonson and Carolina’s Niclas Wallin, can there be much hope? At least Washington star Nicklas Backstrom will be up front. But there won’t be any Alexander Ovechkin for Backstrom to play with here. Instead, he’ll be surrounded by players mostly out of the Swedish elite league.
Despite it all, the Swedes really do get up for these things. They’re the reigning Olympic champs too, so you can never count them out.
Finland
The Finns are always tough at the Worlds. They were runners-up last year, but have only won the whole enchilada once, in 1995. The Finnish roster is dotted with names familiar to NHL fans (Oiler Joni Pitkanen, Minnesota’s Mikko Koivu and Florida’s Olli Jokinen), as usual, though, they’ll come up short, but not before putting a scare into a few teams.
Best of the Rest
The rest of the nations at the Worlds have almost no chance of getting into the medals. Almost every one of these also-rans, though, can jump up and bite one of the big dogs.
Germany generally underachieves, but they’ll ice some solid NHL players like defenders Christoph Schubert of Ottawa and Carolina’s Dennis Seidenberg and Boston forward Marco Sturm.
L.A. Kings emerging star Anze Kopitar will skate for his native Slovenia while Phoenix Coyote Marcel Hossa suits up for Slovakia. Neutralize them and you’ve neutralized their teams.
Ottawa fall guy Martin Gerber will be between the pipes for the Swiss. Senators’ fans can relieve some of their pent-up bitterness by booing him all over again.
France has only one chance – Capitals goalie Cristobal Huet must stand on his head. Even then, the Flying Frenchmen will probably enjoy Quebec City’s nightlife more than their time on the ice.
And finally, Italy - Their only chance at success happens if Hell gets super hot. Just to be clear, that would be goaltender Gunther Hell.
