U18: 2018 U18 WJC's Magnitogorsk & Chelyabinsk Russia.

[Pan]

Wow. Belarus-Switzerland 5:4, Alistrov with 5 points and we are in the quarterfinals! Great result considering this team have 7 players born in 2001 and 1 born in 2002.

 

[su24]

Belarus looked great against Canada and Sweden as well. This team is trying to put pressure on the top teams in the world and plays a lot in the offensive zone, which is so refreshing after many years of defensively minded hockey of the previous Belarusian teams. They outshot Swiss 33:24. Great win for them.

 

[Belizarius]

So, France, for the 1st ever appearance at this level, will fight Switzerland.
Both teams are ranked 9th and 10th in goals, shots on goals, shots against and goal against.
Should be fun.
It would be absolutely amazing if France managed to stay there. It's a long shot, though.

 

[flemo]

SUI have lost all games so far, but I expect absolutely clear win against France. SUI is on par with Belarus, Slovaks and Czechs currently.

 

[Bookker]

So, France, for the 1st ever appearance at this level, will fight Switzerland.
Both teams are ranked 9th and 10th in goals, shots on goals, shots against and goal against.
Should be fun.
It would be absolutely amazing if France managed to stay there. It's a long shot, though.

Would be so nice to upset Switzerland and stay in the top division
I think it will be really really really difficult though

 

[Belizarius]

Would be so nice to upset Switzerland and stay in the top division
I think it will be really really really difficult though

I don't believe it, honestly. The team struggles to keep the pace more than 30 minutes unfortunately. Duquenne plays well in goal, but is all alone half of the game and it's so tough...
Offensively, not a lot going on, except maybe Pierrick Dubé.

 

[su24]

Wow. Belarusian defenseman Levshunov has played with a broken toe. He missed the game against Sweden, but asked coaches to let him play against Switzerland. He scored a goal with 1:22 remaining to tie the game.

 

[ozo]

Wow, super happy for Belarus. U18 did what I was expecting from their U20 roster in December.

 

[malkinfan]

Great looking Belarus skaters at the U18 and U20 level, terrible goaltending at both levels.

BTW terrible media coverage for this tournament so far. Couldnt even catch a foreign stream of the Belarus game today, no highlights anywhere either.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Finland's roster vs Czech Republic

Starting goalie
31 Justus Annunen
Back-up
30 Jasper Patrikainen
1:line
15 Niklas Nordgren - 9 Jesperi Kotkaniemi - 33 Kaapo Kakko
37 Toni Utunen - 20 Mikko Kokkonen
2: line
10 Rasmus Kupari - 27 Kristian Tanus - 24 Sampo Ranta
2 Santeri Salmela - 29 Kim Nousiainen
3: line
19 Lenni Killinen - 22 Anton Lundell - 12 Leevi Aaltonen
25 Peetro Seppälä - 36 Anttoni Honka
4: line
13 Konsta Hirvonen - 23 Ville Petman - 21 Jesse Moilanen
6 Lassi Thomson
13th Forward
34 Arttu Nevasaari

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Very difficult 1st period for Finland vs Czech Republic.
Best scoring chances came to Czechs 2 times they had wide open net but no luck to get puck in.

Finland's powerplay not work so well as it should.
Czechs defence and goaltending has been very good Finland haven't get many scoring chances or rebounds.

Finland has taken 2 penalties and Czechs 4 penalties.
Goalies saves
Finland 6
Czech Republic 9

 

[Jakk123]

Great looking Belarus skaters at the U18 and U20 level, terrible goaltending at both levels.

BTW terrible media coverage for this tournament so far. Couldnt even catch a foreign stream of the Belarus game today, no highlights anywhere either.

IIHF

Some highlights can be found here.

 

[Jussi]

Nordgren and Kupari with two quick goals in the seconde period to put Finland ahead of the Czechs by two.

 

[Jussi]

Kotkaniemi makes it 3-0, Kakko with the great assist.

Btw, we need a proper game day thread for each days games at least, if there's not enough interest for every game of the day.

 

[FinPanda]

Damn Kakko is good.

 

[kudla]

This finnish team is so good

 

[Jussi]

Proper GDT for all today's games here: http://hfboards.mandatory.com/threads/u-18-wjc-2018-gdt-last-group-games.2481397/

 

[FinPanda]

This finnish team is so good

Yeah. Kristian Tanus also looks like he could be a high pick if he was a bit bigger, Kakko is great, Kotkaniemi, Kupari, Ranta etc. Also I like our defensemen.

 

[Frannel]

This finnish team is so good

I'm rooting for them!!!

 

[Erikfromfin]

Should be 5 first rounders in this team: Honka, Kakko, Kotkaniemi, Kupari, Lundell

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Czech Republic is big troubles with Finland.
Finland leads 4-0 after 2nd period.

There's only one team on the ice right now and it's Finland.
Czechs game look brutal defenceman's can't open the game or make easy passes.

Only who tries to do something for his team is the goalie.
Without his 15 saves in 2nd period this game could be 7-0 or 8-0 for Finland.

Finland's goals in 2nd period
1-0 Nordgren
2-0 Kupari
3-0 Kotkaniemi
4-0 Nordgren.

Goalies saves in 2nd period
Finland 3
Czech Republic 15

 

[Jussi]

Czech Republic is big troubles with Finland.
Finland leads 4-0 after 2nd period.

There's only one team on the ice right now and it's Finland.
Czechs game look brutal defenceman's can't open the game or make easy passes.

Only who tries to do something for his team is the goalie.
Without his 15 saves in 2nd period this game could be 7-0 or 8-0 for Finland.

Finland's goals in 2nd period
1-0 Nordgren
2-0 Kupari
3-0 Kotkaniemi
4-0 Nordgren.

Goalies saves in 2nd period
Finland 3
Czech Republic 15

We have a proper GDT: http://hfboards.mandatory.com/threads/u-18-wjc-2018-gdt-last-group-games.2481397/

 

[Razamanaz]

That Finland right wing chap Killinen (no pun intended!) could fit like a (boxing-) glove in NHL one day or another.

And not only because of his name ...

He sting like a bee and fly like a butterfly.

A real unsung hero - among many - for this great Finland team for sure.

Finland vs Czechs ... one way traffic all around.

Despite the result ended in "only" a 4-2 win for Finland.

The future for Finland hockey seems so damn bright ... that one almost have to wear shades!

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

This finnish team is so good

Yes Finland is good team but very undisciplined too.
Finland has taken lots of idiotic penalties in this tournament.

And if they can't calm-down and play without penalties in medal round games.
Finland won't celebrate any color medal in this Sunday ( April 29th).

 

[kudla]

This birth year was considered our worst not the best, wtf is this