WC: Divisions I, II, III

[kaiser matias]

Division IA
Katowice, Poland. April 23-29

Austria
Slovenia
Poland
Japan
Italy
South Korea

Division IB
Zagreb, Croatia. April 17-23

Ukraine
Great Britain
Lithuania
Croatia
Estonia
Romania

Division IIA
Jaca, Spain. April 9-15

Netherlands
Belgium
Serbia
Spain
Iceland
China

Division IIB
Mexico City, Mexico. April 9-15

Australia
New Zealand
Mexico
Bulgaria
Israel
North Korea

Division III
Istanbul, Turkey. March 21-April 9

South Africa
Turkey
Luxembourg
Hong Kong
Georgia
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Click to read more...

 

[kaiser matias]

Division III started today. The IIHF is providing a free live stream of the entire tournament.

The United Arab Emirates were supposed to play as well, but dropped out yesterday; no word yet on why, but usually when that happens teams are forced to forfeit, which the UAE did not do, so may have a legitimate reason for it.

The first day also saw a minor upset, as Bosnia defeated Hong Kong 5-4, which is Bosnia's first win ever in an IIHF match. And as of this the first period of Georgia-Turkey is over, and Georgia is leading 1-0 thanks to a real nice goal by Dumbadze, by far the best Georgian player.

 

[kulenova seka]

Croatia will play with mostly domestic players, just like they did in Olympic qualifications in February. I agree with this, last year's fiasco with bunch of cronucks/foreginers led nowhere...

 

[Eye of Ra]

Please, no more Slovenia, Austria and Italy.

I want Poland and Japan to make it.

 

[Eye of Ra]

The United Arab Emirates were supposed to play as well, but dropped out yesterday; no word yet on why, but usually when that happens teams are forced to forfeit, which the UAE did not do, so may have a legitimate reason for it.

Jihad in Syria. No time for hockey.

 

[kaiser matias]

Jihad in Syria. No time for hockey.

That didn't stop them last year from going. But rumours are that the attack in Brussels may have been a factor, though I'd think the attacks in Istanbul itself may have been even more an issue.

 

[kaiser matias]

That has to hurt for Georgia. Three minutes left in the game and tied with Turkey 4-4, only to let in a real weak goal: Turkish player from behind Georgian net passes to someone being covered, only the Georgian player seemingly wasn't paying attention, as soon as that goal went in he went down like he knew he screwed up. Rough way to lose.

Still, considering Turkey won 13-1 last year against Georgia, got to give credit to the Georgians for playing so well. Hopefully they keep it up the rest of the tournament.

 

[SoundAndFury]

D1B is actually really interesting this year with Ukraine and Croatia playing their ethnic rosters, so to say. Even though it would be even more interesting if Croatia played their Cronuck roster, probably. Division, in theory, would have 4 competitive teams then.

At the same time, D2A is ridiculous with the Netherlands playing there, they will probably have something like +30 goal differential at the end of the tournament.

 

[kabidjan18]

Please, no more Slovenia, Austria and Italy.

I want Poland and Japan to make it.

Well well, do you want good news first or bad news first. Good news is that Italy is going local, Austria is struggling from conflicts of interest within the system, and Slovenia is struggling in general. The bad news is that Austria could probably ascend with a B team, and since injuries and playoffs are getting in the way right now, we'll see if that prediction is right not too long from now.

 

[Maverick41]

That Turkish team is really young. 8 out of 20 players are born 1997 or later.
I hope they do well.

 

[crobro]

If croatia has Rendulic in the lineup it could go their way.

 

[kulenova seka]

If croatia has Rendulic in the lineup it could go their way.

Just like Zubrus promoted Lithuania to D1A two years ago...


Rendulić would be big boost for Croatian offense, no doubt, major asset in attack, but one player can't be such gamebreaker at this level, especially because rest of the team (minus Glumac and Perkovich) are way way behind him in quality.

 

[Urbanskog]

D1B is actually really interesting this year with Ukraine and Croatia playing their ethnic rosters, so to say. Even though it would be even more interesting if Croatia played their Cronuck roster, probably. Division, in theory, would have 4 competitive teams then.

At the same time, D2A is ridiculous with the Netherlands playing there, they will probably have something like +30 goal differential at the end of the tournament.

A good bunch of their players represent Trappers and they are still in the semifinals, likely advancing all the way to the finals so that should narrow the gap a little (although they are still the heavy favorites).

 

[SoundAndFury]

Just like Zubrus promoted Lithuania to D1A two years ago...

Well to be fair, having Zubrus made a massive difference it's just that Poland was just too good that year and this year I really don't think any of the teams are unbeatable runaway favorites like Poles were.

Without Rendulic Croatians can only dream about the medals especially if Lithuanians can get any of their pro centers to play.

 

[kulenova seka]

Well to be fair, having Zubrus made a massive difference it's just that Poland was just too good that year and this year I really don't think any of the teams are unbeatable runaway favorites like Poles were.

Without Rendulic Croatians can only dream about the medals especially if Lithuanians can get any of their pro centers to play.

Even with him it will be tough ! If nothing this tournament will be nice reward for a lot of players that reached finals in U20 EBEL.

Croatia will play two friendly games against Slovenia, on April 8th in Zagreb and four days later second game in Bled (Slo).

 

[kulenova seka]

A good bunch of their players represent Trappers and they are still in the semifinals, likely advancing all the way to the finals so that should narrow the gap a little (although they are still the heavy favorites).

This is off topic, but can they get promoted to DEL 2 ?

 

[Urbanskog]

This is off topic, but can they get promoted to DEL 2 ?

Yes.

 

[kabidjan18]

Celebrate good time come on! Estonia U18 is promoted to D2A to join the others. Must feel good to be on the U18 elevator , but things are looking up for then anyways

 

[Urbanskog]

Nice to see that Georgia and BiH have improved, the results are far more promising than last year.

 

[kaiser matias]

Upset win for Georgia over South Africa, 6-5. South Africa was relegated from Division IIB last year, while Georgia finished fifth in Division III. Second win for them this year, too.

Though worth noting Georgia has a large number of ethnic Russians on their team, and its grown in the past few years, so it may be a case of them naturalising players for the team. Still should be proud that in just their fourth year in the World Championships they have gotten this good (recall they almost defeated Turkey the other day as well, one of the leading teams at this level).

 

[kulenova seka]

Croatian entry list for D1B

GK

Mate Tomljenović – JKH GKS Jastrzebie
Michael Ouzas – EHC Linz
Vilim Rosandić – HC Banska Bystrica
Ivan Ružić – KHL MedveÅ¡čak
Tihomir Filipec – KHL Zagreb

D

Nikola Senzel - KHL MedveÅ¡čak
Marko Tadić - KHL MedveÅ¡čak
Martin PleÅ¡ko – KHL MedveÅ¡čak
Marko Ljubić – KHL Mladost
Jan Smolec – KHL Mladost
Bruno Kegalj – KHL Zagreb
Borna Å ilović – HK Slavija
Igor Jačmenjak – SKHL Crvena Zvezda
Ivan Puzic – HC Vitkovice Steel
Andy Sertich - Stavanger Oilers
Kenny MacAulay

F

Luka Mikulić - KHL MedveÅ¡čak
Ivan Brenčun - KHL MedveÅ¡čak
Ivan Janković – KHL MedveÅ¡čak
Matija Miličić – KHL MedveÅ¡čak
Michael Glumac – KHL MedveÅ¡čak
Nathan Perkovich – KHL MedveÅ¡čak
Tadija Mirić - KHL Mladost
Mislav Blagus - KHL Zagreb
Luka Jarčov– KHL Zagreb
Ivo Kaleb – KHL Zagreb
Tibor Stančić – KHL Zagreb
Borna Rendulić – San Antonio Rampage
Dominik Kanaet – HC Detva
Marko Å akić – Hk Slavija
Luka Vukoja – Sorhaga Alingsas
David Brine - Löwen Frankfurt
Joel Prpic - Brantford

Head coach : Alan Letang

No reason for MacAulay to be here he didn't play whole season. They didn't invite Martinović (WTF), while Sertich's Stavanger just tied series against Storhamar and I don't expect that they lose third straight at home, so no him as well. Prpic's Brantford is at Allan Cup tournament so no EBEL poster boy as well. D will be thin, O should be fine, even very good if Rendulic comes. Goalies...well...Tomljenovic always plays well for NT (except for last season period against Korea in meaningless game). Nice to see Smolec at the list, hopefully he makes the team, played really well in U20 EBEL playoffs.

 

[SoundAndFury]

So U18 D2A is about to start and Poland, which shouldn't really be here in the first place, has Alan Lyszczrczyk on the roster. OHL scorer in U18 D2A This is going to be good. Also, kinda funny, but he nominally plays on the 2nd line. Not good enough for 1st, evidently

Also, not to feed the "Romania = 3rd world country" stereotype but the stream quality is worst I can remember, barely watchable.

Also also, 16 y.o. Dominik Pas with a hat-trick already.

 

[Kschey]

So U18 D2A is about to start and Poland, which shouldn't really be here in the first place, has Alan Lyszczrczyk on the roster. OHL scorer in U18 D2A This is going to be good. Also, kinda funny, but he nominally plays on the 2nd line. Not good enough for 1st, evidently

Also, not to feed the "Romania = 3rd world country" stereotype but the stream quality is worst I can remember, barely watchable.

You'd think the IIHF would set up something decent at least but its really tough to watch. There's smartphones which could provide a better feed

Still watching. Great to see Łyszczarczyk out there. Would be a huge step for our hockey future if our U18 gets promoted.

 

[ozo]

Every year there's at least one tournament that isn't streamed at all, so lets be grateful for this stream.

 

[SoundAndFury]

Overall, the handling Lyszczarczyk seems pretty weird to me. He doesn't play on the first line, he doesn't get first line minutes, his line mates are 16 year-old kid (who fair enough is pretty good) and a guy who is mediocre at best, he didn't get a letter..

It feels like Poland went with "oh well, we don't need you but since you are here.." attitude with a guy who is doing them a favor playing for them in the first place (not to mention in a scrubby tournament like that) and is potentially the face of Polish hockey for the next 2 decades. Not sure if that's the way to go..