GDT: 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship

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Thompson is the only right handed shot of the 8 dmen Canada is bringing to Edmonton

 

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No surprise, but Veinbergs is going to Edmonton with the Latvian national junior team

 

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Jack Thompson, D, Soo Greyhounds (TBL): Thompson may have made Team Canada in the winter, but a poorly-timed coronavirus outbreak on his team cost him the shot. This time, he’ll be able to play and will do so after a season during which he had 57 points 65 games between the Sudbury Wolves and Soo Greyhounds. He’s got plenty of offensive ability, having scored 21 goals last season. He might have to fight for his ice time on this roster because they’ve got a lot of guys that can do what he does, but he’s a worthy inclusion after the season he just had

Another important thing besides Thompson being a righty is he played on the top pair with Ryan O’Rourke after the trade from Sudbury to the Soo. Having previous chemistry with another player for a short tournament is always valuable.

 

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The defense corps somewhat mirrors the forward group, in that you've got some skill, but also a bunch of guys with size who are not fun to play against. When it comes to puckmoving and offense, look to players like Olen Zellweger (ANA) and Lukas Cormier (VGK) to lead the charge. Jack Thompson (TB) has a big shot from the point and could be a difference-maker. On the other side, you've got a group of two-way players who will keep opponents honest in their own zone: Ryan O'Rourke (MIN), Donovan Sebrango (DET) and Daemon Hunt (MIN), among them.

 

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Thompson practicing on the 3rd pair for Canada and Veinbergs playing the pre-tournament games as the #1 center for Latvia

 

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It's the first time Latvia has played in the top level of the World Juniors since 2017, and being placed in a group with the second-place (Canada) and third-place (Finland) finishers from 2021 won't help their cause. Three players on the roster have been drafted by NHL teams, including forward Klavs Veinbergs (Tampa Bay Lightning). He had seven points (four goals, three assists) in nine playoff games to help Zemgale win the championship in Latvia's top professional league. It will take a lot for Latvia to win a game, but with no relegation round to worry about, the experience the players gain could help them for the 2023 WJC.

 

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Canada plays their only exhibition game tonight before the tournament starts tomorrow. Doesn’t look like this game will be broadcast either

 

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Jack Thompson - D - Thompson is the sole righty shot on Canada’s blueline and should be looked at as a prime candidate for the power play. One of the tournament’s older players, Thompson was responsible for 21 regular season goals in the OHL this past season and added another six goals and 14 points in just nine playoff games for the Soo St. Marie Greyhounds, making him one the top goal-scoring defenceman whatsoever in the CHL last season. Look for Canada to maximize on exactly this attribute.

Latvia​

The whole team is new to the tournament, so there’ll be plenty of young men looking to make a name for themselves on the international stage, particularly defenseman Niks Fenenko and drafted forwards Dans Locmelis, Klas Veinbergs, and Sandis Vilmanis.

 

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Veinbergs plays at 6pm ET tonight

Game is on both TSN and NHL Network

 

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Finland up 2-0 mid way through the 1st period. As you can guess, Finland has had the puck most of the game and Latvia has been constantly defending. Veinbergs with a few faceoff wins vs Raty, but not much else going on.

 

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Finland takes a penalty. Veinbergs on the 1st unit and not wasting any time takes 2 big one timers from the right circle early in the PP

 

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Latvia takes a penalty. Veinbergs on the 2nd pk unit. Out covering Lambert in the high slot and didn't quite get out there, and Lambert scores. 3-0 Finland

Edit:

 

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Finland leads 4-0 after 2 periods but Latvia will start the 3rd on the pp.

 

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Veinbergs scores! Big one timer with 6 seconds left on the pp gets Latvia on the board

edit:

 

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Finland wins 6-1

An uphill battle for Latvia against a talented Finnish team, as expected. Doesn't get any easier when they play Canada tomorrow night. They played a lot in their own zone, and didn't have much going on offensively outside of their PP chances. With Veinbergs, his dzone play needs work, especially as a center. He tried to reverse hit a much smaller Kasper Simontaival who still sent Veinbergs to the ice. Simontaival is over 20 years old, so there are a lot more physically developed and experienced players in this tournament. Skating looks alright though, TSN had said he won 5 of 6 faceoffs in the 1st period, and obviously he has a decent shot. Good to get a baseline for him since he'll be back here in December for the 2023 tournament. This is all good experience.

 

[Felonious Python]

 

[Stormbreaker]

Kurt Angle's favorite hockey player.

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

 

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Not a lot of people here to see the home team.

Time to move em

 

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Veinbergs gets the opening draw against the McTavish line, and wins it.

 

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As was the case yesterday, another 20+ year old William Dufour completely knocks Veinbergs down and takes the puck from him. Veinbergs having some trouble with the strength/physicality of players in this tournament.

 

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Shots on goal are 18-4 Canada, but the score is tied 1-1 after 20

 

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Thompson picks up an assist on a Canada PP goal to put them up 2-1.

Thompson playing to his strengths by being used on Canada's pp. Super comfortable handling and distributing the puck quickly

Edit:

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

Latvians get their first pp of the game

Thompson comes out with Canada’s pk unit