connor macdavid
Press Box Rat
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THIS IS IT.
Opening night for the World League. A tripleheader of epic proportions.
But first, let's get straight into our season preview:
Gretzky Conference
While the top four of the Conference are pretty much set (Canada, US, Finland, Switzerland), it really is anyone's game for the final four playoff spots. Norway and Latvia seem to be the 5th- and 6th-best teams in the conference, but both of them have some serious doubts in net. Italy, spearheaded by youngster Matteo Pollari on the backend, could hop into the playoffs if their goaltending holds up.
The bottom of the conference is a mad scramble as teams that simply won't compete with the top-tier teams will try and sneak into the playoffs through the backdoor. Sleepers are Japan and Korea.
Predictions:
1. Canada
2. USA
3. Switzerland
4. Finland
5. Norway
6. Latvia
7. Kazakhstan
8. Italy
-----------------
9. Belarus
10. Hungary
11. Japan
12. Korea
13. Romania
14. Poland
15. Croatia
KHARLAMOV CONFERENCE
The Kharlamov Conference is probably a little bit deeper than the Gretzky in terms of good-calibre teams, however towards the bottom of the conference there are some, simply-put atrocious teams. Sweden and Russia have to the two odds-on favorites to win the conference, while 3rd to about 7th are wide-open. The sleeper player to watch is Ireland's Angus O'Brian. Towards the bottom of the conference, Spain and Lithuania will really struggle.
Predictions
1. Sweden
2. Russia
3. Slovakia
4. Czech Republic
5. Germany
6. Denmark
7. France
8. Austria
---------------
9. Slovenia
10. Great Britain
11. Ukraine
12. Ireland
13. Netherlands
14. Lithuania
15. Spain
---------------------------------------------------
Created Players
Name - Country - Position - Age - Team Role
Chris Stennermann - Germany - LW - 21 - 3rd Liner
Chibi Pooky - South Korea - LW - 21 - 2nd Liner
Kurtis Alston - Canada - RW - 19 - 4th Liner
Max Vassart - France (via Belgium) - LW - 23 - 2nd Liner
Patrick Meier - Switzerland - RW - 20 - 3rd Liner
Elijah O'Bannon - Ireland - LW - 17 - 2nd Liner
Jack Thompson - Great Britain - D - 20 - 2nd Pair
Matteo Pollari - Italy - D - 21 - 1st Pair
Deaglan O'Connor - Ireland - C - 20 - 1st Liner
Sean O'Connor - Ireland - D - 19 - 2nd Pair
Angus O'Brian - Ireland - RW - 27 - 1st Liner
Keenly Frets - Latvia - D - 18 - 2nd Pair
Nicholas Franchuk - Great Britain - C - 19 - 2nd Liner
Dmitry Kholatsyev - Japan - RW - 18 - 2nd Liner
Gardner McKay - Ireland - D - 20 - 2nd Pair
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Without further ado, let's get you set for the first three games of the World League!
2PM - Finland vs. Sweden
5PM - USA vs. Ireland
8:30PM - Canada vs. Russia
THIS IS IT.
Opening night for the World League. A tripleheader of epic proportions.
But first, let's get straight into our season preview:
Gretzky Conference
While the top four of the Conference are pretty much set (Canada, US, Finland, Switzerland), it really is anyone's game for the final four playoff spots. Norway and Latvia seem to be the 5th- and 6th-best teams in the conference, but both of them have some serious doubts in net. Italy, spearheaded by youngster Matteo Pollari on the backend, could hop into the playoffs if their goaltending holds up.
The bottom of the conference is a mad scramble as teams that simply won't compete with the top-tier teams will try and sneak into the playoffs through the backdoor. Sleepers are Japan and Korea.
Predictions:
1. Canada
2. USA
3. Switzerland
4. Finland
5. Norway
6. Latvia
7. Kazakhstan
8. Italy
-----------------
9. Belarus
10. Hungary
11. Japan
12. Korea
13. Romania
14. Poland
15. Croatia
KHARLAMOV CONFERENCE
The Kharlamov Conference is probably a little bit deeper than the Gretzky in terms of good-calibre teams, however towards the bottom of the conference there are some, simply-put atrocious teams. Sweden and Russia have to the two odds-on favorites to win the conference, while 3rd to about 7th are wide-open. The sleeper player to watch is Ireland's Angus O'Brian. Towards the bottom of the conference, Spain and Lithuania will really struggle.
Predictions
1. Sweden
2. Russia
3. Slovakia
4. Czech Republic
5. Germany
6. Denmark
7. France
8. Austria
---------------
9. Slovenia
10. Great Britain
11. Ukraine
12. Ireland
13. Netherlands
14. Lithuania
15. Spain
---------------------------------------------------
Created Players
Name - Country - Position - Age - Team Role
Chris Stennermann - Germany - LW - 21 - 3rd Liner
Chibi Pooky - South Korea - LW - 21 - 2nd Liner
Kurtis Alston - Canada - RW - 19 - 4th Liner
Max Vassart - France (via Belgium) - LW - 23 - 2nd Liner
Patrick Meier - Switzerland - RW - 20 - 3rd Liner
Elijah O'Bannon - Ireland - LW - 17 - 2nd Liner
Jack Thompson - Great Britain - D - 20 - 2nd Pair
Matteo Pollari - Italy - D - 21 - 1st Pair
Deaglan O'Connor - Ireland - C - 20 - 1st Liner
Sean O'Connor - Ireland - D - 19 - 2nd Pair
Angus O'Brian - Ireland - RW - 27 - 1st Liner
Keenly Frets - Latvia - D - 18 - 2nd Pair
Nicholas Franchuk - Great Britain - C - 19 - 2nd Liner
Dmitry Kholatsyev - Japan - RW - 18 - 2nd Liner
Gardner McKay - Ireland - D - 20 - 2nd Pair
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Without further ado, let's get you set for the first three games of the World League!
2PM - Finland vs. Sweden
5PM - USA vs. Ireland
8:30PM - Canada vs. Russia
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