2005 World Junior Hockey Championship Thread

[Red Baron 0]

Today was day one of the tournament, as Canada opened up the tournament with a victory against Slovakia 7-3.

 

Though I watched most of the game, I was impressed by our offence, but our defence is questionable, and we need to stay away from the penelty box.

[Slovakia 0]

You haven't heard the last of me.

[Guest Rrrsh]

Our D is suspect, as well as our Goaltending.

 

In general, tho, I am not worried untill the Semi's.

[Brush with Greatness 0]

Oh, give me a break guys. The defense isn't suspect at all. Phaneuf-Weber is by far the best D pairing in the tourney. Coburn-Belle are right up there as well. The problem is that Syvret and Barker are both too offensively oriented to be playing together (don't remember if they were playing together yesterday or not). However, once Seabrook is back, that should shore things up nicely. Seabrook should take Barker's spot alongside Syvret and Barker can be dropped back to a 7th D/powerplay specialist. By far, Canada's boys are the best defensive unit in the tourney. When it comes down to crunch time, Phaneuf-Weber are going to be out there pretty much every other shift and we have nothing to worry about.

 

Admittedlly, they did look somewhat nervous at times. The discipline (as far as defensive minded not penalty wise) wasn't there yesterday that they showed in the Winnipeg games, but I think the fact that this was the first game that actually "meant something" had a lot to do with that. You can bet the coaches will have the D more settled for Sweden's game and things should be a lot tighter.

 

Glass also looked shaky. Some of that may have been nerves as well though. Even though I think Beauchemin is his equal, Sutter is doing the right thing by coming back with Glass tomorrow. A switch would really hurt Glass' confidence and burn him for the tournament.

 

I can't believe its just over a week away before I head down to Grand Forks for the gold medal game. So pumped.

[Guest AllCanadian]

I mean this in the most hetro way possible, Watching Sidney Crosby play hockey gives me a boner.

[Red Baron 0]

If Phaneuf and Webber are the best in the tourney, this is going to be a high scoring tournament.

[Highland 0]

Hopefully they win back the gold and erase that abberation from last year.

[Brush with Greatness 0]

If Phaneuf and Webber are the best in the tourney, this is going to be a high scoring tournament.

You seriously contend that there is a better defensive pair in the tournament than Phaneuf and Weber?

 

Just out of curiousity, who might they be.

 

Actually attending the Finland and Swiss games and watching the way these two control the ice was amazing. Phaneuf-Meech last year were excellent but they had the benefit of being teammates in Red Deer. Phaneuf-Weber are every bit as good and the next few games will just show that.

[Red Baron 0]

I don't think any team has great defence. Yes Canada has the best in the tournament, but it doesn't say much. Sometimes the defence has been looking where the body is going not the puck, and are more concerned to get the body out of the play, instead of the puck.

 

It all comes down to goaltending, and Al Montoya is the best goalie in the tournament, and I wouldn't be surprised if USA will repeat. I do like Glass as the starter, and his puck handling skills is somewhat similar to Brodeur.

[Red Baron 0]

After watching that game, the Swedes look horrible out there.

[Brush with Greatness 0]

Well, obviously it has nothing to do with Canada. Sweden didn't seem to fare too badly against Germany though. And on a side note, the Americans really appeared to struggle with the Swiss, who Canada toyed with in a 5-0 victory.

 

My biggest fear is that we (Canada) will have to face the second best team in the tournament in the semis (that being the Russians). America beat the Russkies, but Russia are typically slow starters and don't start to really pull their shit together until it starts to mean something.

 

Back to Canada's defense, I fail to understand how you sell them short. This may actually be the best defense that we have ever iced at a World Junior tournament. I'm not basing this on the two games so far, but rather on the two games, two exhitions, intersquad and university exhibition game, along with two practises that I've taken in.

 

The squad is comparable to the 2001 group in that it has a lot of returning guys and is high quality but as a whole is better.

 

The only defense that I can think would compare with these guys to my memory is the '96 group. Admittedly, '95 was more star studded and went on to better things but that '96 group were awesome in the tourney.

 

The defence this year compared to last year is light years apart.

 

Phaneuf, Coburn, Belle and Seabrook (when he gets fully healthy) are all a year older and much improved. Last year they had Gorges, Klein and Meech. This year its Weber, Barker and Syvret. Weber is a better D than Meech (although Meech was really good at this level). Gorges was a solid 6th D, but overall Barker and Syvret are far better than Gorges and Klein.

[Red Baron 0]

Oh, I do think its better than last year's defence.

 

I'm not selling out the Canadian defence, its just there's a lot of countries in this tournament that has an explosive offense, that can break the Canadian D.

[Brush with Greatness 0]

So far, the only team that would potentially scare me is Russia, but I have not seen enough of them to figure if those fears are justified. I don't think the American's can handle Canada at all.

 

No offence, but I until he proves otherwise, I think Al Montoya is vastly overrated. Montoya is in the same boat as Fleury, in the sense that their star was built on one good tournament. It seems these days that if the right goalie gets hot at the right time (that time being the WJC) they are automatically touted as the next big thing. As it is, I think Fleury was overrated going into last years tournament and the same can be said of Montoya and this years tournament.

 

The thing is, after all of these big wins (6-0, 5-0, 7-3, 8-1, 9-0) some credit needs to start being given to Canada, rather than these teams aren't that good. The Swiss proved they are decent against the U.S. and I don't think Finland or Sweden will prove to be all that bad when it comes down to it. I think Canada is just that dominate. They potentially have three number one lines and there is no reason why this team shouldn't score a minimum of 6 goals a game, and that includes against Russia and the U.S. and the defense and goaltending is strong enough that they shouldn't allow more than three to anyone.

 

I also think you'll find the D more stable with the return of Seabrook. If Canada decides to slide Seabrook in permanently with Coburn, that gives them the two best defensive pairs in the tournament, which they can then just roll while throwing in 5,6, and 7 into the mix occasionally.

[Red Baron 0]

The Swiss is the most unpredicatable team in the tourney. I've always liked them, and they can play upset in this whole tournament.

 

I agree with Montoya, I don't think he's the best goalie that everyone claims him to be, but he's the best goalie in this tournament. Glass looks rattled at times, but I love how he plays the puck outside the net area. Tons of confidence and seeing a goalie handling a puck well, can create more offensive chances.

 

The Fins will capture bronze this year, as they are more of a threat than Russia. Russia game against the States wasn't all that impressive, and watching some highlights, there has been anything exciting other than Ovechkin. The team will fall apart after the round robin.

[Brush with Greatness 0]

I don't really ever take the Russians round robin performance seriously.

 

In 2002 when the beat Canada for the Gold, they opened that tournament up with a 5-1 win over France (who Canada ousted a day early 15-0) before following that up with a 2-1 loss to the Fins and a 5-2 loss to Canada.

 

In 1999 when they again beat Canada in the final, they opened with a 4-2 loss to Sweden.

 

But who really knows because other years they'll blow through the round robin 4-0.

 

I figure that when the chips are on the line though, between them and the American's, they are the much better team.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Regarding Glass' shakiness:

 

to Beuachemin, who looked good tonight. Didn't look great with his stick, but the last goalie I saw use his stick was Brodeur, so hindsight is 20-20. Beauchemin was probably nervous too, especially near the end, as Pierre Maguire pointed out.

 

Speaking of, was he starting to get on anyone else's nerves too?

[Red Baron 0]

Maguire is annoying, and they can find someone else.

 

Though I prefer him than Scott Morrison or any of the Sportsnet crew.

[Urban Warfare 0]

Belarus scored a weak goal, USA changed their goalie, back to Montoya, and Belarus proceeds to score on a wrister from center ice. 4-1 Belarus.

[Urban Warfare 0]

It is over, Belarus has won by a score of 5-3, but the USA can still win it's pool.

[Guest AllCanadian]

It is over, Belarus has won by a score of 5-3, but the USA can still win it's pool.

That was one of the most uninspired efforts in recent memory. One home ice none the less. And then they try to be tough guys by starting a ruckus. International Hockey 101 is to be sportsmanlike especially after you got embarassed by the worst team in the tourny on home ice. Punching some European in the face won't solve anything.

[Prophet of Mike Zagurski 0]

Do you believe in miracles? Belarus wins!

 

Oh well, at least USA made it in the playoffs.

[nl5xsk1 0]

Last night's game was the first US game that I didn't get to watch (Wednesday belongs to LOST, even when they're showing re-runs) but I watched the game in commercials and have to say that while Montoya might be over-rated, he's much better than Schneider. (I don't get why BC is giving Schneider so much playing time, I think that they're stronger when Kaltiainen is in net)

 

The blue-line shot that Montoya gave up was pretty much just because he wasn't ready yet ... if he'd been playing the entire game, he'd have most likely made that save.

 

I guess that I really can't blame the US for playing Schneider last night, though, you have to rest Montoya some time, and the Belarus game is as good a choice as any.

[Red Baron 0]

The US had so many mistakes in the game, and it just cost them. If they are having mental errors throughout the tournament, they aren't going far in the next round.

[Urban Warfare 0]

The USA-CZE game has been a thriller thus far. Back and forth action but more so for the Americans as they are doing everything but score the tying goal.

[Brush with Greatness 0]

Well, Russia is starting to pull it together in typical fashion as the tournament wears on.

 

Russia first, USA third. Nice. Looks like we avoid either until at least the final, which also means that it should be one of them in the final, which is great because those are our two biggest rivals.

 

It's funny that the U.S. goaltending was touted by so many as the best in the tournament heading into it when I think anyone in the know knew that they were overrated.

 

I wouldn't be surprised to see Finland again in the semifinal as they should put forth a much better effort against the Czechs.

 

Also, bad news as Barker is gone for the tourney. Where this really hurts is on the P.P. Hopefully Seabrook is healthy and can fill the hole. They tried Getzlaf back there today (as well as against the Swiss in Winnipeg) but my concern there is definetly his skating, especially when it comes down to having to face the swift Russians. No way will Getzlaf play a regular shift on D, but I think Getzlaf is too much of a liability on the point to even play powerplay against some teams.

 

Glass still scares me a bit. He drops way too early on shots and doesn't have a strong enough butterfly to compensate for that. Overall, I think Rejean is capable of playing better games, but his biggest problem is consistency. Ever since at least midget he's been a streaky goalie. He also has a tendency to get down on himself after giving up bad goals, so as it is Glass is probably the safer bet.

[Red Baron 0]

Glass is better at handling the puck than Beaucheman.

[Urban Warfare 0]

So it looks like Canada v Russia for the Gold. Canada should have a large amount of the crowd support so that is an advantage.

[Red Baron 0]

I didn't watch the Canada/Czech game cause of work (and I can't get to watch the gold medal game either) so this blows.

 

How did Canada played, and from what I've heard Bergeron and Crosby didn't score, which is great, because they are getting their offense from different outlets.

[Brush with Greatness 0]

We'll I'm glad Marek Schwarz redeemed himself. I told a friend last June that he should have gone ahead of Montoya and believe that if not for his two games against Canada in last year's WJC he would have.

 

I feel justified now in my conclusion that Schwarz was the best goalie heading into the tournament. I don't think Montoya is as bad as he looked, but hopefully he will stop getting a lot of the undeserving praise he's been receiving over the past year. I guess the two will go head to head in the Bronze game and hopefully Marek holds up. A win there for the Czech should solidify him with the directorate award.

 

As for the final, it is indeed Russia v. Canada. As I said earlier, shortly after their loss to the U.S., was that I still felt that Russia was the team that Canada would have the most trouble with. I was somewhat hoping for a U.S. v. Canada final as the atmosphere live would have been phenomenal, but after hearing about the Russian antics at the end of the semi, even the Americans at the Gold medal game should be rared up.

 

I'm glad Sutter is saying fuck it to rotating the D evenly, and like I noted earlier, going to Weber and Phaneuf for half the game. I don't think those two have been scored on yet (again, don't know why there was the critiscm of the Canadian D earlier- 6 goals in 5 games ain't bad, only 11 s.o.g. against the likely Bronze medalists), and Malkin and Ovenchin should see a lot of those two. Again, it will be up to Glass to prove himself. Canada should have the firepower to win, and I don't foresee the Russian goaltender pulling off some of the saves that Schwarz made.

 

A few other notes: Phil Kessel has impressed me. That kid is exciting and he seems to have a Mike Modano thing going for him. As a late '87, Kessel is a top prospect for the 2006 draft. However, another kid to watch out for then is Jonathon Toews. If Team Western ends up making the World Under 17 Championships, try to sit down and check out the final on TSN Wednesday night just to check him out.

 

Also, I'm potentially looking to make a few signs for the gold medal game if I get around to it, so watch out for either of these...

 

T hank you

S anta for no

N HL

 

and on the side I will have "Wishlist" with Bergeron, Phaneuf, Carter, etc under it.

 

Other possible sign is

 

"We were in Winnipeg in '99 and we've come for revenge" or something along those lines maybe shortened. Any other suggestions?

[Red Baron 0]

The thing is though, look who Canada had to play against in the round robin? Most of those games is almost like shinny out there, thats the only reason I was worried, maybe they were too relaxed, and it showed against Slovakia I found. Maybe its just that Sweden or Finland did not have the talent they usually have.

 

Brush:

 

My cousin is playing for Team Ontario. Nathan Martine of the Barrie Colts, and I haven't checked on the stats today, I know he has 1 goal 1 assist in the tournament, which is good for a D-Man.