First, Merry Xmas to all those celebrating. Thanks to all who come on and read and/or comment on the blog. Hope everyone has a great holiday.
Rangers had four players make the final rosters for the World Junior Championships. The 2019 begins on Boxing Day, or December 26 for those outside of Canada, with the gold medal game on January 5, 2019. All four players were selected in 2018. Kravtsov went ninth overall, Miller 22nd, Lundkvist 28th and Gross 101st. New York had six players in camp, but two - Joey Keane (USA) and Jacob Ragnarsson (Sweden) failed to make their team's respective final roster, the most since 2009-10, which had two pretty good names in the tournament.
Update: Jacob Ragnarsson was just cut, leaving the Rangers with 4 players, which is still the most since 2009-2010. #NYR https://t.co/CIDIe7lLde
— Stat Boy (@StatBoy_Steven) December 23, 2018
K'Andre Miller - Team USA
Congrats to #NYR prospect K’Andre Miller on representing @usahockey at the #WorldJuniors! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/womauCupXm
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 23, 2018
Full Team USA Roster:
Final 2019 U.S. National Junior Team roster announced → https://t.co/Fciqi39QrJ#USAWJC 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/1KnupuoTnC
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) December 23, 2018
Vitali Kravtsov - Team Russia
Russia's lines vs. Switzerland tonight. Chekhovich listed as extra F after suffering an injury. Think he's unlikely for the tournament. They need to cut 2 D and 4 F given Bragin likes to have 12F/8D lineups. pic.twitter.com/4w7vTRw1i3
— Corey Pronman (@coreypronman) December 24, 2018
Official Team Russia announcement
⚡СпиÑок игроков, которые могут Ñыграть на МЧМ, ÑократилÑÑ Ð´Ð¾ 25 хоккеиÑтов⚡
— Хоккей РоÑÑии (@russiahockey) December 25, 2018
Ðа первом заÑедании директората команды должны внеÑти в заÑвку минимум 15 полевых игроков и 2-Ñ… вратарей. Рокончательную заÑвку на турнир Ñформируют 23 хоккеиÑта.
Подробнее: https://t.co/xQgzi4lSiB pic.twitter.com/UnpiCmYJcV
Kravtsov to wear an A on jersey:
It's been confirmed that Klim Kostin will captain the under 20 Russian national team at the 2019 World Junior Championship, while Vitaly Kravtsov and Dmitry Samorukov wear the "A" on their jerseys:https://t.co/GtY2H2erOY pic.twitter.com/ocfdLqxNW7
— Russia Hockey (@russiahockey_en) December 26, 2018
Nils Lundkvist - Team Sweden:
SWE's WJC roster:
— Corey Pronman (@coreypronman) December 23, 2018
F: Bemstrom Fagemo Sodergran Back Sveningsson Olofsson Hallander Lundestrom Elvenes Hugg Gustafsson Zetterlund Holmberg
D: Boqvist Ginning Sandin Lundqvist Brannstrom Westerlund Broberg
G: Eriksson Ek Ersson Ahman
Nico Gross - Team Switzerland:
Congrats to #NYR prospect Nico Gross on representing 🇨🇠at the #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/nkZhx32SxT
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 24, 2018
Official Swiss team announcement:
Das finale Kader der #U20 für die #WorldJuniors steht!https://t.co/04wd8cdbQs pic.twitter.com/8HcvYTgfQs
— Swiss Ice Hockey (@SwissIceHockey) December 24, 2018
Kravtsov, who is having an excellent season for Traktor Chelyabinsk (KHL), was tagged by Bob McKenzie as one to watch in the tourney not from Team Canada. I think many of us believe Miller, excelling for the University of Wisconsin, should also be on that list. Lundkvist and Gross are not of the same ilk as Kravtsov and Miller but each should play keys roles for their respective teams.
#WorldJuniors players to watch, non-🇨🇦 category ... @TSNBobMcKenzie on:
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) December 25, 2018
🇺🇸 Jack Hughes (2019)
🇺🇸 Quinn Hughes (#Canucks)
🇨🇿 Filip Zadina (#LGRW)
🇫🇮 Eeli Tolvanen (#Preds)
🇷🇺 Vitaly Kravtsov (#NYR)https://t.co/3lMcjfRF7C
Craig Button's preview:
BUTTON’S BRACKETOLOGY:
— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) December 24, 2018
🏒 Will Canada 🇨🇦 repeat?
🏒 Will a heavyweight go down early?
🏒 Will an unsuspecting nation shock the hockey world? @CraigJButton reveals how he sees the #WorldJuniors breaking down...#TSNHockey pic.twitter.com/5n3tkDiMFq
Full Tourney Schedule, including airing network in US and Canada:
Ready for the #WorldJuniors to get underway? Here's the full tournament schedule with games starting this afternoon: https://t.co/be1XSZKx9Z
— NHL (@NHL) December 26, 2017
Mika Zibanejad Golden Goal in 2012:
#WorldJuniors start today!
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 26, 2018
Watch Mika's 'Golden Goal' for 🇸🇪 in 2012! pic.twitter.com/Oy0fY0HMcY