T-minus eight days and I will be Sweden-bound to give you all the information you can handle regarding on the 2014 World Junior Championship from Malmo, Sweden. My main focus will be on Team USA, but I'll also have coverage of Team Canada since they're in the same group and a smattering of info on the other eight teams in the tournament. If there's anything you'd like to see/hear/read while I'm there, speak now. I will do my best to deliver!
In the meantime, Team USA will play Minnesota State tonight in a pre-tournament game to help the powers that be trim the roster. With six cuts coming, they expect to send at least three players home after tonight game, which you can watch live through Minnesota State's website starting at 8pm ET. Watching from the stands tonight are forwards Riley Barber, JT Compher, Andrew Copp, Nic Kerdiles, Danny O'Regan, defenseman Matt Grzelcyk and goaltender Thatcher Demko who will all be making the trip to Sweden, but are not yet officially on the roster. There are two more pre-tournament games against Sweden and Finland on Friday and Sunday, with the final roster expected to be announced on Monday the 23rd.
Here are the lines for tonight's game:
Stefan Matteau - Vince Hinostroza - Henrik Samuelsson Adam Erne - Jack Eichel - Ryan Hartman Tyler Motte - Quentin Shore - Hudson Fasching Ryan Fitzgerald - Zach Stepan - Tommy DiPauli
Will Butcher - Connor Carrick Brady Skjei - Brett Pesce Ian McCoshen - Anthony DeAngelo Jaccob Slavin- Steven Santini
Today's practice focused on special teams. There will be no passengers on this team. If a player can't contribute on the power play and/or effectively kill penalties, the chances of him making this team are slim to none.
Lots of questions about underager Jack Eichel and he's been with Hartman and Erne since the start of camp on Sunday and the three comprised one of the power play units at practice today. If they find success tonight...hello Sweden.
Besides the obvious reasons, I'm sure Zach Stepan will be pumped as heck for this game as it's against his Maverick teammates. I'm sure there's more than just a spot on this team on the line for him tonight.
In other news, the NHL Network announced today that not only are the airing every Team USA game live in the US (Sweden is six hours ahead) and then tape delayed in prime time, but also every game in their group which includes Canada, Czech Republic, Germany and Slovakia and all eight games in the medal round. For those who want to watch live, but have to work during the day, all games will also stream live on NHL.com.
Julie
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