Group
A year ago Gold
Canada has won five gold medals in a row, and has won medals in 11 right world junior championships. ... Leaf fans can keep an eye of Nazem Kadri, anticipated to enjoy the very first power-play product. ... Of the 22 players on the roster, 20 have performed globally, including six who were on last year's team: F Patrice Cormier, F Stefan Della Rovere, Y Jordan Eberle, D Ryan Ellis, Deborah Alex Pietrangelo, N Colten Teubert. ... Pietrangelo is on loan from the St. Louis Blues. ... Furthermore, 20 of the participants have already been drafted in to the NHL, 10 of them first-rounders. ... Europe Replica Jaeger LeCoultre Watch is untested in web with Montreal's Jake Allen and Calgary's Martin Jones. ... Canada's top range capabilities Taylor Hall, Adam Henrique and Greg Nemisz from the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL. Area, the predicted Number. 1 select in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, brings the OHL with 59 place in 34 games, while Nemisz and Henrique are among the league leaders.
What the scouts say : "They are going in with an alternative class. The Canadian heart is definitely particular, but I actually do not know if they've the level and ability they typically have only at that competition. Nevertheless you cannot write them off." Kevin Prendergast, Edmonton Oilers assistant GM
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The competitors
United States
Group
A year ago : place
Leaf fans May observe for F Jerry D'Amigo, a sixth-round pick last year. ... Staff is looking to recovery after reduction in the quarter-finals A year ago by Slovakia, counting on a medal to simply help increase the tournament next year in Buffalo. ... The Americans are specially Comfortable in net, so much so they just called two goalies with their A gold medal was won by preliminary roster: Jack Campbell, who earlier this year with the U.S. under-18 group, and Mike Lee, a freshman at St. Cloud State who had been called goalie of the season by USA Hockey. ... The staff Functions two daughters of NHLers, D John Ramage (son of Rob) and F Ryan Bourque (son of Ray). ... F Jeremy Morin has 44 points in 32 games for the Kitchener Rangers. ... The Washington Capitals are financing Deborah John Carlson from the Hershey Bears. He has 24 factors in 29 AHL activities. D Cam Fowler of the Windsor Spitfires is next among OHL defencemen with 40 Things.
What the scouts say : "The U.S. is reasonably in the ballpark, adequate to upset Canada. But written down not as good as Canada. Goaltending will be the difference." E.J. McGuire, NHL's director of Central Scouting
RussiaGroup
A year ago Bronze
D Nikita Filatov, who played 21 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets before being loaned to CSKA Moscow, will undoubtedly be on the group. He'd eight goals and three assists in the tournament last year. ... Scouts will be Seeing Maksim Kitsyn and Vladimir Tarasenko, two energetic onward who are expected to lead the assault and could be large first-round picks in the June draft. ... The Russians have six returnees from their bronze-medal team; most of their skaters play with the benefits in the KHL. ... They've exceptional people, but playing as a team is Generally speaking their issue.
What the scouts say : "They are Laden up with talent each year as they are. It absolutely was a hardcore lesson for them this past year against Canada, they're likely to keep coming back filled for Carry to obtain despite having that. They are one of many few countries that the Stress does not get to them playing in Canada." Prendergast
SwedenGroup
A year ago Silver
All-star goalie Rapid ahead Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson and John Markstrom are two of eight returnees from the group. .. In all 18 of the Swedes have been drafted by NHL teams 13 in 2010 while 17 of these participants Perform in the most effective pro league in Sweden. ... Paajarvi-Svensson had eight Nine and goals helps in his first 25 activities with Timra. ... Marcus Kruger was much more impressive with eight goals and 14 assists in 14 games for Djurgarden. ... D Adam Larsson reminds some of N Victor Hedman, now with Tampa Bay. Larsson is predicted as a top-five pick in August. ... They remain disappointed and annoyed at their gold-medal loss to Canada last season and need certainly to better withstand the physicality of the Canadian team should they meet again.
What the scouts say : "If there's a European team that could defeat Canada, it will be Sweden. Their important participant would be the goalie, Markstrom, who is having an Remarkable season in the Swedish Elite League." Goran Stubb, NHL's manager of European looking
The darkhorse Slovakia
Group
A year ago : spot
They Stunned the U.S. and Finland en route to the semifinals a year ago. ... Tomas Tatar (11 points this past year) and Richard Panik (five points) are back. ... Watch for clever winger Jakub Gasparovic. ... Martin Stajnoch Appeared as a leader on the blue line. ... The Slovak teenagers enjoy as An organization in the country's top professional category, getting valuable knowledge by playing against men. They get more snow time this way than when they had smaller jobs on membership teams.
What the scouts say : "Last year they were the darlings in Ottawa; they had a few real fun Large activities which they gained. However it is tough to obtain through the competition though if you are the Slovaks, with the degree of one other teams." Dave Morrison, Leafs director of amateur looking
width="100%" /> The also-rans Czech RepublicGroup
Last year Sixth
Once on the list of elite of international tennis, the Czechs took to learning what is gone wrong. They've begun to handle some failings, such as for example poor Dated and training education techniques. ... They're unhappy so many Of these kids come to United States to perform major jr. ... Actually with Michal Jordan not kidding named crew captain, the Czechs will not turn the place this season, with three important forwards out with injury: Jaroslav Hafenrichter, Jan Buchtel and Zdenek Okal.
FinlandGroup
A year ago Seventh
After five podium coatings (2001-2006), the Finns have did not honor for three straight competitions. ... Finnish G Joni Ortio, a sixth-round pick of the Calgary Flames last year, quit 21 of 24 images against Canada in a exhibition game. ... A number of Finns playing in jr are on the squad, including Gary Petteri Simila (Niagara), N Jyri Niemi (Saskatoon) and Rasmus Rissanen (Everett), and Y Toni Rajala (Brandon) and Matias Sointu (Sudbury ).
AustriaGroup
Promoted from Division
The Austrians think they're on a par with the Swiss following a new 2-2 tie. ... The Austrians will need to be at least just like the Swiss and greater than the Latvians to keep in the very best team. ... Captain Dominique Heinrich, who performs for Red Bull Salzburg in the Austrian group, is just a goal-scoring threat.
SwitzerlandGroup
Promoted from Division
The Swiss Breguet Brand Watch boast a handful of players in United States leagues, including N Luca Some games have been played by sbisa ( Lethbridge ), who for the Philadelphia Pamphlets and Anaheim Ducks and may also end up on the Olympic team, N Dominik Schlumpf (Shawinigan) and F Alain Berger (Oshawa). ... N Roman The blue line is anchored by josi. He was the youngest in this contest at 16 three years before and has 20 factors in 24 games with Bern of the Swiss league.
Latvia Best Mens Graham WatchGroup
Last year Eighth
The happy-to-be-here state somehow handles to value above its weight in hockey, with only 3,000 listed male hockey players in a country of 2.2 million. ... They beat Russia 3-2 lately and really, that's what they value most in a exhibition game. ... F Roberts Bukarts brings the attack. ... They'll need certainly to beat the Swiss in the round robin to have any potential for remaining in the most truly effective class. ... Preferably their fans turn up, banging those drums.