[GDT] 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship Preliminary Round Day 1: It Begins

[sureLoss]

Slightly early for a GDT, but the only Flames prospect at the WJC plays tomorrow at 11AM.

All games should be available by stream using TSN Go. TSN Go requires a username and password from whatever service provider you pay to get TSN.

The only player the Flames have the rights to at this tournament is:
*** Russia Defenceman #7 Rushan Rafikov (7th round pick 2013) ***
Rafikov is expected to be the on the top pairing for Russia if what they are using in practices are to be trusted.

Group B Toronto: Denmark vs Russia - 11 AM MT
TSN 3

Russia Roster:
http://www.worldjunior2015.com/en/teams/russia/#list

Key Players:
G Igor Shesterkin - Rangers 4th round pick 2014
D Rushan Rafikov - Flames 7th round pick 2013
LW Pavel Buchevich - Rangers 3rd round pick 2013
C/LW Ivan Barbashev - Blues 2nd round pick 2014
RW Nikolai Goldobin - Sharks 1st round pick 2014
C Vladislav Kamenev - Predators 2nd round pick 2014

Future Draft implications:
D Ivan Provorov - potential top 15 pick 2015 draft

Denmark Roster:
http://www.worldjunior2015.com/en/teams/denmark/#list

Key Players:
LW Nikolaj Ehlers - Jets 1st round pick 2014
LW Oliver Bjorkstrand - Blue Jackets 3rd round pick 2013

Group A Montreal: Finland vs USA - 1PM MT
TSN 1, 4, 5

Finland Roster:
http://www.worldjunior2015.com/en/teams/finland/#list

Key Players:
G Juuse Saros - Predators 4th round pick 2013
D Julius Honka - Stars 1st round pick 2014
RW Kasperi Kapanen - Penguins 1st round pick 2014

Future Draft implications:
RW Jesse Puljujarvi - potential top 10 pick 2016 draft
C/W Mikko Rantanen - projected 1st round pick 2015 draft
c/W Roope Hintz - potential 2nd dround pick 2015 draft
RW Sebastian Aho - potential 2nd round pick 2015 draft

USA Roster:
http://worldjuniors.usahockey.com/pa.../701595-roster

Key Players:
G Thatcher Demko - Canucks 2nd round pick 2014
D Anthony DeAngelo - Lightning 1st round pick 2014
D Ian McCoshen - Panthers 2nd round pick 2013
LW Sonny Milano - Blue Jackets 1st round pick 2014
RW Alex Tuch - Wild 1st round pick 2014
C Dylan Larkin - Red Wings 1st round pick 2014
C Nick Schmaltz - Blackhawk 1st round pick 2014

Future Draft implications:
C Jack Eichel - consensus top 2 pick 2015 draft
C/RW Auston Matthews - potential 1st OA 2016 draft
D Noah Hanifin - consensus top 3 pick 2015 draft
D Zach Werenski - projected top 10 pick 2015 draft
D Brandon Carlo - projected 1st round pick 2015 draft

Group B Toronto: Sweden vs Czech - 3pm MT
TSN 2

Sweden Roster:
http://www.worldjunior2015.com/en/teams/sweden/#list

Key Players:
C/RW William Nylander - Maple Leafs 1st round pick 2014
D Robert Hagg - Flyers 2nd round pick 2013
RW Adrian Kempe - Kings 1st round pick 2014

Future Draft Implications:
RW Jens Looke - potential 1st round pick 2015

Czech Roster:
http://www.worldjunior2015.com/en/te...republic/#list

Key Players:
RW David Pastrnak - Bruins 1st round pick 2014
C Jakub Vrana - Capitals 1st round pick 2014

Future Draft Implications:
C/LW Pavel Zacha - projected top 10 pick 2015
C Michael Spacek - projected mid round pick 2015

Group A Montreal: Canada vs Slovakia - 6pm MT
TSN 1, 3, 4 & 5

Canadian Roster:
http://stats.hockeycanada.ca/roster/...bseason=164558

Key Players:
C Sam Reinhart - Sabres 1st round pick 2014
C Curtis Lazar - Senators 1st round pick 2013
LW Nick Ritchie - Ducks 1st round pick 2014
D Darnell Nurse - Oilers 1st round pick 2013
D Josh Morrissey - Jets 1st round pick 2013
C Nic Petan - Jets 2nd round pick 2013
RW Jake Virtanen - Canucks 1st round pick 2014

Future draft implications:
C Connor McDavid - consensus #1 pick 2015
LW Lawson Crouse - projected 1st round pick 2015


Slovakia Roster:
http://www.worldjunior2015.com/en/teams/slovakia/#list

Key Players:
C/LW Martin Reway - Canadiens 4th round pick 2013

Future draft implications:
D Erik Cernak - potential 2nd round pick 2015
RW Radovan Bondra - potential mid round pick 2015


Not that it matters much but NHL prospects at the WJC by team as counted by Gord Miller
Ana-3, Ari-2, Bos-3, Buf-4, Cgy-1, Car-3, Chi-5, Col-1, CBJ-4, Dal-3, Det-5, Edm-2
Fla-1, LA-3, Min-2, Mtl-4, Nas-4, NJ-2, NYI-2, NYR-4, Ott-3, Phi-3, Pit-1, SJ-5, StL-3, TB-3, Tor-3, Van-3, Was-3, Wpg-6.

[sureLoss]

For Canada, Fucale is the confirmed starter against the Slovaks, but the option remains open for Comrie to start the next game.

Lines for Canada are projected to be similar to the pre tournament games, except that Petan has been moved to center and Paul moved to the wing on the 3rd line.

Domi-Reinhart-Duclair
Ritchie-McDavid-Lazar
Paul-Petan-Fabbri
Crouse-Gauthier-Virtanen
Point

Nurse-Theodore
Morrissey-Bowey
Morin-Hicketts
Heatherington

[Gallick]

Just got to Toronto a few hours ago. Been waiting for this all year. I am so ready. Go Canada Go!

[stemit14]

Makes it tough to cheer for McDavid or Eichel to dazzle when one of them will be an oiler next year.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Makes it tough to cheer for McDavid or Eichel to dazzle when one of them will be an oiler next year.

I don't find it hard to cheer for McDavid at all.

I will not cheer for Eichel, but it has nothing to do with the Oilers.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Makes it tough to cheer for McDavid or Eichel to dazzle when one of them will be an oiler next year.

Thank goodness another thread can now be devoted to the Oilers, and only 2 replies in! Kudos.

[puckedoff]

Does anyone know if TSN has the setup this year where I can pay $X amount to watch all the games or pay a few bucks for specific games?

[GettinIggyWithIt]

Originally Posted by Gallick

Just got to Toronto a few hours ago. Been waiting for this all year. I am so ready. Go Canada Go!

Nice! I just got into Montreal earlier this evening. I'll be at the Canada - Slovakia game. I'm so excited I can't even sleep right now.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by puckedoff

Does anyone know if TSN has the setup this year where I can pay $X amount to watch all the games or pay a few bucks for specific games?

As far as i can tell, they are not doing that this year.

nhl.com is supposed to be streaming all USA games, but that might be region locked (cough look into Hola plugin for your browser)

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Looking forward to this tournament. Every year I seem to think the Canadians are a lock for the gold medal game, but they end up falling short. I'm thinking it'll be the Russians, Canadians and Americans taking the medals home in whatever order.

I'm a little concerned that the Canadians don't have those "role" players this year.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Any word on American TV coverage? Sometimes hard to find down here.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

Any word on American TV coverage? Sometimes hard to find down here.

NHL network is your best bet. Though from what I understand they may show some games on a tape delay.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=58058

[EastCoastFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

Any word on American TV coverage? Sometimes hard to find down here.

I thought I saw somewhere that NHL Network is showing all the US and Canada games...

Here is there schedule:

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=7...ite-NHLNetwork

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

Looking forward to this tournament. Every year I seem to think the Canadians are a lock for the gold medal game, but they end up falling short. I'm thinking it'll be the Russians, Canadians and Americans taking the medals home in whatever order.

I'm a little concerned that the Canadians don't have those "role" players this year.

Very happy they don't. Its one thing to do it in the NHL where you are choosing between a 3rd tier scorer and top grinders (i.e. Ben Street vs Lance Bouma) but with the the depth of talent Canada has it has always been ridiculous to take some guy who does nothing but hit and sit in the penalty box all tournament.

[PeteMoss]

At the very least, the US games will be on the NHL network.

http://worldjuniors.usahockey.com/ne...rrer_id=701370

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Thanks everyone. I thought the Canadian game seemed late, but it's actually live. Happy now.

[sureLoss]

If you want to start drooling over Auston Matthews check out this segment where Ray Ferraro talks about him.

http://www.tsn.ca/video/wjhc-ferraro...akers-1.152989

Says Matthews looks like Tavares on the ice, but has better hands than Tavares.

[Mike F]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

If you want to start drooling over Auston Matthews check out this segment where Ray Ferraro talks about him.

http://www.tsn.ca/video/wjhc-ferraro...akers-1.152989

Says Matthews looks like Tavares on the ice, but has better hands than Tavares.

I think you mean Toews

[sureLoss]

Russia vs Denmark is now live:
http://www.tsn.ca/tv#/TSN3

Again you need a username and password from whomever provides you TSN on tv to watch that stream.

Go Rafikov!

[GirlySports]

refs suck already!