Day 2 is a light schedule, with the most interesting game being the Slovakia vs Canada. Once again all games should be on TSN 1/2/3/4/5/, tsn.ca, or TSN GO.
Flames fans should be able to watch Dube and Ruzicka in the later game.
On paper the two weakest teams in Group B face off. Switzerland being the stronger hockey nation should have this, but it also feels like a down year in their talent cycle.
If you do decide to watch this game watch for Eggenberger and Kurashev on the Swiss, could be potential 2nd/3rd rounders at the 2018 draft and as noted above they have quite a few other guys that could be late round picks as well.
On paper, it would be a major upset if Canada doesn't win this game. Slovakia has only 2 NHL drafted players on their roster and the highest was Ruzicka taken in the 4th round. Every single player on Canada's roster has been drafted by NHL clubs.
Also unfortunately the World Juniors use goal differential as a second tie breaker so don't be surprised if the Canadians try to run up the score.
Ruzicka will be counted on as a major part of Slovakia's offense. He should be the 1st line center. However, a huge majority of this Slovak team is made up of their U20 national team that plays together through out the season. It is not a very good program IMO, but the politics of those kind of programs sometimes creeps into coaching and roster decisions. Hopefully not this year though.
Ruzicka scored 1 goal in 5 games as a 17 year old at the last WJC where Slovakia finished 8th. Also Ruzicka is the only Flames prospect at this tournament who is eligible to play at the 2019 WJC.
Dube will wear the 'C' and #9 for Canada.
Ruzicka will wear #21 for Slovakia
Last edited by sureLoss; 12-27-2017 at 03:30 PM.
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That Slovakia system is weird. They have the under 20s play against teams in the top Slovak men's league and they end up with 1 or 2 win pretty ever year while getting whipped most of the time.
They did win a bronze in 2015 but finish 8th pretty much every year.
Location: Wondering when # became hashtag and not a number sign.
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Hope Bean is OK. Hard to tell what was wrong but for sure he grabbed his head after crashing into the boards, though his hip area cant be feeling very good either.
2018 WJC Day 2: SUI vs BLR & SVK vs CAN
