[GDT] 2016 WJC: Round Robin Day 1. Tournament starts at 5AM. Canada vs USA 11AM. TSN

[sureLoss]

Group B CZE-RUS 5 AM. TSN2

With the opening match of the tournament. The Russians faceoff with the Czechs. The Czechs have a decently strong team on paper this year and should put up a strong fight against a perennial medal contender.

Czech Roster - http://www.worldjunior2016.com/en/teams/#CZE
Players to watch:
Pavel Zacha - 2015 1st round pick New Jersey
Jakub Zboril - 2015 1st round pick Boston
Dominik Mašín - 2014 2nd round pick Tampa
Filip Hronek - potential 2016 2nd or 3rd round pick by Central Scouting
Filip Chlapik - 2015 2nd round pick Ottawa
Vitek Vanecek - 2014 2nd round pick Washington
Šimon Stránský - potential 2016 1st round pick by Central Scouting

Russian Roster - http://www.worldjunior2016.com/en/teams/#RUS
Players to Watch:
Ilya Samsonov - 2015 1st round pick Washington
Ivan Provorov - 2015 1st round pick Philadelphia
Evgeny Svechnikov - 2015 1st round pick Detroit
Alexander Dergachyov - 2015 3rd round pick Los Angeles


Group A SUI-SWE. 7 AM. TSN4

Another year and another tournament where Sweden loses some key players in pre-tournament games due to injury. With Aho done for the tournament and Forsling's status questionable, is it possible Sweden turns to one of Kylington or Andersson to fill the role of offensive d-man?

The Swiss seem to slowly get better every year and play a good defensively structured game, but Sweden has a lot of fire power in their forward group.

Swiss roster - http://www.worldjunior2016.com/en/teams/#SUI
Players to watch:
Timo Meier - 2015 1st round pick San Jose
Noah Rod - 2014 2nd round pick San Jose
Jonas Siegenthaler - 2015 2nd round pick Washington

Sweden Roster - http://www.worldjunior2016.com/en/teams/#SWE
Players to watch:
William Nylander - 2014 1st round pick Toronto
Alexander Nylander - potential 2016 1st round pick by Central Scouting
Adrian Kempe - 2014 1st round pick Los Angeles
Jacob Larsson - 2015 1st round pick Anaheim
Carl Grundstrom - potential 2016 1st round pick by Central Scouting
Rasmus Asplund - potential 2016 1st round pick by Central Scouting
*Flames prospect: Adam Ollas-Mattsson*


Group B FIN-BLR. 9 AM. TSN2

For draft junkies, the Finland team should be fun to watch with Juolevi, Laine, and Puljujarvi all projected to go in the 1st half of the 2016 draft. For Flames fans. adding Laine or Pulujarvi could answer an organizational need IF they get a chance to draft them.

Finland Roster - http://www.worldjunior2016.com/en/teams/#FIN
Players to watch:
Olli Juolevi - potential 2016 1st round pick
Patrik Laine -potential 2016 top 5 pick
Jesse Puljujarvi - potential 2016 top 5 pick
Mikko Rantanen - 2015 1st round pick Colorado

Belarus Roster - http://www.worldjunior2016.com/en/teams/
Players to watch:
Stepan Falkovsky - potential late round pick by Central Scouting


Group A CAN-USA. 11 AM. TSN1/3/4/5

Unlike the past few years, Canada opens up against a strong contender for the opening game. Usually Canada starts with a much weaker opponents and ramps up to the stronger ones as the round robin progresses.

The USA has been heavily criticized for leaving off a lot of offensive talent from their selection camp roster. Even then, they should not be over looked.

Canada vs USA almost always turns into a WJC classic match up with the games leaving a lasting impression to spectators and the countries alike.

USA Roster - http://www.worldjunior2016.com/en/teams/#USA
Players to watch:
Auston Matthews - unanimous 2016 1st OA pick
Matthew Tkachuk - potential 2016 top 5 pick
Brock Boeser - 2015 1st round pick Vancouver
Sonny Milano - 2014 1st round pick Columbus
Zach Werenski - 2015 1st round pick Columbus

USA Roster - http://www.worldjunior2016.com/en/teams/#CAN
Players to watch:
Dylan Strome - 2015 1st round pick Arizona
Mitch Marner - 2015 1st round pick Toronto
Jake Virtanen - 2014 1st round pick Vancouver
Brendan Perlini - 2014 1st round pick Arizona
Brayden Point - 2014 3rd round pick Tampa
Travis Sanheim - 2014 1st round pick Philadelphia
Haydn Fleury - 2014 1st round pick Carolina
Julien Gauthier - potential 2015 top 15 pick
*Flames prospect: Mason McDonald*
*Flames prospect: Brandon Hickey*

Mason McDonald will start for the Canadians.

Brandon Hickey will be paired with Haydn Fleury and are being labelled as Canada's shut down pairing, or the closest thing to it.

[Point Blank]

Still pretty bummed that Kylington nor Andersson is playing

[Hackey]

Go! Flames! (prospects) Go!

[Gaudfather]

Here's hoping Mason McDonald has a good game against Auston Matthews and Team USA.

Also a good opportunity for Brandon Hickey to display his talents. Go Canada Go!

[Trojan97]

Originally Posted by Point Blank

Still pretty bummed that Kylington nor Andersson is playing

Given the state of the Swedish D and the fact that many of their fans are already panicking about how weak it is, I wouldn't be surprised if leaving off a puck mover like Kylington is an absolutely massive regret for the Swedes in two weeks time.

[N-E-B]

I'm trying so hard to get excited for this tournament but I'm just not... Usually I am but this year for some reason it's not appealing to me.

[midniteowl]

Go Canada Go

[Domoic]

Any place to watch any games on line?

[tknez16]

Didn't the Flames sign Tomas Soustal this offseason? I know he was at training camp and thought we signed him in that 18 year old undrafted loophole. He's playing for the Czech team.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by tknez16

Didn't the Flames sign Tomas Soustal this offseason? I know he was at training camp and thought we signed him in that 18 year old undrafted loophole. He's playing for the Czech team.

They invited him to camp. They did not sign him.

Flames used the loophole on 18 yr old G Nick Schnrider

[PeteMoss]

Nylander just got drilled in the Sweden-Swiss game. Swiss guy got 5 minutes for a head check, Nylander left the game at least temporarily.

This is W.Nylander (the Leafs pick)

[PeteMoss]

This game is pretty feisty. Two Swiss guys have been ejected... lots of scrums.
3-1 Sweden after one.

[getbak]

Chippy game between Sweden and Switzerland. The Swiss had two 5+Game Hit to the Head penalties.

The Leafs can't be happy seeing that hit on Nylander.

[cofias]

Hope the Swiss team of scrubs thought the head shot was worth it... GTFO this tournament.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Nylander just got drilled in the Sweden-Swiss game. Swiss guy got 5 minutes for a head check, Nylander left the game at least temporarily.

This is W.Nylander (the Leafs pick)

Nylander needs to learn to keep his head up. He really got his hair messed up with that hit.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by New Era

Nylander needs to learn to keep his head up. He really got his hair messed up with that hit.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

My that I'm excusing the hit, but the phrase more means be aware than actually "keep your head up". Kinda being a bit literal here

[PeteMoss]

Yes.. he had his head up, but you'd hope he'd be a bit aware of his surroundings when picking up the puck like that.

Not excusing the hit because he did get his head. But he put himself in a pretty vulnerable spot in traffic.

[Gaskal]

Keeping your head up is useless if you're just gonna tunnel vision like that. Gotta know your surroundings.

[PeteMoss]

Ollas Mattson with a goal. (credited to someone else, but should be changed to Ollas Mattson)

EDIT:

Heard story about him told during the game. He's stayed close to home to play to help his family as he has a younger brother in a wheelchair and his mom died of cancer. Tough story for him.