The best U-18 players in the world are set to descend on Zug, Switzerland for the U-18 World Championships this week. Here's a team-by-team preview.
The best U-18 players in the world are set to descend on Zug, Switzerland for the U-18 World Championships this week. Here's a team-by-team preview.
The U-18 World Championships are set to get underway January 6-14 in Zug, Switzerland. The tournament will feature some of the best up and coming talent in the world, with Canada looking to win their third consecutive gold medal at the tournament.
The main development at this year's tournament is the departure from tiered groupings. This year, teams will be evenly split between groups, giving developing nations a chance to face top teams prior to the quarterfinals.
Here's a team-by-team rundown:
1. Canada
Two years ago, Canada's gold was a bit surprising. Last year, less so. This year, Canada is far and away the favorite to win gold as USA looks weaker than years past. Canada's offense will have a wealth of options, but it's returning forwards Caitlin Kraemer and Abby Stonehouse who will be looked upon to guide the way. Kraemer is a budding power forward, while Stonehouse is a two-way threat. They aren't alone however, as players including Sara Manness, Claire Murdoch, Stryker Zablocki, Sienna D'Alessandro, and Mackenzie Alexander can all break games open single handedly. On the blueline, Chloe Primerano will be the centrepiece of Canada's roster, and enters as one of the most touted prospects on the planet. She's a dynamic talent who is a force at both ends of the ice, but thrives with the puck on her stick. Her mobility, creativity, and ability to both transport the puck herself, and distribute to teammates generates chances for Canada every time she's on the ice. With players like Gracie Graham, Emma Venusio, and Avery Pickering, who is playing in the U-18 despite already being in the NCAA with Colgate, there's plenty of skill on Canada's blueline. In net, Hannah Clark is expected to be the starter, but Canada has two netminders in Rhyah Stewart and Marilou Grenier who are more than capable of playing meaningful games.
2. USA
The U-18 summer series was not a promising experience for USA, but their roster remains one of the best in the world. Up front returning forward Maggie Scannell and Bella Fanale need to elevate their games and bring the young group with them. USA looks to have acknowledged where they are at by bringing 12 players capable of returning to the U-18 World Championships next season along with them. Four of those players are 2008 birth years. Rose Dwyer and Megan Healy will be keys to USA's blueline. USA continues, as they have with their national team, to favor bigger defenders bringing along 5-foot-10 Dwyer, and 5-foot-11 blueliners Margaret Averill and Rachel Gorbatenko. In net it's Layla Hemp's crease to lose, but don't count on her faltering.
3. Sweden
Hilda Svensson who scored over a point per game for Sweden at the World Championships returns for her final U-18 tournament. She'll be Sweden's top scoring threat, but there is offensive talent on their roster beyond Svensson. Ebba Hedqvist and Mira Hallin will be key to supporting Svensson, with Hedqvist currently sitting as the top scoring U-18 Swedish player in the SDHL. Other players to watch up front for Sweden include Isabelle Leijonhielm and newcomer Edit Danielsson. On the blueline, the loss of Mira Jungaker who graduated from the age group is immense. Jenna Raunio has been out most of the season with injury, and if she can't play, Sweden's blueline will be a concern. Linnea Natt och Dag is the lone healthy member of last year's blueline set to return, while newcomers Elsa Aberg and Wilma Georgny will need to carry weight. In net, Maja Helge is the most obvious starter, with Lia Leiderö Palmlöv pushing her.
4. Czechia
Czechia will have one of the top scoring lines in the tournament with senior national team members Adela Sapovalivova and Tereza Plosova. Any number of players could jump alongside those stars, but Linda Vocetkova and Barbora Jurickova who are playing in Sweden and Finland respectively this season are leading contenders, as is Anezka Cabelova who is playing in Canada with RINK Kelowna. With Michaela Hesova back in net, Czechia's crease is in good hands. The main concern for Czechia is their blueline depth. It will be interesting to see if Hesova can hold Czechia in games, and how their defenders rise to the challenge.
5. Finland
Finland just watched a strong group of forwards graduate, with only one, Abigail Byskata eligible to return, and she's not a player yet who can carry Finland's offense. Emma Ekoluoma has been Finland's top U-18 threat in Naisten Liiga with Karpat, and has produced regularly in international preparatory competitions. Finland has a trio of returning blueliners paced by Tuuli Tallinen and Jennika Ojala. Nelly Andersson is a newcomer to watch on Finland's blueline. The net is another question mark for Finland, where they lack a true game stealer, which has been the calling card of Finnish teams for years. Youngster Kerttu Kuja-Halkola looks like the closest thing.
6. Slovakia
Nela Lopusanova. She came to North America this year and has been dominant with Bishop Kearney. Facing stiffer competition in the non-tiered groups, Lopusanova may not be able to single handedly alter games, but she'll be the focus of all eyes whenever she steps on the ice. Beyond Lopusanova, Slovakia has a strong secondary in Ema Tothova and Tatiana Blichova. It's a strong line, but depth will be the concern for Slovakia. Michaela Sophia Paulinyova has been having a good year with Ontario Hockey Academy, but there's a steep drop off beyond Slovakia's top six. On the blueline Hana Krakorova and Alexandra Mateickova will handle the heavy lifting for Slovakia, and should be able to contribute offensively as well. Livia Debnarova and Sona Kubaniova are both back in net from last year's team where Debnarova was the starter.
7. Switzerland
Naemi Herzig and Ivana Wey are Switzerland's next stars. Elisa Dalessi and Leoni Balzer are having strong seasons in the SWHL, which bodes well for a secondary threat for Switzerland. Alena-Lynn Rossel can play both forward and D, but has been deployed on the back end for Switzerland recently, which may be wise given their lack of skill and experience at the position. In net, Talina Benderer is one of the best young netminders to emerge from Switzerland recently, and she's currently playing men's U-20 hockey. Wey and Herzig are an impressive duo, but it's hard to see Switzerland climbing too high in this tournament. If there's one young name to watch, keep an eye on Norina Muller
8. Germany
Could Germany finish above 2-3 teams in this tournament? Absolutely. Could Germany finish dead last? Absolutely. Anastasia Gruß is Germany's top returning player, but might get added support from Riley Del Monte and Emmi-Lee Hanack who are playing in the OWHL with the North York Storm. It will be a tough go for Germany who find themselves in a grouping with Canada, Czechia, and Finland.