World Championship 2024 in Czechia

[Per]

The whole Team Canada section is gone, so I'll start this thread here instead.

The championships will be held between May 10th and 26th with games in Prague and Ostrava.

Group A:
Canada
Finland
Czechia
Switzerland
Norway
Denmark
Austria
Great Britain

Group B:
Sweden
USA
Slovakia
Germany
Latvia
Poland
Kazakhstan
France

Yeah, at least six nations hardly belong at this level, but it's a way to popularize the sport and spread the gospel in new markets.
Also, in the world championships these nations (in Swedish we refer to them as blueberry nations) have a better shot to challenge the better teams than in the Olympics, when all the best players are able to participate.

I think this year could be a good one though, as it seems there will be quite a few stars attending.

Rick Nash has been named GM and Kyle Dubas assistant GM for Team Canada.
Bedard has already expressed interest in going.

Sweden will have Erik Karlsson, Rasmus Dahlin and Joel Eriksson Ek. Among others.
Hopefully Lekkerimäki can sneak into the roster, but it will probably be mostly NHLers. We'll see.

Canada's first game is against Great Britain!
Sweden has a tougher start and faces the USA right away on opening night.

https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2024/wm

[Lancer]

My son was listing off the lineup of Team USA. Talk about a stacked team. They should be walking away with it unless their goaltending goes to shit.

[Chef Boi RD]

Um we are missing the U-18 discussion here. Lots of good to talk about regarding Canadian kids. Bedards cousin McKenna (2026 prospect) is looking very good while punching weigh above his age, he looks like a beauty, he’s racking up the points. Iginla is racking up the goals plus 2025 Canadian kids Martone and Spence are rocking. Martone a huge skilled winger is expected to go top top 2 in his draft class got a hattrick today as well as Spence is racking up the points in the tournament, he’s expected to go top 5 in 2025.

[Chef Boi RD]

Gavin Mckenna is turning heads at the U-18tourney. He may bd better than Bedard.

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/holy- ... ampionship

[Chef Boi RD]

Canada wins gold beating USA at the U18. Young Buck and 2026 draft eligible Gavin McKenna gets the hattrick playing in a tourney of 2024 and 2025 draft eligibles. Impressive, his WHL coach Wilbrod Desjardins must be nibbling at his lips the thought of coaching this phenom for two more years. He bested the Canadian player points record held by Celebrini. Conor Bedard, watch out for Cuz!

[Per]

Sweden has an amazing blue line in this tournament: Hedman, Karlsson, Dahlin, Brodin, Markus Pettersson…
Not the same star quality up front, but Eriksson Ek, Raymond and Kempe are no scrubs.
Gustavsson and Ersson in goal. Gustavsson starting tonight against the USA.

Halfway into the second period Sweden is ahead 2-0 after goals by Eriksson Ek and Raymond.

[Per]

Final score 5-2.
Two empty netters as the US pulled their goalie in an effort to tie the game, so the game was closer than the score indicates.

[Per]

Canada vs Great Britain right now. Tied at 1-1 after the first period.
Apparently the last time the UK beat Canada in a hockey game was in 1936.

[Per]

Final score 4-2 for Canada. The streak continues.
The Brits put up a surprisingly good fight though.

Tomorrow it’s the Battle of Hans Island.
Red and white vs red and white.