Day: January 16, 2018

By Martin Merk – IIHF.com

THE MEN’S ROSTER

The Swedes announced three goaltenders, eight defencemen and 12 forwards who will compete for the Swedish men’s ice hockey team at the 2018 Olympics in Korea. Two more roster spots are open and will be filled with two additional forwards.

The current roster includes five players who have won gold at the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship last spring including goaltender Viktor Fasth and forwards Dennis Everberg, Carl Klingberg, Joel Lundqvist and Linus Omark.

Ten players join from teams in the KHL, nine play in the domestic SHL and four in Switzerland.

Joel Lundqvist, who captained Sweden to gold last May, is the most experienced player with 141 international games for the Swedish men’s national team. Defenceman Staffan Kronwall (104) and forward Linus Omark (101) also have more than 100 national team games where Omark scored the most (19) goals.

34-year-old Lundqvist is also the oldest player on a roster full of experience with an average age of 29. Only one player is younger than 23: millennial Rasmus Dahlin. The 17-year-old defenceman is a candidate for becoming the next number-one-draft pick in the NHL and recently played at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship where he won a silver medal and the Best Defenceman award.

Sweden will have a pre-tournament game in Incheon near Seoul against Canada on 12 February before the tournament starts in Gangneung where all ice sports competitions will be held.

Tre Kronor won silver at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. This year they will face countries from their neighbourhood in the preliminary round with archival Finland, Norway and Germany.

THE WOMEN’S ROSTER

By Andrew Podnieks – IIHF.com

It is a roster heavy on experience. Indeed, only two skaters and one goalie did not play at the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship in Plymouth, United States.

Coach Leif Boork will be behind the bench for his fourth major event. He took over in 2015 and PyeongChang will complete his Olympic cycle. All players are playing in the Swedish league this year.

MODO Ornskoldsvik and AIK Stockholm lead the way, providing the team with five players each. Brynas and Lulea have three each, while Linkoping, Djurgarden Stockholm, and Leksand all have two. One player comes from HV71.

The roster has many new faces from the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, but one binding affiliation is that most of these women played at their 2008 and/or 2009 Women’s U18 event. In other words, their roots in the Swedish program run deep.

In goal, the number-one slot will go to Sara Grahn. The 29-year-old is in her third Olympics and has also played in nine Women’s Worlds. She has been the heir to Kim Martin. Behind her will be Sarah Berglind, the third goalie last year, and Minatsu Murase, who played at the 2013 WW18 and not since in IIHF play.

On defence, Boork made just one change. Out is Anna Kjellbin and in is Emmy Alasalmi. The 24-year-old Alasalmi has only one WW on her resume, that back in 2015. The coach will rely most heavily on 29-year-old Emilia Ramboldt, who has been with the national team since 2007 and is in her third Olympics.

Johanna Fallman, who has played in six WW events but is making her Olympics debut. Annie Svedin also is an Olympics rookie after five WW appearances. Johanna Olofsson is making her second Olympics appearance.

Then there are the younger players. Elin Lundberg has only the 2016 Women’s Worlds to her international credit and Maja Nylen-Persson, born in 2000, is only 17.

Up front, there is also but one change. Michelle Lowenhielm of the University of Minnesota-Duluth is on the outside while Rebecca Stenberg, who hasn’t played since the 2012 Women’s Worlds, is in.

Pernilla Winberg is the most experienced player. She has appeared in every women’s tournament since 2004 and is still only 28 years old.

Right behind her is Erica Uden Johansson, the 28-year-old who has played at the last two Olympics as well as five Women’s Worlds. Emma Nordin is also in this class, a player in her mid-twenties with plenty of international experience.

Sara Hjalmarsson is part of the young guard with some experience. After playing in three WW18 events, she made her senor debut last year and will turn 20 just before the start of the games.

Sabina Kuller, who played as Lambetz-Kuller the last three WW’s, is also at 23 a veteran.

Lisa Johansson, Erika Grahm, and Fanny Rask are three players from the 2008-09 group of U18 players on the team as is Anna Borgqvist.

Maria Lindh and Fanny Rask are two of the few players from the 2014 Olympic team.

At 19, Hanna Olsson is the baby of the forwards, but she has tons of experience, including a record four WW18’s and three senior Women’s Worlds. A great skater with offensive skills, she will be a key member of the team’s success up front.

Twenty-two-year-old Olivia Carlsson is a rare success story who went right from WW18 to WW. She rounds out what Boork hopes will be a medal-quality roster.

By Martin Merk –IIHF.com

THE MEN’S ROSTER

As expected the Czechs will heavily rely on their KHL players. There are 28 players in the Russian-based cross-border league and 15 players are on the Czech roster for the 2018 Olympic men’s ice hockey tournament. There will also be seven players from the Czech Extraliga and three from the Switzerland’s National League be travelling to Korea to represent the country.

“Some players have been clear for a long time but the final question marks have disappeared Sunday night when the Extraliga round ended,” Jandac said about his decision. “We chose the positions so we could put together a balanced team. I believe our strength will be team play. And a great bunch of players like it has always been when Czech hockey was celebrating success.”

Martin Erat, who will serve as team captain, will join a small club of Czech hockey players who have played four Olympics inclucing Vlastimil Bubnik, Josef Cerny, Jiri Holik, Patrik Elias, Dominik Hasek and Tomas Kaberle. Only one Czech player had more Olympic participations, Jaromir Jagr with five. For Roman Cervenka it will be the third Olympics. Cervenka (9) and Erat (7) are also the players who combine for most Olympic and World Championship participations on the team followed by Ondrej Nemec (6) and Jan Kovar (5) while Roman Cervenka has appeared in most national team games (138) before Petr Koukal (118) and Ondrej Nemec (116).

While many players have top-level experience, the absence of NHL players also gives players a chance to be in the international spotlight who haven’t had the chance before. For Patrik Bartosak, Milan Gulas, Dominik Kubalik, Tomas Mertl, Vojtech Mozik and Adam Polasek it will be their first top-level, IIHF-sanctioned event with the men’s national team. Most of them have played in U20 or U18 Worlds before but for Gulas and Mozik it will be the first IIHF-sanctioned tournament of their career.

Still, the Czechs will travel to Korea with a very experienced roster with an average age of 29 years. 36-year-old Erat is the oldest player on the team, 25-year-old Mozik the youngest. Jandac admits that recent World Juniors participant Martin Necas was considered as well but due to injuries he didn’t have the chance to test him with the men’s teams.

The Czech Republic lost in the quarter-finals in Sochi 2014 and Vancouver 2010 but won bronze in Turin 2006 and gold in Nagano 1998. In PyeongChang 2018 they will play defending Olympic champion Canada, Switzerland and host Korea in Group A of the preliminary round.

The Czech team will have its first practices in Prague before leaving to Korea. An exhibition game is planned against Finland in the Seoul region on 11 February before the Olympic men’s ice hockey tournament kicks off on the east coast in Gangneung.

By Andrew Ponieks – IIHF.com

THE MEN’S ROSTER

Led by general manager Sean Burke and head coach Willie Desjardins, Hockey Canada unveiled its 25-man roster of the upcoming Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, Korea.

The two-time defending gold medalists will be relying most heavily on players from the KHL, the Russian league from which 13 of the 25 are currently playing.

In addition, four players come from the top Swiss league (NL), three from the Swedish league (SHL) and American league (AHL). Germany (DEL) and Austria (EBEL) are providing one player each.

The youngest player on the roster is 25-year-old Christian Thomas (whose father, Steve, played at four World Championships, winning a gold and two silver) while the oldest is 37-year-old defenceman Chris Lee, who made his IIHF debut with Canada in sensational fashion at least year’s World Championship, helping the team win a silver medal.

This is a veteran and experienced team. The average age is 30.44, and only 8 of the 25 players are in their twenties. Interestingly, only Lee and Mat Robinson have never played in the NHL. At the other end, the team has three players with more than 700 NHL games to their credit: Chris Kelly (833), Derek Roy (738), and Rene Bourque (725).

“I think it’s fair to say there isn’t a player we didn’t look at,” Burke said. “We gave everyone a chance to make the team.”

“We want to be a tough team to play against,” Burke continued. “We have a lot of character. We have grit and character and skill. We have players who’ll do anything to win hockey games. This is the Olympic Games. It’s the greatest event we have. A lot of those players never dreamed they’d have this opportunity. We’re a hockey team, but we’re also representing Canada with all the other athletes who will be at the Olympics.”

“Most guys on this team have been told ‘no’ at some point in their careers,” started Desjardins. “No, they can’t play in the NHL. No, it’s over. But they’ve managed to battle and stuck with it. They didn’t give up. That’s their nature of being Canadian.”

The players will meet in Riga, Latvia, on 28th January and have 17 days before their first game of the Olympics. They’ll play three exhibition games leading up to PyeongChang during which time coach Desjardins will figure out who will be his starting goalie and which players will fulfill which roles.

“Our strength is in our depth,” Burke added. “Our defence is very mobile. They’re quick; they can move the puck. We don’t want to spend a lot of time in our end. And once we get the puck to our forwards, we have speed and skill. But we have a team that can be physical and play with grit if we need to.”

THE WOMEN’S ROSTER

By Hockey Canada

The Canadian Women’s Olympic Hockey Team also features: 14 players who won the gold medal at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia; six players who won the gold medal at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C.; and one player who won the gold medal at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy.

“It was an extremely difficult decision narrowing down our roster due to the depth of talent on our team; we are excited to move forward with the 23 players chosen to represent Canada at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games,” said head coach Laura Schuler. “These players have worked hard to earn this moment and we are confident that they will be able to inspire and unite our country as they set their sights on a fifth straight gold medal for Canada.”

The team nominated was selected by Schuler, alongside Melody Davidson, Hockey Canada’s general manager of National Women’s Team Programs, with support from assistant coaches Dwayne Gylywoychuk, Troy Ryan, and goaltending coach Brad Kirkwood, along with consultation from Hockey Canada’s chief executive officer, Tom Renney, and Hockey Canada’s president and chief operating officer, Scott Smith.

“It is a tremendous accomplishment to be chosen to represent your country at the Olympic Games,” said Renney, who was a member of the Canadian Olympic Team in 1994, where he guided the Canadian Olympic Men’s Hockey Team to silver as head coach. “We are thrilled with the 23 players selected and we know they will wear the Maple Leaf with great pride and will leave nothing to chance in their preparation for PyeongChang.”

The Canadian Women’s Olympic Hockey Team will look to win its fifth-straight gold medal at the Olympic Winter Games when the puck drops in South Korea on Feb. 11.

“Canada’s strong tradition of hockey talent is on display here, there is so much talent and depth on this team,” said Isabelle Charest, PyeongChang 2018 Team Canada Chef de Mission. “I am excited to watch them defend their gold medal in PyeongChang and can’t wait to cheer them on.”

PyeongChang 2018 will mark the sixth time women’s hockey has been part of the Olympic Winter Games. In addition to its four gold medals, Canada’s Women’s Olympic Hockey Team also claimed silver in 1998 in Nagano, Japan.

“Women’s hockey is one of Canada’s most successful events every Olympic Games and our Canadian athletes have never failed to win a medal since women’s hockey was added to the program in 1998,” said the Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities. “This includes gold medals at the last four Olympic Winter Games and with a reputation like that, all eyes will be on Canada in PyeongChang. Be sure to cheer on these great women as they make Canada proud.”

Prior to heading to PyeongChang, the team will resume its Esso Series schedule with five games against Alberta Midget Hockey League opponents in the New Year.

The Olympic women’s hockey tournament opens on Saturday, Feb. 10 at the Kwandong Hockey Centre and culminates on Thursday, Feb. 22 at the Gangneung Hockey Centre. Canada is scheduled to compete in Group A and begins preliminary-round play on Sunday, Feb. 11.

Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the COC’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Federations in late January 2018.

By USA Hockey

THE MEN’S ROSTER

The men’s roster includes 15 players with NHL experience, led by Brian Gionta, who will serve as team captain of the 2018 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team. Gionta has played 1,006 regular-season games and captained both the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres in his career. He is the lone player on the U.S. roster with Olympic experience, having played for Team USA in 2006.

“We really like our roster,” said Jim Johannson, general manager of the 2018 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team and also the assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. “It’s a group that brings versatility and experience and includes players who have a lot of passion about representing our country.”

Johannson noted that two goaltenders will be added by mid-January to fill the 25-man roster.

While Gionta is the only Olympian on the roster, 21 other players have donned the U.S. jersey in international competition and captured 13 total medals.

Team USA’s forward lineup is highlighted by three of the top point getters in the National League in Switzerland, including Marc Arcobello (SC Bern), who leads the league with 39 points (13-26) in 33 games played. Broc Little (HC Davos) and Garrett Roe (EV Zug) are tied for third with 31 points each. The U.S. offense will also feature the talents of Chris Bourque (Hershey), who leads the AHL with 39 points (11-28) in 34 games played for the Hershey Bears and Harvard University’s Ryan Donato (Harvard University), who is fourth in NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey in points per game (1.45).

Matt Gilroy (Jokerit), who played 225 games in the NHL and won the 2009 Hobey Baker Memorial Award as the top player in NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey, will anchor the blueline. He is tied for sixth in points among defenseman in the Kontinental Hockey League with 25 (6-19) in 44 games with Jokerit. The U.S. will also rely on the talents of Ryan Gunderson (Brynas IF), who leads all Swedish Hockey League defensemen with 25 points (4-21) in 31 games played and James Wisniewski (Kassel), who currently tops all blueliners in the DEL2 with 36 points playing for Kassel. Wisniewski, who has played 552 regular-season NHL games, helped the U.S. win its first-ever gold medal in the IIHF World Junior Championship in 2004.

In goal, Ryan Zapolski (Mercyhurst University), who is one of three players from the Jokerit named to Team USA, is fifth in the league with a 1.68 goals against average. He is 21-8-3 on the season with a 93.5 save percentage.

The U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team opens play on Feb. 14 when it faces Slovenia in its first preliminary round game.

THE WOMEN’S ROSTER

The women’s roster features 23 players, including 10 returning Olympians and six two-time Olympians (2010, 2014) in Kacey Bellamy, captain Meghan Duggan, Hilary Knight, Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson, Monique Lamoureux-Morando and Gigi Marvin; and four that made their Olympic debut in Sochi – Coyne, Decker, Amanda Kessel and Lee Stecklein. Eight players in total have played more than 100 international games apiece wearing the USA sweater, including Bellamy (133), Coyne (115), Decker (110), Duggan (130), Knight (150), Lamoureux-Davidson (125), Lamoureux-Morando (122) and Marvin (115).

“Today we took another step toward achieving our ultimate goal, which is to bring home a gold medal from South Korea,” said Reagan Carey, general manager of the 2018 U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team and also the director of women’s hockey for USA Hockey, “We’ve had an exceptional four months in Wesley Chapel, Florida, leading up to this point and are confident that these 23 women give our country the best opportunity to reach the top of the podium in February.”

“The amount of skill and depth of talent on this roster is second-to-none and I couldn’t be more excited to see what these 23 women can do on the world stage in PyeongChang,” said Stauber, “With just a month to go until the Olympics, and now with our roster set, our focus only gets sharper. We’ll be ready to go.”

All 23 players on the roster have a collegiate hockey background, representing a total of nine NCAA schools. The University of Minnesota of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association leads the way with six representatives, followed by Boston College of the Hockey East Association (five) and the University of Wisconsin of the WCHA (four). The University of North Dakota and University of Minnesota Duluth (WCHA) are each represented by a pair of players, while Lindenwood University (CHA), Northeastern University (HEA), the University of New Hampshire (HEA) and the University of Vermont (HEA) have one apiece.

Fourteen of the 23 players on the final roster have been recognized as top-10 finishers for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, which annually recognizes the top NCAA Division I women’s college hockey player, and four have taken the trophy – Coyne (2016), Kessel (2013), Decker (2012), Duggan (2011).

With 18 post-graduate players and five collegiate players, the roster also features younger players in the prime of their collegiate career putting eligibility on hold to pursue their Olympic dream. Among them are Boston College players Cayla Barnes, Kali Flanagan and Megan Keller; the University of Minnesota’s Kelly Pannek; and the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Maddie Rooney.

During the 2016-17 season, 14 players on the U.S. roster were playing professionally in the United States, nine in the National Women’s Hockey League and five with the Minnesota Whitecaps. Sidney Morin played a portion of the 2017-18 season with MODO Hockey of the Swedish Women’s Hockey League before joining the U.S. Olympic evaluation process.

The U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team will begin its quest for a gold medal on Feb. 11 when it faces Finland in its opening game of preliminary round play.