2011 IIHF World Juniors

[ChaseSpace]

Felt this needed it's own thread.

Representing the Bolts are:

Carter Ashton(Canada)

Brett Connolly(Canada)

Adam Janosik(Slovakia)

Richard Panik(Slovakia)


Good luck to all prospects!
Who will you personally be following throughout the tournament?(doesn't necessarily have to be a bolt prospect)
I will be looking for Benjamin Conz(Switzerland). He was undrafted the past 2 years but won the best goaltender award last year. He currently plays in the National League A(Switzerland), the top Swiss league, and he plays for Langnau.

[ChaseSpace]

Switzerland holds off late Germany surge for win 4-3
http://www.buffaloworldjuniors.com/recap.asp?gameID=20010

Benjamin Conz stopped 32 of 35 shots

[ChaseSpace]

Russia doubled up on Canada 6-3
http://www.buffaloworldjuniors.com/recap.asp?gameID=20011

[pete]

Panik should be a beastie in this tournament given his size, strength, and experience.

[ChaseSpace]

Sweden destroyed Norway 7-1
http://buffaloworldjuniors.com/recap.asp?gameID=20012

Also I messed up earlier, Canada won over Russia 6-3

[ChaseSpace]

USA tops Finland in OT 3-2

[astro]

USA tops Finland in OT 3-2

watched the last 15 minutes of the game. Great to get the win.

[ChaseSpace]

Slovakia beats Germany in OT 2-1

Czech Republic won their tournament opener 2-0 over Norway.

[pete]

Slovakia beats Germany on the strength of 1 goal and 1 assist by Richard Panik AND a helper by Adam Janosik.

[CTLightning26]

Thought Tarasenko was quite impressive....Gonna be a good one....

That, big, lanky d man Yurychev was intriguing as well...looks like he's an offensive specialist though...

[pete]

Ashton has an assist so far against the Czechs.

Will be interesting to see if Panik can do some business against the Americans tonight.

[chad]

Ashton should have had a goal last night against Norway. Refs waived it off for a kick that was clearly not a kick. Ashton knocked the puck into the dman, then pushed the dman enough that the puck went off the dman and into the net. It was already 9-1 so they didn't review it.

Connolly had a couple of really nice assists. He had a mini breakaway where he shot too early, IMO, but didn't realized he had as much time as he did.

He needs to bulk up. His board play was pretty weak.

[ChaseSpace]

Finland tops Germany 5-1

Sweden bested Russia. 2-0

Canada blasts Norway 10-1

[Alex]

Team Canada downed by Team Sweden today, 6-5 SO: great game to watch.

My thought for the hour: Tyson Barrie wears number 22 for Team Canada, and as well all know is the son of former owner Len Barrie. I wonder if Len is a little annoyed that his son wears the same number as, oh, I don't know, a certain Dan Boyle? :D

[Sotnos]

Team Canada downed by Team Sweden today, 6-5 SO: great game to watch.
Yes, yes it was! :thumb:

My thought for the hour: Tyson Barrie wears number 22 for Team Canada, and as well all know is the son of former owner Len Barrie. I wonder if Len is a little annoyed that his son wears the same number as, oh, I don't know, a certain Dan Boyle? :D
Haha, didn't notice that!

[pete]

I'm sure in their perverted minds, The Cowboys think they rebuilt the Lightning to the point where they could have the success they've had so far this year.

[chad]

Ashton played relatively slow today. His line was getting post-goal shifts, which was a compliment, but they could never generate puck possession in the offensive zone.

Connolly showed a lot of jump, but couldn't find space. His wall play was weak again.

Neither saw a shift in OT.

[Sotnos]

I know they were (shockingly enough) talking up Team Canada last night & how they blew out Switzerland before, but the Swiss hung tough vs. the US last night. Could be an interesting game.

[pete]

Can we feel confident if either of these guys needs to take Gagne's spot on L2 next season? I was hopeful for Connolly, but not if he's Charminy soft physically.

[ChaseSpace]

I think Purcell taking it and either Ashton or Connolly getting 3rd line duties while the other is sent back to juniors is more of a possibility.

[pete]

Not sure Purcell is a good enough finisher. He's morphed into more of an assist man, although he's got a damned good shot.

[WaiverWire]

Not sure Purcell is a good enough finisher. He's morphed into more of an assist man, although he's got a damned good shot.

I would try to keep this team intact as much as possible. The net change has been made and has sent the signal that we are moving forward without Smith and/or Ellis for 2011/2012.

Gagne could sign a smaller contract this off season as I do not think you could justify a contract of the same amount or higher.

[CTLightning26]

I would try to keep this team intact as much as possible. The net change has been made and has sent the signal that we are moving forward without Smith and/or Ellis for 2011/2012.

Gagne could sign a smaller contract this off season as I do not think you could justify a contract of the same amount or higher.

You are forgetting about that Stamkos raise...

Hard to predict what will be done, but can't imagine all of the same guys back....

[WaiverWire]

You are forgetting about that Stamkos raise...

Hard to predict what will be done, but can't imagine all of the same guys back....

No I am not.

Cap is going up next season. We will be about 11 million under the cap, but we do not want to spend it all nor am I suggesting we should.

I am a little worried about the Stamkos contract. I worry that he maybe trying to get as much as he can and thus no deal as of today. Is he waiting to see how many goals he can pot and then request so much money that it hurts the rest of the team signings? Does SY think he may have to blow this team up in order to resign Stamkos thus now the push for this year? Other wise just do it as he is going to be a very wealthy player.

Gagne is going to be commanding less then he is currently getting.

[ChaseSpace]

Philly may offer Gagne a deal better than the one he is getting to get him back. Yes I know they're close to cap hell but that hasn't stopped Homer before.

[Bolthed]

I know he just reeks of hockey sense, but Gagne and his 12 points are exactly impressing a lot of folks. At this point I'm just hoping he's gearing up for a stretch run and then a deep playoff run.

[pete]

I think Gagne will be better down the stretch, but I think I'd rather see his money spent on Stamkos' re-signing and also either getting a goaltender like Vokoun or trying to bring Brad Richards back to Tampa Bay (at which point maybe you give Roloson a one-year deal to be a 42 year old playing behind the most powerful offensive team assembled since the Pens in the early 90's).

[Sotnos]

Philly may offer Gagne a deal better than the one he is getting to get him back. Yes I know they're close to cap hell but that hasn't stopped Homer before.Why would he have any interest in going back there?

[Sotnos]

Panik with 4 goals & an assist against Norway today.

US-Canada semi tomorrow at 7:30

[pete]

They changed his stat line after the game, then. He had 3-1-4 right after the game with 2 of those goals being empty netters.

[Wrong Net Paulie]

WOW Russia knocks off Canada!

[Hoek]

Tough ending for the Canucks..

[PEIBolt]

Full marks to the Russian squad for not folding the tent. As a Canadian hockey fan, that loss certainly stings....but that's hockey.

[Donnie D]

I think both Canada and the Lightning met similar fates on Wednesday. Both had been pointing to one game for redemtion, both played fantastic and won that game and neither could sustain that intensity in the following game and got smoked. It took Canada until the 3rd to melt down and run out of gas, whereas the Lightning just didn't show up.

A lesson for 2 young teams that you have to play with the same intensity each game - especially against teams that are close in talent to yours. (Russia a little less talent, Pittsburg a little more talent)

[Coldrice]

Slightly off-topic

Russia's junior hockey champs kicked off Delta flight for being unruly

Hours after winning the World Junior Hockey title in Buffalo, members of Team Russia were kicked off a flight this morning for being either drunk or unruly.

WGRZ quotes police as saying the 30 team members were thrown off a Delta flight scheduled to leave Buffalo-Niagara International Airport because members of the team were intoxicated.

Unruly Rooskies (http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2011/01/russias-junior-hockey-champs-kicked-off-delta-flight-for-being-unruly/1)


I've taken the morning Delta flight from BUF - ATL numerous times in the past and if it is that same flight, that's like friggin' 6 in the morning!