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***Jexter*** · 03-25-2024, 12:21 AM

S75 IIHF Weekend Recap

Howdy everyone, gonna do something a little different for this recap since we are combining two sims worth of play. I am not sure exactly where I am reporting from since the Norwegian hosts have been moving us all around their beautiful country and I cannot pronounce the town name I am writing from. Either way, lets get into our ranking style recap for the IIHF games.

Group A
1. Japan
7 GP 4-0-2-1 for 13 points
Japan has come out with 13 points form their first round around the robin and one and they are looking for vengeance after their first round bounce last season. Aleksandr Iskandrov leads the Land of the Rising Sun, but we need to bring up BASE PACK, the perennially great goalie. PACK has a save percentage of 0.964 and a game rating of 99. Japan may get eclipsed by other teams in their group as they have played one more game, but their playoff spot is looking good.

2. United States
6 GP 4-0-2-0 for 12 points
There has been a bit of turnover for the US roster, but their performances have finally reflected a goal of the US management: an offensively minded team. The US of S74 scored far less than this team does on average, but the US will need to work on their defense a little bit as their losses have come when they have allowed 6 and 4 goals. Benson Fiorentini leads the US in points while the Goalie tandem have been solid with Casey Fantobens being the surprise in net as Justin Time is not having the best of tournaments, struggling in the two losses.

3. Germany
6 GP 3-0-2-1 for 10 points
For the defending champions, 3rd in the Group is not ideal, but there are still plenty of games. The Line of Terror is back with Winter, Kirkby and Biemans leading their team alongside Hodor and Oskar Schloz. The Germans do have some elements to shore up as their top line is not lighting the lamp as much as they did, but it is still early.

4. Czechia
6 GP 3-0-3-0 for 9 points
The Czech team is perfectly balanced in 19 goals for and 19 against and 3 wins and 3 losses. (BTW the perfection extends to the goalies' records too). The Czechs are looking to get back into the playoffs for the first time since S71. They have been an anomaly however in who they win or loss to. Dominik Winters is leading Czechia and the rest of the team is not far behind.

5. Canada
5 GP 2-0-3-0 for 6 points
The Canadians are still well within striking distance of a playoff berth, especially with more games to play than those they are chasing. With a team of many recently traded players, a return to a familiar setting might be comforting. Jack St. Clair leads the Canadians, but the aging Ben Jammin (hi James) will need to step their game up.

6. Ireland
6 GP 1-1-4-0 for 5 points
The Irish have been struggling to get goals consistently this season, but 4 is the lucky number for them as they have won every game in which they have scored 4 goals. This includes an overtime stunner against the reigning and defending champs in Germany. Viktor Hargreeves does lead the Team in Green in points.

7. Latvia
4 GP 1-1-2-0 for 5 points
Latvia down in 7th is a bit of a misnomer as they have played two less games than most of the rest of the standings. Latvia has called up many young players to bolster their roster this season and the added experience could be great for them. They have perhaps the largest turnover in a roster this season. That being said, playoffs are still not out of question. Sophie Bordeleau leads the team in points, but again, they still have only played a third of their games.

Group B

1. Switzerland
6 GP 4-0-1-1 for 13 points
The Swiss are coming in hot from a fantastic IIHF last season where they were left with a silver medal after a loss to Germany and have seemingly lost next to no momentum despite bringing in some rookies. A staunch defense has been the name of the game for the Swiss, not needing to blow anyone out when their goalies and defensive style keep the goals against down. Taschen Messer leads the Swiss in goals with 4 goals while Reed Kobo has 8 points.

2. Sweden
5 GP 3-1-1-0 for 11 points
The Swedes have come on strong, much like they did last season and are technically averaging the most points per game in Group B. The Swedes have a fantastic team effort going with all lines contributing, but it is Matsmith Söderberg-Tremblay (6 points), with Adelie de Pengu, Lord Farquaads, Lias Ekholm-Gunnarsson, and M'Baku Oluburi (all tied at 5) who lead the Swedish contingent.

3. Finland
6 GP 3-0-2-1 for 10 points
The Finns missed out on medals last time around in the IIHF, but high scoring has been their bread and butter this event. Only in one game of the first six was their goal total held to below 4. Despite that, there have been some defensive struggles in many goals being given up by the Finns. That being said, Defender Nash Topalo leads Finland with 9 points, followed by Outdoor Truck with 8.

4. Norway
6 GP 3-0-3-0 for 9 points
Our hosts have come out perfectly balanced in their first round robin, but will be looking for more as they have medal aspirations. The Norwegians have struggled to find consistency, but there have been plenty of goals. Pawter Meowski and Gnabe Dabson lead with 12 and 10 points. With the Norwegians in immediate danger of being knocked out, they will want to start racking up more points soon.

5. France
5 GP 1-2-2-0 for 7 points
Last season, France had a stinging loss to miss out on the playoffs in the IIHF and are looking to avoid that now. They are currently are on the outside looking in with a game extra to play. Winning scrappy in their games, they are fighting for every point. Alvin Wong and Luca Pane are the point leaders while Enes Gundogan remains undefeated in net. Will they upset the host nation? Or will one of the other top 4 nations in Group B fall?

6. Great Britain
6 GP 1-1-3-1 for 6 points
The British have a flair for the dramatic this season with five of their six games being decided by one goal, one of those being overtime and the other being a shootout. The Brits are being led by Patrice Bergeron by the story has to be their goalie tandem with Jeff Newman (0.926 SV%) and Bernard Lodge (0.903 SV%). Both have a faced a verifiable onslaught of shots in their games. If the British can find the offense to reward these goalies, they can maybe catch their rivals in France and maybe even get back into the playoffs for the first time since S73.

7. Independent Russia
6 GP 0-1-3-2 for 4 points
The Independent Russian delegation has improved this year, which is promising considering the new management. The Russians are being led by a pair of Malamutes in Vyacheslav Shevchenko and Karter Mendenhall. This year in the IIHF might be more about growth for the IR and they are certainly do it.

And that does it for the recap. Be sure to tune into the IIHF as we will continue with the double round robin.

WC: 1268

***By-Tor*** · 03-25-2024, 10:31 AM

Credit to enigmatic, Merica, and tweedledunn for sigs

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