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U.S. National Junior Team Gains 5-1 Victory Over Kazakhstan

LIBEREC, Czech Republic – The U.S. National Junior Team, with goals from five different players, earned a 5 -1 victory over Kazakhstan today in the opening game for both teams of the preliminary round of the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship.

Team USA dominated the second period. Rhett Rakhshani (Huntington Beach, Calif./University of Denver) put the U.S. ahead for good at 4:58 when he buried the rebound of a Kyle Okposo (St. Paul, Minn.) shot from the bottom of the left circle. Tyler Ruegsegger (Lakewood, Colo./University of Denver) also recorded an assist on the play. Mike Carman (Apple Valley, Minn./University of Minnesota) was the recipient of a nice feed from behind the net off the stick of Sweatt at 8:29, a marker that gave Team USA a two-goal advantage after 40 minutes. While U.S. netminder Jeremy Smith (Brownstown, Mich./Plymouth) had to make only three saves in the period, he made a critical one on Yevgeni Gasnikov from point blank range with just :01 left in the period.

Colin Wilson (Greenwich, Conn./Boston University) re-directed Cade Fairchild's (Duluth, Minn./University of Minnesota) power-play shot from the center point at 4:11 of the third period to make it 4-1 for Team USA, with vanRiemsdyk also getting an assist on the play. Okposo closed out the scoring at 17:43 when his shot from the side of the right circle deflected off the top of the glove of Smolnikov and into the net. Ruegsegger began the play by winning the faceoff.

vanRiemsdyk (1-1--2), Kyle Okposo (1-1--2), Ruegsegger (0-2--2) and Bill Sweatt (0-2--2) each recorded multiple-point games.

U.S. National Junior Team Falls to Czech Republic, 5-2, in Final Pre-Tournament Match-Up
December 22, 2007

CESKA TREBOVA, Czech Republic – James vanRiemsdyk (Middletown, N.J./Univ. of New Hampshire) scored both of the U.S. National Junior Team’s goals in a 5-2 loss here tonight against the Czech Republic in its final tune-up before the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship. The tournament is set for Dec. 26, 2007 – Jan. 5, 2008 in Liberec and Pardubice, Czech Republic.

vanRiemsdyk tallied the lone goal in the final stanza when he tapped home Jordan Schroeder’s (Prior Lake, Minn./U.S. Nat’l Under-18 Team) rebound at 11:14.

U.S. National Junior Team Defeats Western Michigan, 4-2, in Exhibition
December 18, 2007

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The 2008 U.S. National Junior Team netted two power-play goals and recorded a 37-14 shots advantage to secure a 4-2 win over Western Michigan University in an exhibition game Tuesday night at Lawson Arena.

Tonight was a very good test for us," said John Hynes, head coach of the U.S. National Junior Team. "Western Michigan challenged us physically, and several of our breakdowns cost us. The reason we play these games is to learn lessons that will help us to be prepared to win the World Junior Championship."

Team USA carried the play for much of the opening period, and was rewarded with two goals in the final four minutes of the stanza. Kyle Okposo (St. Paul, Minn./Univ. of Minnesota) put the U.S. ahead, 1-0, with a power-play goal at the 16:55 mark with assists going to Jamie McBain (Faribault, Minn./Univ. of Wisconsin) and Cade Fairchild (Duluth, Minn./Univ. of Minnesota). McBain set up the play by sending a pass from the right circle over to Okposo in the slot. Okposo then wristed a low shot through the legs of WMU goaltender Riley Gill.

Mike Carman (Apple Valley, Minn./Univ. of Minnesota) provided Team USA with a two-goal cushion with 2:58 left in the game. Rhett Rakhshani (Huntington Beach, Calif./Univ. of Denver) took a shot from the right circle that handcuffed Kuhn. Carman was able to slip the rebound into the back of the net. Bobby Sanguinetti (Lumberton, N.J././Brampton Battalion) was credited with the second assist on the play.

Kyle Okposo's Road to Long Island

On December 4th USA Hockey announced Team USA's Roster for the upcoming 2008 World Junior Championships which will be held from December 26, 2007 to January 5, 2008 in Liberec and Pardubice, Czech Republic. Kyle Okposo will make his second appearance in the tournament. The 7th overall selection in the draft by the Islanders in 2006, Okposo recently decided to leave the University of Minnesota and it is expected he will sign with the Islanders following the tournament.

Exclusive Team USA World Junior Media Guide:  Kyle Okposo's Bio

COLLEGIATE PLAYING EXPERIENCE: As a Sophomore (2007-08): Currently in his second season at the University of Minnesota of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association … Notched six goals and added four assists in 16 games through December 3. As a Freshman (2006-07): Finished second on the team with 40 points (19-21) in 40 games … Named to the All-WCHA Second Team and WCHA All- Rookie Team … Tied for eighth in the WCHA and third among conference freshmen in points … Recorded six power-play goals and three game-winners.

USA HOCKEY PLAYING EXPERIENCE: Making his second appearance with the U.S. National Junior Team. 2006-07: Member of 2007 U.S. National Junior Team …Skated in all seven games at the 2007 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship in Leksand & Mora Sweden … Recorded one assist as Team USA earned the bronze medal. 2005-06: Member of the 2006 U.S. Junior Select 18 & Under Team that competed at the 2006 Viking Cup in Camrose, Alberta … Paced the team with 10 points (3-7) in six games. 2004-05: Member of the U.S. Under-18 Select Team that participated in the 2005 Under-18 Junior World Cup (now known as the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka) in Piestany, Slovakia, and Breclav, Czech Republic … Ranked first on the team with six goals and tied for the team lead with nine points. 2003-04: Played on the U.S. Under-17 Select Team at the 2004 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in Halle, Germany … Scored three goals and added two assists to help the team to a second-place finish. 2002-03: Participated in the 2003 IIHF World Development Camp in Vierumaki, Finland.

ADDITIONAL PLAYING EXPERIENCE: 2005-06: Played with the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League … Ranked second on the team and sixth in the league in the regular season with 58 points (27-31) in 50 games … Helped lead the Buccaneers to the Clark Cup as Tier I Junior A national champions … Led the league in playoff scoring with five goals and 11 assists in 11 games en route to being named Clark Cup Playoff MVP … Named a USHL First Team All-Star and earned USHL Rookie of the Year honors. 2004-05: Helped lead Shattuck-St. Mary’s (Minn.) to the USA Hockey Youth Tier I 18 & Under National Championship … Ranked third on the team in goals (47) and points (92) and fourth in assists (45). 2003-04: Skated in 50 games for Shattuck-St. Mary’s and totaled 99 points (46-53) in 71 games.

PERSONAL: Son of Michelle and Kome Okposo … Selected by the New York Islanders in the first round (7th overall) of the 2006 National Hockey League Entry Draft.

 

	Rakhshani's Chance to Shine
	Rhett Rakhshani was not invited to the U.S. National Junior Squad for the 2007 tournament despite a strong showing at the evaluation camp during the summer of 2006. This time the U.S. team did not make the same mistake. Rakhshani adds speed and playmaking ability to the American squad.

COLLEGIATE PLAYING EXPERIENCE: As a Sophomore (2007-08): Playing his second season at the University of Denver of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association … Collected 10 points (3-7) in 12 games through December 3. As a Freshman (2006-07): Ranked third on the club with 36 points (10-26) in 40 games ... Notched five power-play goals and one shorthanded tally … Led all University of Denver players with 26 assists.

USA HOCKEY PLAYING EXPERIENCE: Making his first appearance with the U.S. National Junior Team. 2005-06: Played for the U.S. National Under-18 Team within USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program … Recorded 24 goals and 25 assists in 59 games … Helped lead the U.S. National Under-18 Team to the gold medal at the 2006 International Ice Hockey Federation World Under-18 Championship in Angleholm & Halmstad, Sweden … Scored five goals and added an assist … Finished the tournament with a +2 rating. 2004-05: Skated for the U.S. National Under-17 team within the NTDP … Recorded 19 goals and 24 assists … Finished second on the team with 43 points … Recorded four points (1-3) as Team USA won the Compuware Four Nations Cup in Rochester, N.Y. 2003-04: Participated in his second USA Hockey Player Development Camp (2003, 2004).

ADDITIONAL PLAYING EXPERIENCE: 2003-04: Played in 56 games for the California Wave Midget AAA team … Totaled 54 goals and 67 assists for 121 points.

PERSONAL: Son of Joan and Steven Rakhshani … Selected by the New York Islanders in the fourth round (100th overall) of the 2006 National Hockey League Entry Draft.

 

	Marcinko Back to Lead Weak Slovaks
	Tomas Marcinko will star for the Slovaks in his second tournament, so he has some experience under his belt. A second year player in the OHL with the Barrie Colts, Marcinko will be heavily counted on to provide offense to a Slovak team that is not considered a threat. He led all Islanders prospects in the 2007 tournament in scoring with 4 points in 6 games played.

2007 WJC's:

Recap: Marcinko assisted on Slovakia's first goal in their second game, a 6-3 loss to Sweden. The goal came in the first period and tied the score 1-1. The goal was scored by Vladimir Mihalik and was assisted by Marcinko and Julius Sinkovic.

vs. USA Dec. 30th: Despite Slovakia losing to Team USA 6-1, Marcinko was named Slovakia's player of the game. This was also despite the fact that he sat out for 12 minutes of the second period after taking a 2 minute hitting from behind penalty along with a 10 minute misconduct.

vs. Belarus (Relegation Jan 4th): Marcinko had his best game of the tournament against a poor Belarus team that managed to beat Germany in their first relegation match. Entering the game 0-5 in the tournament, Slovakia got a goal and two assists from Marcinko in a 9-0 rout. Marcinko assisted on a shorthanded goal midway through the first period to make it 2-0. He then scored midway through the second period on the power play to make it 4-0. He added another assist less than four minutes later on the power play to make it 6-0.

 

Figren Surprise Addition for Swedes

Passed over in 2007 when Sweden was the host nation, this time around they invited Robin Figren to the squad. Figren is currently in his second season playing in the WHL. He spent last season with the Calgary Hitmen, but was acquired this season in the expansion draft by the Edmonton Oil Kings. The Swedes are hoping Figren can find a scoring touch and add some grit to their lineup. This will be a great test for the Islanders 3rd round pick in 2006.

 

	Supporting Wall
	Stefan Ridderwall will most likely serve as backup goaltender for the Swedes behind Jonas Enroth. Ridderwall has played in a good system for one of the elite programs in his country, Djurgarden. If he should see any action it will be good experience for the Islanders 2006 sixth round selection. Ridderwall covers much of the net at 6'3" and 198 pounds.

Team USA not Enough Spots....

Last year Rhett Rakhshani was the deserving American to be left off the roster. This year it is C Doug Rogers, who had a very good showing at the summer evaluation camp. If Rogers should return to college in 2008-09, look for him to make a statement for the 2009 WJC's in Ottawa. The same goes for Colgate's Brian Day. Unfortunately, RW Shea Guthrie has never really been considered.

New Competition

Replacing Germany and Belarus in this years tournament will be Kazakhstan and Denmark.

Standings

Format: Top three teams in each division advance to Quarterfinals with top seed receiving a bye to the Semifinals. Each team plays four games in the round robin against the teams within their division. Starting in this years tournament, there will no longer be ties. The WJC tournament is adopting an NHL style format with overtime's and a shootout if needed (shootout structure is also the same as the NHL). Point structure is different: winner in regulation receives 3 points. If game is won in OT the winner receives 2 points and the loser receives one. Same with the shootout results. For playoff format, see below.

Results

Exhibition Schedule

1	CAN 5 - Red Bull 0	Dec. 17
2	USA 4 - WMU 2	Dec. 18
3	CAN 6 - SVK 1	Dec. 20
4	USA 2 - CZE 5	Dec. 22
5	CAN 4 - FIN 2	Dec. 23

 

Pool	#	Game/Result
Wed. Dec. 26
A	1	SWE - SVK
B	2	USA - KAZ
A	3	CZE - CAN
B	4	FIN - RUS
Thu. Dec. 27
A	5	SVK - CAN
B	6	KAZ - RUS
A	7	CZE - DEN
B	8	FIN - SUI
Fri. Dec. 28
A	9	DEN - SWE
B	10	SUI - USA
Sat. Dec. 29
A	11	SVK - CZE
B	12	KAZ - FIN
A	13	CAN - SWE
B	14	RUS - USA
Sun. Dec. 30
A	15	DEN - SVK
B	16	SUI - KAZ
Mon. Dec. 31
A	17	SWE - CZE
B	18	RUS - SUI
A	19	CAN - DEN
B	20	USA - FIN
Tue, Jan. 1 - Day Off
Wed. Jan. 2
Qual.	21	2A - 3B
Rel.	22	4A - 5B
Qual.	23	2B - 3A
Rel.	24	4B - 5A
Thu. Jan. 3
Rel.	25	5B - 5A
5th pl.	26
Rel.	27	4A - 4B
Fri. Jan. 4
Semi	28	1A - 2B/3A
Semi	29	1B - 2A/3B
Sat. Jan. 5
Bronze	30
Gold	31

Top 2008 Undrafted Prospects

C Steven Stamkos, CAN: A future NHL star who most likely will go #1 overall in the 2008 NHL Draft. Flash, dash & lots of speed.

D Drew Doughty, CAN: the best d-man slated for the 2008 NHL Draft. Doughty has been compared to Bryan Berard at the same age, but according to scouts is better defensively.

D Luke Schenn, CAN: not flashy but considered a future shut down d-man.

C Zach Boychuk, CAN: very fast and will be counted on for offense. Scouts compare him to Daniel Briere.

C Colin Wilson, USA: son of former NHL'er Carey Wilson is considered a future power forward.

LW Nikita Filatov, RUS: smooth, finesse, good hands.

D Vyacheslav Voinov, RUS: second tournament appearance. Already takes regular shift in Russian Elite League.

LW Kirill Petrov, RUS: a Russian power forward at 6'3" and 198 pounds.

C Evgeny Grachev, RUS: a two way player and is a good playmaker.

G Robert Mayer, SUI: inconsistent butterfly goaltender plays in the QMJHL for Saint John.

G Harri Sateri, FIN: will back up Riku Helenius but some say he could be a future Kari Lehtonen or Miikka Kiprusoff.

D Johan Motin, SWE: considered a complete d-man who has already seen time in the SEL.

LW Mattias Tedenby , SWE: fast and great with the puck, but smallish at 5'9" and 165 pounds.

LW Mikkel Bodker, DEN: a high speed winger in the OHL draws comparisons to Maxim Afinogenov.

Top 2009 Undrafted Prospects

C John Tavares, CAN: the Next Next One will finally get his first shot at the WJC's.

D Victor Hedman, SWE: a monster d-man already playing in the SEL at age 16 is 6'6" and 220 pounds. Has drawn comparisons to Chris Pronger.

F Magnus Svensson-Paajarvi, SWE: youngest player in the WJC's since Sidney Crosby in 2004.

F Jordan Schroeder, USA: Could see some time with the U.S. squad.

F Richard Panik, SVK: more to come...

Didn't Quite Make it

Angelo Esposito has struck out, getting passed on by Canada for the third year in a row. Joining him for the second year in a row himself will be D Keaton Ellerby. Also surprise cuts were Zach Hamill, Brendan Smith and Ryan White. Most surprisingly, d-men Alex Pietrangelo and Michael Del Zotto were not even invited to Canada's selection camp. Both are projected first round picks in 2008.

2009 World Junior Championship's

Canada will be the host country for next year's tournament. It will be held in Ottawa.

For a History of the WJC's check out TSN.ca's site. Obviously Canada is the focus but it's still very good.

News links: 2008 World Juniors Official Site 2008 World Junior Championships - TSN.ca 2008 World Junior Championships - hockeycanada.ca USA Hockey World Juniors Coverage