A Sabre Fan's Guide To The 2012 IIHF World Junior Championships

by Andy Boron on Dec 26, 2011 12:00 PM EST in Prospects

The 2012 IIHF U-20 World Junior Championships kick off today in Edmonton, and we've got everything you need to know about the Buffalo Sabres prospects participating, as well as Team USA, because America and all that.

Buffalo Sabres Prospects:

Mark Pysyk - Pysyk just missed the cut last season, but is locked in to Team Canada's roster this year as one of their seven defensemen. According to Kris Baker of SabresProspects.com, it's unclear as to the role Pysyk will play for Team Canada, but as a smart, stable defensemen he should be able to find ample playing time.

Joel Armia - Buffalo's controversial first-round pick this year has found his way onto Team Finland for the second time. He's been heating up lately after a slow start, and has the ability to both snipe from the wing and tip pucks in front of the net. His effort can be inconsistent, as with all young players, but it should be interesting to see if Armia can carry his hot streak into the tournament.

Bonus Prospect: Adam Clendening - While not a Sabres prospect, Clendening will be of interest to Western New Yorkers because he hails from Niagara Falls. A Blackhawks draft pick, Clendening will play defense for Team USA.

Tournament Schedule/Where To Watch:

The entire tournament schedule can be found at the IIHF website here, but for you lazy Americans out there (typical) here's the Team USA schedule:

12/26 - USA vs Denmark - 8:00pm

12/28 - USA vs Finland - 3:30pm

12/30 - USA vs Czech Republic - 3:30pm

12/31 - USA vs Canada - 8:00pm
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1/2 - Quarterfinal Round - TBD

1/3 - Semifainl Round - TBD

1/5 - Bronze Medal Game - 3:30pm
1/5 - Gold Medal Game - 8:00pm

You can watch all of these games on NHL Network, or if you don't get that channel then you can stream the Team USA games on NHL.com. Here's the link to the complete US television schedule, which features five additional non-Team USA games.

More tourney info and links after the break.

Tournament Links:

Here's the 2012 IIHF WJC website, which has the schedule, rosters, and news.
The official site for Team USA and the Team USA blog. The Team Canada site can be found here.
For media coverage, here's the NHL.com WJC blog, here's TSN's WJC site, check out SB Nation's own Puck Worlds site for some great coverage and previews, and if you aren't already going to SabresProspects.com for all your news about the baby Sabres, then you're doing it wrong.

Best Crazy European Names:

From Finland: Simo-Pekka Riikola and Roope Hamalainen

From Switzerland: Luca Boltshauser

From Latvia: Vitalijs Hvorostinnis and Zemgus Girgensons

And my personal favorite, Patrick and Oliver Bjorkstrand of Team Denmark, whom I like to imagine are brothers. Beware the Brothers Bjorkstrand.

Special thanks to the folks at Jasper's Rink, from whom some of the links were ~~stolen~~ borrowed. Enjoy the tournament!

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Comments

Did anyone besides the Chicken Littles consider Armia controversial?

Save Jenrry Mejia!
2012 Amazin' Avenue Offseason Plan: 2nd place

by Ogre39666 on Dec 26, 2011 3:46 PM EST reply actions

The Sky is Falling! The Sky is Falling!

I thought it was an odd pick for the Buffalo Sabres to make, a team that typically drafts North American prospects and has made some terrible picks when they have gone outside the box and drafted European players in recent years. (I consider Vanek a North American Prospect because he played for the University of Minnesota.) I think the biggest surprise when the Sabres drafted Armia was the fact he is a winger and the Sabres needed depth at Center. I would have rather the Sabres drafted someone like Mark McNeill, who went a couple picks after Armia. Armia is a good talent, and I guess it’s good to draft the best talent available, regardless of position, when you can.

"If we needed any more motivation to win a Cup sooner than later, we've got one now," Black said. "I really want to listen to the game that RJ calls when he finally gets to shout out, 'Buffalo wins the Stanley Cup.'"
"Do it or Die Trying."

by FloridaBuffalo on Dec 26, 2011 4:19 PM EST up reply actions

Two big things made a bunch of folks antsy – the fact that he’s European and plays in a European league, and the fact that reports came out questioning his effort. Never mind the fact that all young players give inconsistent effort, and that he needed time to develop more in the Euro leagues before coming to play in North America.

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@andyboron

by Andy Boron on Dec 26, 2011 4:27 PM EST up reply actions