2024 U-18's

[seventeen]

Maybe we could focus the tournament in this thread. Good start for Canada with a 6-3 win over Sweden. Canada doesn't often do well at these tournaments and before you yell "What!!!, how could that be!", there's a simple answer and it's because way too often our best guys are still involved in the CHL playoffs. This year, perhaps because schedules were compressed or the leagues started earlier, or there were more sweeps (I don't know), there are a lot fewer teams still involved in the MEM cup grind, so more of our good players became available and for the first time in ages, Canada is considered the top seed.

www.iihf.com/en/events/2024/wm18/gamecenter/playbyplay/55989/4-swe-vs-can

PS. One guy for sure to keep an eye on is Gavin McKenna, who isn't available to be drafted until 2026. He's 16 and had 97 points in 61 games for the Medicine Hat Tigers. For the first 3 months of the season, he was still 15, so that tells you something. He might be the youngest kid at the tournament but I haven't researched that. He scored 2 of Canada's goals today.

[Willie Dog]

The backup goalie for Canada looks like he just hit puberty

[NWTHabsFan]

I don’t remember a Canadian team with so many key players who are not eligible until later drafts: McKenna (2026), Martone (2025), Spence (2025), and McQueen (2025). The 3M line (from the list above) were Canada’s best line today, although McQueen got a five and game for a knee. Iginla, Ritchie and Greentree were quiet, but i expect they will be noticeable this tournament. Luchanko impressed me with his speed and Aitcheson (2025) was a kid I had never heard of that played a very solid game. He played a lot of tough PK minutes too, as Canada definitely had penalty trouble today.

Sweden’s most notable players were their top ranked 2024 draft eligibles: Zetterberg, Eriksson, Pettersson and defender Sahlin-Wellenius.

[NWTHabsFan]

As per usual, Canada is missing a lot of high end talent due to CHL playoffs or injuries. Parekh and Dickinson (playoffs) would really improve that D corps and Catton and Lidstrom (injuries) would play a huge part on the offensive side of the game. Just to name a few. A kid named Celebrini would not hurt either 😜

[seventeen]

Just as an fyi, Craig Button stated Berkly Catton would have been the captain on this team if he was playing. That’s not a surprise as he was the captain on the Gretzky Hlinka team in August.

[IamCanadiens]

Canada up 3-0 early in the first period in the semis. It's on TSN

[IamCanadiens]

5-4 Canada with Sweden pressing with 5 minutes to go in the 3rd

[IamCanadiens]

Phew, Canada escapes with a 5-4 victory. Ugly 3rd but they hung on. On to the gold medal against the US

[jkr]

May 4, 2024 12:47:22 GMT -5 IamCanadiens said:

Phew, Canada escapes with a 5-4 victory. Ugly 3rd but they hung on. On to the gold medal against the US

I tuned in early in the 2nd & they were leading 4-0. Close call.

[NWTHabsFan]

The “expected” final between CAN-USA is on now. In both games against SWE, Canada’s defense was tested and showed some warts. The Americans are definitely more dangerous on offense than that. Should be a good one.

[NWTHabsFan]

1-0 USA after one. The US has a fast team, and their goal was a result of being faster on a loose puck. They actually do that a lot, and it has given them a bit of an edge in play so far.

[NWTHabsFan]

Canada under siege. I don’t see this game being close any more.

[NWTHabsFan]

That USA goalie gives up the top of the net too easily. Unfortunately, Canada does not get enough chances to take more advantage of it. They did on both their goals though.

[IamCanadiens]

May 5, 2024 11:26:22 GMT -5 NWTHabsFan said:

Canada under siege. I don’t see this game being close any more.

Curious to see if the US plays safe as the period goes on. They shouldn't as they've dominated the majority of the game

[IamCanadiens]

What an unexpected turning point. 5 minute major for head contact. Canada tied it up and still 3 minutes to go in the major.

[IamCanadiens]

3 goals on man advantage. 5-3 Canada with just over 5 min to play

[NWTHabsFan]

MvKenna’s and Iginla’s PP goals were both glove high side. Just saying. What a costly penalty by Connolly.

[NWTHabsFan]

5-4 now. Don’t go away!

On the US’s first shot of the period.

[IamCanadiens]

May 5, 2024 12:28:27 GMT -5 NWTHabsFan said:

5-4 now. Don’t go away!

nail biting time

[NWTHabsFan]

What. A. Third. Period.

[IamCanadiens]

Can't believe he risked the icing to bury the empty netter. 6 - 4

[seventeen]

I recall reading that the concern with Connelly was his character. That's always a worrisome condition and it may have played out in today's game. I haven't seen it yet (recorded).

It should also be noted that Canada often doesn't do that well at this tournament because of missing players and this year is no different. Berkly Catton, Cayden Lindstrom are injured. Sennecke and Sam Dickinson are still in the playoffs, Parekh would improve our defense and a guy called Celebrini would also make a difference. The US isn't missing anyone and if they had a CHL player available, wouldn't pick him anyway because USA hockey is racist toward Canada. (They rarely pick an American CHL player, to punish them).

That's 6 guys at least who would be on this team. One third. But we still had a great team.

Canada's Olympic and IIHF World's future still looks very bright with all the great hockey talent coming up.

[NWTHabsFan]

This guy just keeps winning.

[NWTHabsFan]

May 5, 2024 14:03:56 GMT -5 seventeen said:

I recall reading that the concern with Connelly was his character. That's always a worrisome condition and it may have played out in today's game. I haven't seen it yet (recorded).

It should also be noted that Canada often doesn't do that well at this tournament because of missing players and this year is no different. Berkly Catton, Cayden Lindstrom are injured. Sennecke and Sam Dickinson are still in the playoffs, Parekh would improve our defense and a guy called Celebrini would also make a difference. The US isn't missing anyone and if they had a CHL player available, wouldn't pick him anyway because USA hockey is racist toward Canada. (They rarely pick an American CHL player, to punish them).

That's 6 guys at least who would be on this team. One third. But we still had a great team.

Canada's Olympic and IIHF World's future still looks very bright with all the great hockey talent coming up.

Yeah, Connelly’s character has been in question since his swastika post a number of years ago. He has had a big question mark attached to him by a number of scouts, but he is definitely a talented player and was one of the top USHL guys not on the NTDP team and was the best player at the last U19 World Junior A Challenge. The USA tend to reserve the U18 Worlds roster to members of the NTDP U18 team (the graduating class of the program) as they have played together for two straight years. They occasionally will add standouts from their U17 team (Hagens, Caufield, Hughes etc. over the years) but almost never pick any kids playing the the CHL. They tend to send CHL guys and non-USDP USHL based kids to the summer Hlinka-Gretzky U18 tournament. This year’s version is back in Edmonton in early August and will be the start of viewing for the 2025 draft class, although a few were standouts in this year’s IIHF U18s.

So, imagine being an outside invite and costing the core NTDP guys a gold medal after they played together for the last two years for this chance? He must be feeling pretty darn crappy right now.