Low Expectation for Canadians WJC Team?

Over at Sportsnet.CA, Gare Joyce has an interesting perspective today. I am actually surprised that there isn't more hand-wringing going on north of the border. Especially, since hockey is Canada's national sport. I also believe that if the USA doesn't make some noise in the medal round, there could also be some hand-wringing south of the border, too.

HELSINKI – If you listened to the scouts in attendance at the Ice Hall on Thursday, you come away with awfully low expectations for Canada going into the elimination round.

It’s not the fact that the defending champions will be facing the host Finns, who had an impressive comeback win over the Czechs Thursday.

More to the point, with a 5-2 loss to Sweden, Canada has one regulation win through four opening-round games. Even that comes with a qualifier: Canada rolled over a Danish team that was bound to suffer a letdown in the wake of a tight win over Switzerland that secured the team a spot in the A pool next year.

Thankfully there are no placement games for losing teams in the quarter-final or else this Canadian team could end up in a seventh-place game—echoes of ’98 and the loss to Kazakhstan.

2016 WJC Tourney Playoff Schedule

Quarter-Finals (2 Jan.):
14:00 Russia vs. Denmark, Hartwall Arena (7 AM EST)
16:00 Sweden vs. Slovakia, Helsinki Ice Hall (9 AM EST)
18:00 Finland vs. Canada, Hartwall Arena (11 AM EST)
20:00 USA vs. Czech Republic, Helsinki Ice Hall (1 PM EST)

Semi-Finals (4 Jan.):
Winner SWE/SVK vs. Winner FIN/CAN
Winner RUS/DEN vs. Winner USA/CZE
The semi-finals are played at Hartwall Arena at 16:00 and 20:00 respectively.

Now the fun starts. If team USA wins their next game, they will probably end up playing the Russians in the semi-finals. Win or go home. Team USA needs to win their next game to at least get a shot of winning a medal.  These games will be shown on the NHL Network.

Switzerland’s Chris Egli suspended for hit on Sweden's William Nylander

The IIHF doesn't mess around. This dirty, dangerous hit was worth a three-game suspension. The perpetrator will not play again until the playoffs or relegation. This is one of the things that I like about the IIHF, they don't care if said players is a star or a third line player. These acts of brutality are responded to immediately. Switzerland’s Chris Egli suspended three games for this dirty hit on William Nylander. Do the crime, do the time. [Link to video]

2016 WJC: USA vs. Canada

Today is the day, it's boxing day in Canada and the World Junior Championship finally kicks off at noon. I am sure that most of us are used to the USA vs. Canada game being later in the tourney,  but we get the matchup right a way. First thing out of the gates we have the USA  vs. Canada.

I had a person or two ask me if there was a online broadcast, here it is. Click on the link to the online broad cast for USA vs. Canada. Here's a link that doesn't require your credit card.

Dave Starman and Steve Mears will have the call of the game on the NHL channel. Most of you will recognize Starman from the CBS Sport Net.

Here are a couple of links to get yourself in the mood.

U.S. excited to kick off WJC with game against Canada [NHL.COM]

12 things to watch at World Junior Championship [NHL.COM]

20 Players to Watch at the WJC [The Hockey Writers]

2016 World Junior Roster Breakdown [The Hockey Writers]

Every NHL Team’s Prospects at the 2016 World Junior Championships [The Hockey Writers]

WJC: Previewing Team USA [The Hockey Writers]

2016 WJC TV Schedule

NHL Network 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship Game Schedule – December 2015 through January 2016
Date	Visitor	Home	Time
Saturday, December 26	Czech Republic	Russia	6:00 a.m. CT
Saturday, December 26	Switzerland	Sweden	8:30 a.m. CT
Saturday, December 26	United States	Canada	12:00 p.m. CT
Saturday, December 26	Finland	Belarus	2:30 p.m. CT *
Sunday, December 27	Belarus	Slovakia	8:00 a.m. CT
Sunday, December 27	Denmark	Switzerland	12:00 p.m. CT
Monday, December 28	Sweden	United States	8:00 a.m. CT
Monday, December 28	Canada	Denmark	12:00 p.m. CT
Monday, December 28	Slovakia	Czech Republic	2:30 p.m. CT *
Tuesday, December 29	Belarus	Russia	800 a.m. CT
Tuesday, December 29	Switzerland	Canada	12:00 p.m. CT
Wednesday, December 30	Czech Republic	Belarus	6:00 a.m. CT
Wednesday, December 30	Sweden	Denmark	8:30 a.m. CT
Wednesday, December 30	United States	Switzerland	12:00 p.m. CT
Wednesday, December 30	Slovakia	Finland	3:30 p.m. CT *
Thursday, December 31	Denmark	United States	8:00 a.m. CT
Thursday, December 31	Canada	Sweden	2:30 p.m. CT *
Sat, Jan. 2 - Tue, Jan. 5	QF, SF, Bronze & Gold TBD	QF, SF, Bronze & Gold TBD	To Be Determined

The World Junior Championship kicks off tomorrow. These games will be on the NHL Network. This season the games are in Finland. In my humble opinion, games that are in North America are more user friendly. I am sure this year, fans will be doing get a lot of use out of their DVR.

USA WJC TV Schedule

Just like last season, all of the USA WJC games will be on NHL Network.

Sat., Dec. 26	Canada	Helsinki Ice Hall	8:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m.	NHLN
Mon., Dec. 28	Sweden	Helsinki Ice Hall	4:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m.	NHLN
Wed., Dec. 30	Switzerland	Helsinki Ice Hall	8:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m.	NHLN
Thu., Dec. 31	Denmark	Helsinki Ice Hall	4:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m.	NHLN
Sat., Jan. 2	Quarterfinals	TBA	TBA
Mon., Jan. 4	Semifinals	Hartwall Arena	TBA
Tues. , Jan. 5	Bronze-Medal Game Gold-Medal Game	Hartwall Arena	TBA