World Junior Championships 2011 Viewers Guide: Players To Watch & TV Schedule

Juniors

Over at The Hockey Writers, I've completed a series featuring players to watch at this year's World Junior Hockey Championships in Buffalo, NY.

Part 1: Team Canada players were highlighted


Part 2 highlighted some of the young guns who are vital to the success of the other contending nations – the favoured defending champions USA, along with Sweden and Russia

Part 3 features the best of the rest - who might emerge as "El Nino" did last year and what will Niederreiter do for an encore?

TV Schedules:

USA:

Date	Game	Time (EST)
12/26	Russia vs. Canada	4pm
	Finland vs. USA	8pm
12/28	Canada vs. Czech Republic	4pm
	USA vs. Slovakia	8pm
12/29	Norway vs. Canada	7:30pm
12/30	Sweden vs Czech Republic	3pm
	Germany vs USA	7pm
12/31	Canada vs Sweden	4pm
	USA vs Switzerland	8pm
1/2	Quarterfinal #1	3:30pm
	Quarterfinal #2	7:30pm
1/3	Semifinal #1	3:30pm
	Semifinal #2	7:30pm
1/5	Bronze Medal Game	3:30pm
	Gold Medal Game	7:30pm

All games on NHL Network.

Canada:

TSN Schedule -
Sunday, December 26 - 4:00 pm ET - Russia vs Canada.
Sunday, December 26 - 8:00 pm ET - Finland vs United States - TSN2.
Tuesday, December 28 - 4:00 pm ET - Canada vs Czech Republic.
Tuesday, December 28 - 7:00 pm ET - Sweden vs Russia.
Wednesday, December 29 - 7:30 pm ET - Norway vs Canada.
Thursday, December 30 - 3:00 pm ET - Sweden vs Czech Republic.
Thursday, December 30 - 7:00 pm ET - Germany vs United States.
Friday, December 31 - 4:00 pm ET - Canada vs Sweden.
Friday, December 31 - 8:00 pm ET - United States vs Switzerland.
Sunday, January 2 - 3:30 pm ET - Quarterfinal #1.
Sunday, January 2 - 7:30 pm ET - Quarterfinal #2.
Monday, January 3 - 3:30 pm ET - Semifinal #1.
Monday, January 3 - 7:30 pm ET - Semifinal #2.
Wednesday, January 5 - 3:30 pm ET - Bronze Medal.
Wednesday, January 5 - 7:30 pm ET - Gold Medal.

All games are on TSN except for Dec 26 - 8:00 pm ET - Finland-United States.
That game will be on TSN2 due to Vikings-Eagles NFL game being shown on TSN. (Stick tap to LaxSabre - HFBoards)

Read more...

NHL Top 100 Prospect Rankings (via THW)

My major preseason project over at The Hockey Writers - ranking the Top 100 NHL Prospects. I am currently working on the Top 250 Prospects in a search-able and sortable table format. Stay tuned!

Here's an excerpt from Part 4 (1 to 25), which links up to all four parts:
 
Notes:

• The list has been compiled with an emphasis on long term, top end potential. NHL readiness is taken under consideration as well.
• The pattern of ranking goaltenders particularly tough is evident in my entry draft rankings and is again the case here.
• When available, prospects are linked to their respective detailed prospect profile, which I have completed over last couple of seasons. Otherwise, the links will take the reader to HockeyDB.com or Hockeys Future.
• As noted above, to qualify for this list, a prospect has to be drafted or signed as a free agent and is eligible for the Calder Trophy
• The Top 100 will be released in a series of 4 articles.
• After the Top 100 prospects have been released, stay tuned for a mega listing of the Top 250 NHL prospects in a searchable and sortable table format. Find out which players narrowly missed getting into the Top 100 rankings.

*This article contains prospects ranked 1 to 25.
* To view prospects ranked 26 to 50, click here for Part 3.
* To view prospects ranked 51 to 75, click here for Part 2.
*To view prospects ranked 76 to 100, click here for Part 1.

Part 4: (Read on...)
http://thehockeywriters.com/nhl-top-100-prospect-rankings-part-4-1to25/

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The Hockey Spy’s 2010 NHL Entry Draft Preview – Nino “El Nino” Niederreiter

"El Nino" - Detailed "Full Potential" Profile featured on The Hockey Writers:

Nino Niederreiter (Click on name for up- to- date stats)
Position: LW
Age: 17
Date of birth: September 08, 1992
Place of birth: Chur, Switzerland
Ht: 6-2 Wt: 203
Shoots: L
Current team: Portland Winterhawks, WHL
NHL Status: Draft Eligible 2010
One-Timer:
Niederreiter should easily exceed Michel Riesen (14^th overall  1997) as the highest Swiss player ever drafted. While destined to be perhaps the greatest player ever to hail from Switzerland, beyond that “El Nino” is simply an extremely talented forward when stacked against the best the world of hockey has to offer – period.
Size. Skill. Strength. Skating. Shot. Creativity. Passion. Desire. Maturity. Great hands. Defensive accountability.
These characteristics all add up to a complete forward destined for greatness.

Read on...
http://thehockeywriters.com/2010-nhl-entry-draft-prospect-nino-niederreiter/

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