World Juniors 2018: Czech Republic vs. Russia, Belarus vs. Sweden, Denmark vs. USA previews, TV schedule, online streams, rosters, and more
Day One of the 2018 World Junior Hockey Championship kicks off with eight of the 10 teams in action.
It’s the first day of action in Buffalo, with all the teams on equal footing ahead of a busy opening schedule. Three of the gold medal contenders take on an upstart team hoping to grab an unexpected point to set the tone for their tournament.
12:00 PM EST Czech Republic vs. Russia (TSN, TSN GO)
This game will likely be closer than many would have predicted based on recent results. Czech forwards Filip Chytil, Martin Necas, and Filip Zadina can hold their own up against Klim Kostin, Vitaliy Abramov, and Andrei Svechnikov on the Russian side.
This game will set things in motion in what shapes up to be a wide-open Group B.
Team Czech Republic roster
| # | Player | Position | League | Current team (NHL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Milan Kloucek | G | Extraliga | HC Dynamo Pardubice |
| 30 | Josef Kořenář | G | Czech2 | HC Benatky nad Jizerou (SJS) |
| 1 | Jakub Škarek | G | Extraliga | HC Dukla Jihlava |
| 19 | Vojtěch Budík | D | WHL | Prince Albert Raiders (BUF) |
| 23 | Jakub Galvas | D | Extraliga | HC Olomouc (CHI) |
| 3 | Libor Hájek | D | WHL | Saskatoon Blades (TBL) |
| 11 | Filip Král | D | WHL | Spokane Chiefs |
| 7 | Radim Salda | D | QMJHL | Saint John Sea Dogs |
| 14 | Ondrej Vála | D | WHL | Kamloops Blazers (DAL) |
| 21 | Filip Chytil | F | AHL | Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR) |
| 17 | Kryštof Hrabík | F | Czech2 | HC Benatky nad Jizerou |
| 16 | Martin Kaut | F | Extraliga | HC Dynamo Pardubice |
| 28 | Petr Kodýtek | F | Czech2 | HC Litomerice |
| 15 | Daniel Kurovský | F | Extraliga | HC Vitkovice |
| 20 | Jakub Lauko | F | Extraliga | Piráti Chomutov |
| 8 | Martin Nečas | F | Extraliga | HC Kometa Brno (CAR) |
| 25 | Radovan Pavlík | F | Czech2 | HC Litomerice |
| 22 | Kristian Reichel | F | WHL | Red Deer Rebels |
| 27 | Ostap Safin | F | QMJHL | Saint John Sea Dogs (EDM) |
| 6 | Marek Zachar | F | QMJHL | Sherbrooke Phoenix |
| 18 | Filip Zadina | F | QMJHL | Halifax Mooseheads |
Team Russia final roster
| # | Player | Position | League | Current team (NHL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Mikhail Berdin | G | USHL | Sioux Fall Stampede (WPG) |
| 1 | Alexei Melnichuk | G | MHL | SKA-1946 |
| 30 | Vladislav Sukhachyov | G | MHL | Chelyabinsk Polar Bears |
| 22 | Nikolai Knyzhov | D | VHL | SKA-Neva Saint Petersburg |
| 2 | Nikita Makeyev | D | KHL | CSKA Moscow |
| 5 | Artyom Minulin | D | WHL | Swift Current Broncos |
| 25 | Dmitriy Samorukov | D | OHL | Guelph Storm (EDM) |
| 4 | Alexander Shepelev | D | VHL | Chelmet Chelyabinsk |
| 26 | Vladislav Syomin | D | VHL | SKA-Neva Saint Petersburg |
| 15 | Anatoliy Yelizarov | D | KHL | Salavat Yulaev Ufa |
| 6 | Yegor Zaitsev | D | KHL | Dynamo Moscow (NJD) |
| 11 | Vitaliy Abramov | F | QMJHL | Victoriaville Tigres (CBJ) |
| 16 | Andrei Altybarmakyan | F | KHL | SKA Saint Petersburg (CHI) |
| 12 | Georgi Ivanov | F | KHL | Lokomotiv Yaroslavl |
| 28 | Artur Kayumov | F | KHL | Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (CHI) |
| 24 | Klim Kostin | F | AHL | San Antonio Rampage (STL) |
| 13 | Mikhail Maltsev | F | KHL | SKA Saint Petersburg (NJD) |
| 10 | Artyom Manukyan | F | KHL | Avangard Omsk |
| 27 | Alexei Polodyan | F | VHL | SKA-Neva Saint Petersburg |
| 17 | German Rubtsov | F | QMJHL | Acadie-Bathurst Titan (PHI) |
| 19 | Marsel Sholokhov | F | KHL | Traktor Chelyabinsk |
| 7 | Dmitriy Sokolov | F | OHL | Sudbury Wolves (MIN) |
| 14 | Andrei Svechnikov | F | OHL | Barrie Colts |
2:00 PM EST Belarus vs. Sweden (TSN GO)
There will be some future NHL stars in Team Sweden’s lineup today, including forward Elias Pettersson and heavily scouted defenceman Rasmus Dahlin. Belarus will hope to counter with a looser game from the lower expectations they face, while Maxim Sushko will be the one to watch as the recently promoted nation attempts to pull off an early stunner.
Team Belarus final roster
| # | Player | Position | League | Current team (NHL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Andrei Grischenko | G | Belarus | Team Belarus U20 |
| 1 | Dmitri Rodik | G | Belarus | Team Belarus U20 |
| 25 | Nikita Tolopilo | G | Belarus2 | Team Belarus U18 |
| 18 | Dmitri Burovtsev | D | Belarus | Team Belarus U20 |
| 5 | Dmitri Deryabin | D | Belarus | Team Belarus U20 |
| 22 | Vladislav Gabrus | D | Belarus | Team Belarus U20 |
| 3 | Andrei Gostev | D | Belarus | Team Belarus U20 |
| 6 | Vladislav Martynyuk | D | MHL | KRS Junior |
| 4 | Vladislav Sokolovski | D | Belarus | Dinamo-Molodechno |
| 8 | Vladislav Yeryomenko | D | WHL | Calgary Hitmen |
| 26 | Nazar Anisimov | F | Belarus | Team Belarus U20 |
| 13 | Arseni Astashevich | F | Belarus | Team Belarus U20 |
| 7 | Viktor Bovbel | F | Belarus | Team Belarus U20 |
| 19 | Ivan Drozdov | F | Belarus | Yunost Minsk |
| 32 | Dmitri Grinkevich | F | Belarus | Team Belarus U20 |
| 30 | Ilya Litvinov | F | Belarus | Yunost Minsk |
| 11 | Alexander Lukashevich | F | Belarus | Team Belarus U20 |
| 12 | Igor Martynov | F | WHL | Victoria Royals |
| 21 | Vladislav Mikhalchuk | F | WHL | Prince George Cougars |
| 14 | Sergei Pischuk | F | Belarus | Team Belarus U20 |
| 10 | Vladislav Ryadchenko | F | Belarus | Team Belarus U20 |
| 17 | Yegor Sharangovich | F | KHL | Dinamo Minsk |
| 24 | Maxim Sushko | F | OHL | Owen Sound Attack (PHI) |
Team Sweden final roster
| # | Player | Position | League | Current team (NHL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | Olle Eriksson-Ek | G | SHL | Färjestad (ANA) |
| 30 | Filip Gustavsson | G | SHL | Luleå (PIT) |
| 1 | Filip Larsson | G | USHL | University of Denver (DET) |
| 26 | Erik Brännström | D | SHL | HV71 (VGK) |
| 8 | Rasmus Dahlin | D | SHL | Frölunda |
| 6 | Linus Högberg | D | SHL | Växjö Lakers (PHI) |
| 7 | Timothy Liljegren | D | AHL | Toronto Marlies (TOR) |
| 5 | Gustav Lindström | D | Allsvenskan | Almtuna (DET) |
| 27 | Jacob Moverare | D | OHL | Mississauga Steelheads (LAK) |
| 23 | Jesper Sellgren | D | Allsvenskan | Modo |
| 24 | Lias Andersson | F | SHL | Frölunda (NYR) |
| 21 | Jesper Boqvist | F | SHL | Brynäs (NJD) |
| 10 | Marcus Davidsson | F | SHL | Djurgården (BUF) |
| 12 | Glenn Gustafsson | F | SHL | Örebro |
| 22 | Axel Jonsson-Fjällby | F | SHL | Djurgården (WSH) |
| 17 | Frederik Karlström | F | SHL | Linköping (DAL) |
| 16 | Linus Lindström | F | SHL | Skellefteå AIK (CGY) |
| 20 | Isac Lundeström | F | SHL | Luleå |
| 19 | Alexander Nylander | F | AHL | Rochester Americans (BUF) |
| 14 | Elias Pettersson | F | SHL | Växjö Lakers (VAN) |
| 29 | Oscar Steen | F | SHL | Färjestad (BOS) |
| 9 | Tim Söderlund | F | SHL | Skellefteå AIK (CHI) |
| 28 | Fabian Zetterlund | F | SHL | Färjestad (NJD) |
8:00 PM EST Denmark vs. USA (TSN, TSN GO)
It’s the defending champion versus a team on the rise to cap off the first day, and the task will be for Olaf Eller’s Danish squad to maintain their renowned disciplined approach versus Kieffer Bellows, Logan Brown, Kailer Yamamoto, and the rest of the talent-heavy forward group of Team USA.
Team Denmark final roster
| # | Player | Position | League | Current team (NHL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emil Gransøe | G | NAHL | Topeka RoadRunners |
| 31 | Kasper L. Krog | G | Denmark | DK SønderjyskE |
| 30 | Mads Søgaard | G | NAHL | Austin Bruins |
| 9 | Rasmus Birk Heine | D | Denmark | Rødovre Mighty Bulls |
| 14 | Lasse Holm Mortensen | D | Denmark2 | Rødovre SIK |
| 6 | Jakob Jessen | D | Denmark | Herning Blue Fox |
| 4 | Christian Larsen | D | Denmark | Odense Bulldogs |
| 2 | Oliver Joakim Larsen | D | Allsvenskan | Leksands IF |
| 3 | Malte Setkov | D | Allsvenskan | IK Pantern (DET) |
| 7 | Jeppe Urup Mogensen | D | AIK J20 | SuperElit |
| 11 | Valdemar Ahlberg | F | NAHL | Austin Bruins |
| 17 | Lucas Andersen | F | Jr. A SM-liiga | Jokerit U20 |
| 21 | Daniel Bækhøj Nielsen | F | Denmark | Herning Blue Fox |
| 20 | Joachim Blichfeld | F | WHL | Portland Winterhawks (SJS) |
| 28 | Christoffer Gath | F | Denmark | Herlev Eagles |
| 22 | Andreas Grundtvig | F | Denmark | Esbjerg Energy |
| 19 | Nikolaj Krag Christensen | F | Denmark | Rungsted Seier Capital (STL) |
| 25 | Magnus Molge | F | SuperElit | Malmö Redhawks J20 |
| 16 | Jonas Røndbjerg | F | SHL | Växjö Lakers HC (VGK) |
| 8 | Jacob Schmidt-Svejstrup | F | USHL | Fargo Force |
| 27 | Philip Louis Schultz | F | Denmark | Rødovre Mighty Bulls |
| 23 | David Søgaard Madsen | F | SuperElit | Växjö Lakers HC J20 |
| 13 | Christian Wejse Mathiasen | F | Denmark | Esbjerg Energy |
Team USA final roster
| # | Player | Position | League | Current team (NHL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | Jake Oettinger | G | NCAA Hockey East | Boston University (DAL) |
| 31 | Jeremy Swayman | G | NCAA Hockey East | University of Maine (BOS) |
| 1 | Joseph Woll | G | NCAA Hockey East | Boston College (TOR) |
| 24 | Mikey Anderson | D | NCAA NCHC | University of Minnesota Duluth (LAK) |
| 8 | Adam Fox | D | NCAA ECAC | Harvard University (CGY) |
| 6 | Quinn Hughes | D | NCAA Big Ten | University of Michigan |
| 5 | Ryan Lindgren | D | NCAA Big Ten | University of Minnesota (BOS) |
| 20 | Andrew Peeke | D | NCAA Big Ten | University of Notre Dame (CBJ) |
| 15 | Scott Perunovich | D | NCAA NCHC | University of Minnesota Duluth |
| 12 | Dylan Samberg | D | NCAA NCHC | University of Minnesota Duluth (WPG) |
| 13 | Joey Anderson (C) | F | NCAA NCHC | University of Minnesota Duluth (NJD) |
| 23 | Kieffer Bellows | F | NCAA Hockey East | Boston University (NYI) |
| 22 | Logan Brown | F | OHL | Windsor Spitfires (OTT) |
| 34 | Trent Frederic | F | NCAA Big Ten | University of Wisconsin (BOS) |
| 21 | Patrick Harper | F | NCAA Hockey East | Boston University (NSH) |
| 49 | Max Jones | F | OHL | London Knights (ANA) |
| 10 | Will Lockwood | F | NCAA Big Ten | University of Michigan (VAN) |
| 11 | Casey Mittelstadt | F | NCAA Big Ten | University of Minnesota (BUF) |
| 9 | Josh Norris | F | NCAA Big Ten | Unniversity of Michigan (SJS) |
| 4 | Ryan Poehling | F | NCAA NCHC | St. Cloud State University (MTL) |
| 7 | Brady Tkachuk | F | NCAA Hockey East | Boston University |
| 27 | Riley Tufte | F | NCAA NCHC | University of Minnesota Duluth (DAL) |
| 17 | Kailer Yamamoto | F | WHL | Spokane Chiefs (EDM) |