IIHF U-20 Championship preview

            IIHF U-20 Championship                       Dec 26^th – Jan 5^th

                The IIHF U-20 Championship is one of the top competitions that all Canadians look forward to at the beginning of each year. This tournament has been dominated by Canada (16 Titles) and Russia (13 Titles).  Canada and Russia has medaled 14 out of the last 17 years. Finland 7, Sweden 6 and the USA 6. Czech Republic has 2 metals during this time. However in the last 6 years USA, Finland and Sweden have matched the top two powers in developing their own home grown players. The proof is in the results. The last 6 tournaments USA has won 2 Championships, Finland 2 while Sweden, Russia and Canada each also won the Championship. It doesn’t seem to matter where the tournament is, it is difficult for the host nation to win.

                The Juniors is where we can see the future NHL stars emerge. Last year for example there were a few undrafted players that became the top picks in the NHL draft. Auston Matthews

Austin Matthews #34 was the #1 pick in the 2016 draft

played for the USA and was the consensus #1 pick in the Draft. He got a lot of press and attention which was great for USA hockey and the tournament. Patrik Lane, Jesse Puljujarvi and Olli Juolevi all played for the Finland Championship team and were drafter 2^nd , 4^th  and  5^th overall. Finland had to beat Canada in the opening round, arch-rivals Sweden in the Semi-Finals and mighty Russia in the Finals. These 3 made it happen for Finland and their fans came out in droves to support their young hero’s. Finland also set the European attendance record with 214, 226.  The previous European attendance record was set by Sweden in 2014 with 144,268. This was a 69,958 (48.49%) increase in attendance. You can bet your boots that Finland was delighted not only to beat their Scandinavian cousins on the ice but also in attendance.

Attendance and Future hosting

Year	Host	Attendance
2000	Sweden	41,693
2001	Russia	82,400
2002	Czech Republic	110,828
2003	Canada	241,594
2004	Finland	100,551
2005	United States	193,256
2006	Canada	325,138
2007	Sweden	63,493
2008	Czech Republic	103,179
2009	Canada	453,282
2010	Canada	301,944
2011	United States	329,687
2012	Canada	455,342
2013	Russia	110,175
2014	Sweden	144,268
2015	Canada	366,370
2016	Finland	214,226
2017	Canada	-
2018	United States	-

       The interest and popularity in Canada is so enormous that Canada will be hosting almost every other year since 2006. The IIHF votes this way because of a profit sharing agreement with Hockey Canada. Canadian’s follow their national team like Mexican’s follow their national soccer teams (senior and youth level). So whenever you ask “why does a particular country get to host more tournaments?” just follow the money. Canada has 4 times the attendance as the other European countries on average. Once profits are made hosting rotations take a back seat.           
          So where does this leave the USA with hosting this event. The USA has the second best attendance behind Canada. The USA attendance was about 3 times that of their European counterparts. USA Hockey is also getting more press the more competative they are with Canada.
 The USA will next host in 2018 which is a 7 year wait; since Canada will have hosted 3 of those 7 years, Hockey USA will take it. If the USA can beat Canada’s record of 453,282 set in 2009 then the IIHF is take another look at the hosting and the rotation. I would like to see  other cities like Boston, NY or Chicago host this exciting event.

USA Outlook

                The outlook for the USA is always good. The have the biggest and best youth program of all the countries. In January 2009, the organization launched the American Development Model, which - for the first time ever - provided associations nationwide with a blueprint for optimal athlete development. The USA has dominated the IIHF U-18 Championship and some of these USA players play in the U-20 Championship. Russia has now modeled their youth development program modeled after the USA.

                The USA, Canada, Finland and Sweden played in a little warm up tournament this summer. USA beat Sweden 4-3, lost to Finland and beat Canada 5-1. The USA was fast skating and played hard and their new coach was very pleased. These games have a very close margin of error that could sink your team in the knockout rounds.  

                The last 3 tournaments Russia knocked the USA out each time; once in the semifinals last year, the quarterfinals in 2015 (2-3) and again the quarterfinals 5-3 in 2014. These games could have gone either but the USA has to find a way to get past Russia. 

              The format changed in 2014 from 6 nations in the knockout round to 8 and this was a good idea. The bottom seeds were always game ready and the top seeds were getting knocked out. Now The teams are seeded 1 through 4 and they are crossover games so you play other teams from the other group in the opening round. It is important to get a high seed but not critical. You want to avoid one of the big 5 nations in the opening round; since it will be all that much more difficult to win the Gold.