Each week, World Hockey Hub highlights a few of the most exciting upcoming games in youth hockey. From the hottest rivalries to the biggest tournaments, we focus on matchups that will impact the landscape among top teams in the sport.
Entering the week as the No. 2-ranked team among Russian 2006-born clubs, Krylia Sovetov (8-2-2) prepares itself for a matchup against No. 7 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (5-2-0) on Oct. 23rd.
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| Sunday, October 23 |
Fresh off a 3-2 overtime loss to CSKA Moscow, Krylia will look to get back into the win column this weekend.
It will be the first game between these two teams this season, with Lokomotiv leading the all-time series 12-6-1. Lokomotiv skated away with a 5-1 victory in the last game between the two clubs back in March at the end of last season.
Krylia has propelled themselves in the rankings thanks to victories against top opponents, including a close 4-3 win over No. 3 Dynamo Moscow. An early factor in the team’s success has been the production of three of its top scorers from last season. Ivan Kirilin (9G, 2A), Amirkhan Gusniev (2G, 7A) and Vitaly Korolyuk (2G, 6A) provide a balanced attack.
For the 5-foot-5 Korolyuk, the scoring touch seems to be a generational trait. His father Alexander notched more than 100 points in 296 NHL games as a member of the San Jose Sharks.
Meanwhile, Lokomotiv suffered a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Spartak Moscow last weekend, which ended a three-game winning streak.
Sitting firmly in the Top 10, Lokomotiv has fared well against the top competition of their birth year. To this point in the season, they are the only team to have defeated No. 1 CSKA, 5-3 back on Sept. 25th.
While the club has nine players with three or more points, the focus for Lokomitiv in shutting down Krylia will be in the net. Maxim Podomatsky has started a majority of Lokomotiv’s games, compiling a 2.25 goals-against average in the process. His 6-foot-1 frame looms large in the crease, leaving little room for opponents to find a place to slip a puck.
After this tilt, the two clubs will meet two more times this season, once in December and again in March of the new year.
Just over two weeks since their last meeting, No. 7 TPS (9-4-0) will take on No. 8 Lukko (8-5-0). A game that has significant implications in the ‘07 rankings for Finland.
If this matchup is anything like the last time they took to the ice together, it will be an exciting affair.
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| Saturday, October 22 @ 4:45 p.m. EEST |
Back on Oct. 8th, TPS edged out Lukko in overtime, 5-4. It was a back-and-forth contest once Petr Vechet got the scoring started for Lukko in the first period. TPS finally gained some breathing room by going up 4-2 in the middle of the second frame on a goal from Wilmer Kallio.
It was then that Vechet put matters into his own hands.
Vechet would hit the back of the net with a strong wrist shot at the end of the second period to make it a 4-3 game. Then, with a little under a minute remaining in regulation, he would complete a hat trick to force overtime. Three minutes into the overtime period, Henri Aava put the game away for TPS to halt any chance of a comeback victory for Lukko.
Vechet’s penchant for heroics has helped propel him for the lead on Lukko in points with 15 (7G, 8A), followed closely by playmaker Julius Suominen’s 12 (2G, 10A). Look for TPS to counter with their own one-two punch of Wilmer Kallio (6G, 7A) and Jeremi Virtanen (6G, 5A).
No. 7 Djurgårdens IF (18-8-1) hopes that a victory against No. 4 Flemingsbergs (14-0-0) will build their resume in the top 10 rankings among Sweden ‘09 teams.
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| Sunday, October 23 @ 5:30 p.m. CET Mälarhöjdens Ice Hall |
Going 6-1-0 since district play began, Djurgårdens shut out Haninge Anchors HC svart 3-0 in its latest contest. They are currently in third place in their group with a 2-1-0 record, behind Trångsunds IF vit (2-0-0) and Flemingsbergs (2-0-0).
Djurgårdens has fared well in the majority of its games so far. With a heavy tournament schedule as well as a handful of district games under their belt, their opponents know their strengths and weaknesses. Scoring has not been an issue for them, but goaltending has been a bit sub-par.
With a team like Flemingbergs waiting for them, it could be an area of concern.
Flemingsbergs is currently in the midst of a 14-game winning streak and will enter the matchup fully rested. It will be their first game since Oct. 9th. Not much more can be said of the offensive firepower of this team, as they seemingly score at will from anywhere on the ice.
Djurgårdens’ focus will have to be on the defensive aspect of its game, trying to limit the chances in the defensive zone. If not, it could spell disaster and will only boost Flemingsbergs’ chances at continuing an incredible streak.
Two 2010 programs experiencing stellar starts to the season are No. 2 Spartak Moscow (18-5-0), and No. 3 Dynamo Moscow (11-4-0). A game between two teams so close in the standings could have major implications for seeding moving deeper into the season.
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| Saturday, October 22 |
Last time out, Spartak had a meeting with No. 1-ranked CSKA Moscow, falling 7-5 in a high-scoring affair. The loss also ended a seven-game winning streak.
Spartak’s goal-scoring ability has been on display all season long, led by the trio of Artem Korolev (16G, 18A), Alexander Sidorenko (10G, 12A) and Gordey Khotkov (8G, 13A). As a team, they have only been held to 2 or fewer goals in two contests; one 2-1 loss to Lokomotiv and a 2-0 loss to CSKA.
Dynamo sits right on the heels of CSKA and Spartak in the top 10 in the country. However, Spartak cruised by Dynamo 6-2 when the two met previously back in August. Still, Dynamo has the skill to skate with the very best in Russia.
Arseniy Rychagov’s 11 points lead his team, with much of the supporting cast of forwards all huddled close behind. A balanced attack throughout four lines is arguably Dynamo’s biggest strength. The team’s success could hinge on whether or not that depth and versatility continues.
Time will tell if Dynamo learned anything from their first encounter with Spartak, or if the latter will once again come out on top.
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To win any hockey game is difficult. To win multiple games in a row to cultivate a streak is even harder. But what three teams have been able to do thus far into the 2022-23 youth hockey season is nothing short of amazing.
2009 Flemingsbergs IK (14-0-0), 2010 CSKA Moscow (18-0-0) and the 2010-born Minuteman Flames (12-0-1) are all in the midst of unparalleled unbeaten streaks to begin their campaigns.
In Sweden, No. 4 Flemingsbergs has roared out of the gates. The club got things off on the right track at the 2022 Nordic Youth Trophy. After going 5-0-0 in group play, they bested No. 6 AIK and No. 8 Almtuna IS in the playoffs en route to the gold medal.
At the tournament, Flemingsbergs tallied 74 goals, while only allowing six into their net. Putting that into perspective, the next-best team was Almtuna with a plus-49 goal differential.
Forward Dante Bergfors was as dynamic as they come, tallying 37 points (24G, 13A) across the team’s seven games, bolstered by two 11-point individual performances. Just behind him were Ludvig Schûnzel (11G, 11A) and Hugo Sandblom (9G, 12A). All three players’ balanced approach to the game rounded out the club’s potent attack.
The team’s focus shifts to district play now, and that explosive offense has allowed Flemingsbergs to continue its torrid stretch of play. Garnering a 5-0-0 record in the first batch of games, they averaged at least five goals scored in each matchup.
Flemingsbergs is currently out to a 2-0-0 start to their next stretch of district games, scoring 20 goals so far. Their only “blemish” being two goals allowed to Haninge Anchors HC svart in their latest outing.
Next up is a date with No. 7 Djurgårdens IF on Oct. 23rd. Can Djurgårdens stifle the phenomenal attack of Flemingsbergs?
No top team in its respective country has dominated the way CSKA has thus far.
Through 18 games, the No. 1-ranked 2010 team in the world, CSKA has been the model of perfection. A fact made all the more impressive when understanding that their schedule mostly consists of matchups against other top-10 teams in the country.
CSKA has been able to make light work of opponents thanks largely in part to — much like Flemingsbergs — a versatile offense. Seemingly able to score at will, they have only been held to less than two goals scored just twice. No matter what style of game falls into their lap, handling all sorts of situations has been a linchpin of the team’s success. They can trade goals with high-powered offenses when necessary, and can gut out low-scoring affairs in defensive battles.
Forwards Nikita Sinikin (24G, 24A) and Roman Andreev (23G, 17A) have been revelations up front, each racking up at least 40 points. Sinikin dished out three assists alone in the team’s last win, a 4-3 victory over No. 4 Vityaz Podolsk.
The road does not get any easier for CSKA, as a primetime tilt against No. 2 Spartak Moscow is next on their schedule this weekend. The two programs have met twice already this season, with CSKA coming out on top both times.
The Minuteman Flames began their season with a 4-2 win against HoneyBaked back on Sept. 9th. They debuted as the No. 1 team in the U.S. a week later, and have gone unbeaten in their next 12 games. The only decision that kept the Flames out of the win column was a 4-4 tie against the No. 8-ranked team in the world Boston Jr. Eagles.
If the Flames have any hope of holding down the No. 1 spot in the rankings, a continued focus on team play will be paramount over the next few months. With over 30 league games upcoming in the Eastern Hockey Federation (EHF), they will be battling familiar opponents such as the Jr. Eagles and Middlesex Islanders, who are another top-10 program in the U.S.
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It’s mid-October, and youth hockey worldwide is in full swing. The latest youth hockey rankings continue to identify some of the top teams in the world. Swedish clubs embark on District and Group play, Canadian leagues like the GTHL, CSSHL and LHEQ have started games, Finnish teams are a few weeks into Group schedules, and the U.S. and Russia have been going strong for more than a month.
Here’s everything you need to know before exploring the updated youth hockey rankings:
Previously ranked No. 14, Krylia Sovetov propelled themselves into the top five with a big win on Monday. Egor Sidorov’s shootout goal gave Krylia a 4-3 win over Dynamo Moscow. Both teams check in the Top 10 of this week’s world rankings, with Krylia peaking at fourth overall. That victory puts Krylia’s record to 8-2-1, with four of those wins coming against other Top-25 teams. They trail only CSKA Moscow amongst Russian teams, who previously defeated Krylia 6-0 on Aug. 24th. The top two teams in Russia are slated to meet three more times this season, the most recent matchup is scheduled for this Sunday.
Will we get some clarity or confusion later this month when the top four 2007-born teams in Finland face off? No. 2-ranked Kärpät and No. 4-ranked Tappara are set to clash on Oct. 23rd; They are the top two teams in Group 1 of the U16 SM-Series. They met a month ago, and back-to-back third-period goals from Juuso Juka and Elias Tiensuu secured the 4-3 win for Kärpät. That game included four lead changes as the two teams proved to be neck-and-neck.
The top two teams in Group 2 will take the ice on Oct. 28th when No. 1 Kiekko-Espoo plays No. 3 HIFK. It will be the first of two scheduled meetings between the ranked opponents, with the second matchup coming in December. This matchup will also feature the top four scorers in the country, with HIFK’s Oliver Torkki (19) and Matias Vanhanen (17) going head-to-head with Aleksi Kilpeläinen (17) and Aapo Vanninen (16) from Kiekko.
Both of these matchups should prove to be pivotal in the upcoming weeks.
Top-ranked CSKA Moscow is an astonishing 18-0-0 to start the season, just months after completing its U12 season with a 36-1-2 record. They’ve been held to less than five goals in a game just twice, defeating No. 3 Spartak Moscow 2-1 and No. 7 Vityaz Podolsk 4-3. CSKA’s remaining schedule features nine matchups against opponents currently ranked in the top 10 in the country. They’re fueled by a dynamic duo of Nikita Sinikin (48 points) and Roman Andreev (40) who account for 55 percent of the team’s total offense.
In Sweden, Viggbyholms IK maintains a 16-0-1 record, with tournament championship wins at the Nicklas Backstrom Cup and Nordic Youth Trophy. The lone ‘blemish’ on the team’s record is a 1-1 tie to Leksand IF Vit at the Farsta Games a month ago. Through that stretch, only two teams managed to score more than two goals in a single game against Viggbyholms. Goaltenders Elias Ådeby, Oscar Bergström and Douglas Ottoson have provided steady play between the pipes early on this season. Over the next few weeks, several Swedish programs split into two teams for Group Play, with Viggbyholms being one of them. Its Röd (red) team is 1-1-0 in Stockholm’s Group 2 while Blå (Blue) is 0-1-1 in Group 3.
No team at any age group in the United States remains undefeated with as many games played as the Minuteman Flames. The No. 4-ranked team in the world from Massachusetts is 12-0-1, with four wins over Top-10 American teams. The lone tie came two weeks ago against in-state rival and No. 8-ranked team in the world, Boston Jr. Eagles in the form of a 4-4 tie. Averaging 4.9 goals scored per game, the Flames are a tough offense to contain. Over the next few months, they’ll play more than 30 league games in the Eastern Hockey Federation (EHF). The league currently has three teams ranked in the top 20 among 2010s with the Flames, Jr. Eagles and Middlesex Islanders.
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Each week, World Hockey Hub highlights a few of the most exciting upcoming games in youth hockey. From the hottest rivalries to the biggest tournaments, we focus on matchups that will impact the landscape among top teams in the sport.
This week, we highlight a cross-border tilt between Canadian and U.S. squads, a Sweden team trying to crack the top-10 and two Russian powerhouses facing off against one another.
There can only be one No. 1, and two of the premier teams at the 2010 birth year in Russia will square off this weekend to determine just who that is. CSKA Moscow (18-0-0) and Spartak Moscow (18-4-0) will not only have bragging rights on the line, but the outcome of this game may shake up the top of the Russian rankings.
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| Saturday, October 15 |
These two programs have already faced each other twice this season, with CSKA emerging victorious both times by scores of 7-6 and 2-1. Rest will play a factor in this game, as both sides will be heading into this tilt following some time off.
A rest that will aid the incredible scorers hailing from both sides.
On paper, the dynamic offenses for both squads are certainly noticeable. For CSKA, names like Nikita Sinikin (24G, 24A), Roman Andreev (23G, 17A), and Bogdan Doroshkevich (7G, 11A) certainly have raised eyebrows of opponents.
Spartak comes equipped with their own set of high-profile scorers; Artem Korolev (16G, 18A), Alexander Sidorenko (10G, 12A), and Mikhail Isaev (8G, 10A) lead the group.
Amazing offensive output from two strong forward cores, but each team also boasts a player from the defensive side of the puck who can also rack up the points.
For Spartak, that player comes in the form of Gordey Khotkov (8G, 13A) and for CSKA it is Mikhail Makeev, who has collected 17 points (1G, 16A) on the season thus far.
Given how the season has played out for both teams, both individually and the two games they have under their belt against the other, high offense and dazzling playmaking should be on tap.
With district group-play beginning this past week in Sweden, many top-10 clubs are in full swing. For 2007-born teams, a matchup between SDE Hockey (6-5-2) and IFK Täby HC (11-2-1) headlines the schedule.
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| Tuesday, October 11 @ 8:00 pm CET Stockhagens Ice Hall |
Täby is fresh off an 8-3 win against Viggbyholms IK. With that victory, they remain undefeated in group play.
Their offense has been propelled by the balanced attack of 5-foot-7 forward Theo Stockselius (1G, 7A), dynamic play-making of Max Johannesén (1G, 7A), and strong goal scoring of Viggo Björck (5G, 1A).
SDE — currently holding down the 10th spot in the Sweden rankings were bested by Viggbyholms in overtime in their last outing. Filip Thorling (1G, 2A) and Oliver Höglund (2G) were forces in the game for SDE, standing out as its two best forwards.
A big focus for Täby will be staying out of the box, as SDE’s power play was firing on all cylinders against Viggbyholms. They went 2-for-2 with both goals coming from the hot stick of Höglund.
Djurgårdens IF (5-1-0) will take to the ice against Flemingsbergs IK (8-4-2) for an ‘07 mid-week matchup, hoping to continue their impressive start to group play.
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| Wednesday, October 12 @ 7:30 pm CET Mälarhöjdens Ice Hall |
With a 6-2 statement win right out of the gate against IFK Tumba IK, Djurgårdens appears ready to prove why it’s one of the top teams in their group.
William Håkansson (1G, 2A) and Kean Tollet (1G, 1A) have been early leaders among the forward corps for Djurgårdens. The team’s secret weapon, however, lies with 5-foot-9 defenseman Lucas Grahn. Not only bringing size and strong defensive play to the team’s blueline, he has a knack for finding the scoresheet as well. Grahn has one goal and two assists in one game.
Djurgårdens is also prepared for a run of strong play in net thanks to Oscar Sääf. Displaying a calm demeanor in net, he turned aside 22 of 24 shots in their opening win.
Following an overtime loss to Södertälje SK 1, Flemingsbergs got back on track with a 5-3 win against IFK Tumba last weekend.
Samuel Palenik (2G, 1A), Carl Carlenius (1G, 2A), Sebastian Dahlqvist (1G, 2A) and Michal Horníček (3A) top the leaderboard for Flemingsbergs in the early stages of group play.
Flemingsbergs boasts their own star goaltender Lukas Furaev, who has solidly performed in his duties, racking up a 2.86 goals-against average and .933 save percentage.
Comparing those numbers to that of Sääf, whose modest performance in net had led to a 2.00 goals-against average and .916 save percentage, it shows that both clubs are served with a strong goaltending.
This matchup may very well come down to who performs best between the pipes.
This one has been circled on the calendar since the rankings came out last week. On October 15, the No. 1-ranked team in Canada, Vaughan Kings (9-1-1), will meet with the No. 3-ranked team in the U.S., Chicago Mission (13-1-1). It will be a battle between two of the top 2008-born clubs in the world.
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| Saturday, October 15 @ 7:00 pm EST BELFOR Training Center |
Chicago is coming off a successful weekend where they swept fellow U.S. clubs Honeybaked and Compuware.
Vaughan started the season off with a nine-game unbeaten streak. That came to an end with a 3-2 overtime loss at the hands of the North York Rangers on October 2. Last weekend, they took to the ice against the Oakville Rangers, skating away with a 4-2 victory.
It’s a rare Top-10 international matchup in a battle between Canada’s best and one of America’s top programs. The youth hockey world is in for a good one on Saturday.
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Each week, World Hockey Hub highlights a few of the most exciting upcoming games in youth hockey. From the hottest rivalries to the biggest tournaments, we focus on matchups that will impact the landscape among top teams in the sport.
This week, we highlight two cross-border tilts between Canadian and U.S. squads, as well as a Sweden team kicking off its first action of the season vs. a top-10 opponent.
Following time off for both teams, the ‘07 Dallas Stars Elite and RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna will face off in a cross-border matchup on October 9 in Fargo, ND.
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| Sunday, October 9 @ 8 am CDT Southwest Youth Ice Arena |
Currently sitting just outside the U.S. rankings, the Stars have had a very successful start to their season. With a 9-2-2 record, they have been able to remain competitive against fellow teams in the 2007 birth year. The schedule includes more dates against top-ranked opponents as the season carries on, so it will be a good measuring-stick game for Dallas to build upon early.
Kelowna comes into this matchup finding themselves propelled to the eighth spot in the Canadian rankings thanks to a season-opening victory against Delta Hockey Academy back on September 24.
What the boys from RINK bring into this game that cannot be taught is size, highlighted in the form of hometown defenseman Marcus Sadovia. He looms over the blueline at 6-foot-three, 165 lbs. and is one-of-six skaters on the roster north of six-feet tall. Having a significant size advantage could make it difficult for Stars players to knock anyone off the puck.
And let’s not forget, Louis Gu and Liam Russell, who tower between the pipes for Kelowna at 6-foot-one and 6-foot-four, respectively.
The 2011-born Pittsburgh Penguins Elite will travel north of the border for a contest against the Vaughan Kings on October 8.
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| Saturday, October 8 @ 5:05 pm EDT Canlan Sports |
Pittsburgh has stormed out of the gates, making quick work of the opposition en route to a 9-0-1 record. The Penguins would be a major measuring stick for any club. Yet for Vaughan, the task becomes a bit taller as they have yet to suit up for any games so far this season.
What may make a victory even more daunting for the Kings is the explosive nature of Pittsburgh’s offense, leaving little time for Vaughan’s defensive corps and goaltenders to settle in for competitive game action.
As regional play began last weekend among youth teams in Sweden, Täby HC and Viggbyholms IK look to both solidify their spots in the Top 10 for 2007-born clubs when they face off against each other on Saturday.
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| Saturday, October 8 @ 5:40 pm CET Tibble Ice Hall |
Each club has a comfortable feel for their squads at this point in the season, as both have taken part in a fair number of games.
Täby (9-2-1) and Viggbyholms (6-3-0) were both placed in the Elite Division at the 2022 Sweden Hockey Trophy, and have since been active in district play in Stockholm. Currently, each team sits atop their individual groups within the district, with Täby having a 4-0-1 record, and a 3-0-0 record for Viggbyholms.
Statistically speaking, depth is a strong component of the style of play that has helped bring these programs early-season success. Across district play, many of the top scorers can be found hailing from these teams.
Täby’s Marcus Nordmark led his team with 13 points in 5 games. A versatile playmaker, Nordmark uses his slim frame to dart around defenders, with a knack for finding open lanes to fire off perfect passes to teammates. His nine points are tied for second among all skaters in the group. Behind him, four other players from Täby are tied with seven points.
While Täby’s balanced attack certainly stands out on paper, Viggbyholms’ lineup should impress even more. When browsing the top-10 scorers within their group, all are names of players from Viggbyholms, topped off by Ludwig Hellgren, who has peppered the opposition from all angles on the ice, tallying seven points (4G, 4A) in just three games.
And if that isn’t impressive enough, he also notched two goals in five games for Stockholm North at the 2022 TV-Pucken tournament, helping them to a 5-0-0 record in group play.
With both teams loaded up on offensive talent, this head-to-head matchup should be thrilling to watch, and will have fans reaching for the popcorn.
Dynamo St. Petersburg and SKA St. Petersburg have seen a lot of each other lately.
After Dynamo defeated SKA in the final at the St. Petersburg Cup for 2007-born teams, the two programs squared off the very next day, with SKA emerging as the victor from a 5-2 result.
The two teams will meet again for the third time in eight days this Saturday, so the adage of “knowing one’s opponent” should be prevalent here.
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| Saturday, October 8 |
Given how the past two games between these two programs have gone, there’s sure to be similar fireworks when they take to the ice.
Offense is the name of the game for these teams, and after trading goals in their first two matchups of the season, don’t expect this to be a low-scoring affair.
Dynamo boasts a versatile forward group that is comfortable when the shot count is high, and they spend most of their time in the offensive zone. Alexander Kotov and Erik Pastukhov lead the charge, amassing a resounding 18 points in all contests.
Kotov did most of his damage at the St. Petersburg Cup, where he tallied six goals and seven assists. Supporting the 5’8” forward’s dynamic scoring ability have been Daniil Prokhorov (14G, 1A) and Gleb Semenov (4G, 11A).
SKA will roll out their own strong offensive unit, led by Andrei Korablev’s 13 points (9G, 4A). But what SKA has that Dynamo does not is a defenseman who can strike from the blue line with incredible accuracy like Makar Timashkov.
Timashkov’s ability to get shots through to the net with ease lends another option to SKA’s attack, and one they will hope to exploit if their forwards are shut down at any point in the game. The sturdy D-man has garnered nine points thus far, and if his teammates keep feeding him the puck, those numbers will only rise.
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Team depth is always a vital component of determining success during the course of a season. The ability of a club to rely on more than one or two players to produce allows for better flow and chemistry amongst the roster to develop naturally.
No team showed more depth at the 2022 Maxi Nacka Cup for 2009-born teams than Södertälje SK. The club boasted four of the top five scorers in the tournament, and it is from this immense spread of wealth that Södertälje was able to come home with a silver medal.
In their first game of the tournament, Nahuel Valdebenito used his strong hockey sense and quick hands to supply all the goals Södertälje would need in a 2-0 win against Värdmö HC.
Winston Ilmarsson — whose 11 points (4G, 7A) not only led Södertälje but were tops among all players at the games — was a constant threat to make something happen offensively every time he stepped onto the ice.
Despite this, Ilmarsson didn’t find the scoresheet until the team’s second game against Lidingö. He more than made up for it with the first two goals of the matchup and added an assist later.
In the following game — a 6-0 rout of Lidingö — Valdebenito did not record a single point. Insert Willie Asplund, who netted his first goal of the weekend only to end up tied with two other players at the tournament in total points with six (2G, 4A). Ilmarsson again added two tallies of his own as well.
In the team’s next victory, a second straight shutout this time against SDE, Neo Reimdal joined the fray in bolstering his offensive numbers with two goals, one assisted by Ilmarsson and the other by Valdebenito. Reimdal would find himself tied for third in points with Lidingö’s Wilhelm Andersson Jöhnk at tournament’s end with seven (4G, 3A).
In an 8-2 drubbing of Boo HC, Södertälje’s squad fully had their skating legs under them and it was evident from puck drop how comfortable the group was playing.
Out of the club’s eight goals, Ilmarsson, Asplund, Reimdal and Valdebenito all had a hand in six of them in some way. Boo was no match for the incredible chemistry on display from Södertälje’s top attackers.
Asplund fed Valdebenito with a fantastic pass to tie things up 1-1 in the first period of their first playoff game against Västerås. Wanting to add to his goal total, Asplund finished off a pretty passing play between Reimdal and Ilmarsson to give Södertälje a 2-1 lead five minutes later in an eventual 4-1 win.
What became evident as the tournament progressed was the incredible ability for Södertälje to work as a cohesive unit. If one player was shut down, another was ready to step in his place and produce results.
If anything, they entered their club in the mix of ‘09 teams to be reckoned with this season in Sweden.
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Last weekend, ten teams at the 2009 birth year clashed at the Björknäs Ice Hall in Nacka, Sweden, as they battled one another at the 2022 Maxi Nacka Cup.
The tournament was designed to split the clubs into two groups of five, totaling a number of four games per team in the group stage. Games consisted of two, 15-minute periods, ending in a tie if necessary. Brinkens IF was placed into Group B, along with Västerås, Viggbyholms IK, Huddinge IK and Almtuna IS.
Brinkens opened group play with a 4-0 shutout of Västerås. Forward Leonard Torgner’s hot stick would help him find the back of the net three times, with Erik Sevallius adding the team’s fourth of the game. While not the busiest night in net, goaltender Arvid Carlgren turned aside all 11 shots he faced, helping Brinkens off to a perfect start.
Next up was Almtuna, who was handled by Brinkens in a 5-2 win. Sevallius’ dynamic offensive ability was on display yet again, as he struck twine four times. Oskar Mivell’s ability to find players in open ice largely contributed to the victory, as he connected with Sevallius on three of his four tallies. Assisted by a strong defensive effort, goaltender Sebastian Rosenberg only faced 10 shots, turning aside eight.
Viggbyholms, coming off a 6-3 loss to Västerås in their third game, was next up for Brinkens. After a first period that would end with Brinkens up 2-1, two quick goals by Carl de Wall and Anton Roos Olsen put Viggbyholms on top 3-2 in the second period. But with just about four minutes left in the game, Torgner would play the hero yet again for Brinkens to tie the game 3-3, which is where things would eventually stand.
Brinkens would follow that tie up with a 1-0 shutout of Huddinge, with Torgner’s goal-scoring prowess providing the only offense needed and Rosenberg’s perfect game between the pipes.
After going 3-0-1 in group play, the first playoff test for Brinkens was Värmdö HC, who also went 3-0-1 in Group A. With both teams showing high offensive ability and tight defense, it appeared as if this game would be an even match of skill.
However, Värmdö was unable to corral the dynamic forwards of Brinkens which ultimately resulted in a 7-2 loss. It was a complete team effort for Brinkens, as they peppered the opposing goalie John Kaarle with 26 shots. Värmdö managed to get their scoring chances, but could not finish most of them as a result of the tight-checking defense and solid performance of Rosenberg yet again.
The gold medal match was set between Brinkens and Group A leader Södertälje SK, who came into the championship game with an undefeated 5-0-0 record, dispatching both Group A opponents and playoff foes with ease.
An eye-popping stat alone, they only allowed two goals against during the entire group stage. The only team to score on them was Boo HC, and prior to that they shut out Värmdö, Lindingö and SDE. A large result of that was Södertälje’s top goalie tandem of Vilmer Salén Forsberg and Jonatan Duse, who combined to only let five goals in across all appearances.
At 10:11 of the first period, Nahuel Valdebenito opened the scoring, with assists from Wille Asplund and Winston Ilmarsson. Just over a minute later, Jack Lundvall would tie it 1-1.
Brinkens would waste no time gaining the lead in the second period. Just 26 seconds after action had begun, William Arbin rocketed a shot past Forsberg for a 2-1 lead.
Up to that point in the tournament, Forsberg had been the goalie for Södertälje in three of their five wins, splitting time with Duse in the 4-0 victory over SDE. In those appearances, Forsberg only let in one goal.
Supplied with their own set of stellar goalies, Brinkens would deploy both Rosenberg and Arvid Carlgren in the gold medal game, who combined to stop 13 shots.
Torgner would tally his tournament-leading ninth goal in the waning stages of the period to secure the win for Brinkens.
Ilmarsson would end the Nacka Cup as the leading point-getter with 11 points (4G, 7A), followed by Torgner (9G) and fellow teammate Valdebenito (6G, 3A) with nine points.
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Each week, World Hockey Hub will highlight a few of the most exciting upcoming games. From the hottest rivalries to the biggest tournaments, we focus on matchups that should have your attention this week.
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| Friday, September 23 @ 7:10 pm EST Westwoods Arenas |
The Vaughan Kings come into the 2022-23 season with lofty expectations.
For a team that finished last season with a 59-1-3 record, why would anyone expect anything less?
And if their start to this season is any indication, it seems as if they are picking up right where they left off, showing why the Kings deserved the top spot in our Canadian team rankings for the 2008 birth year.
Just three games into their campaign, the Kings have amassed 2-0-1 record, defeating the North York Rangers, Toronto Marlboros, with a 1-1- tie coming against the Barrie Colts last weekend. Their next matchup is slated for this Friday against the Mississauga Rebels.
The Rebels have one game under their belts; a 4-4 tie with the Don Mills Flyers.
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| Saturday, Sept. 24 @ 1:30 pm EST Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex |
The newly-rebranded Elgin-Middlesex Canucks head into the weekend on the heels of a 4-4- tie vs. the Oakville Rangers last Sunday, bringing their overall record to 1-0-1.
On the other side of the ice, the Kitchener Jr. Rangers first action of this season will be against the Canucks.
Elgin-Middlesex debuted in the No. 8 spot amongst Canadian ’08-born clubs. Kitchener was not ranked, but will certainly raise some eyebrows with a competitive series this upcoming weekend. The two teams square off on consecutive days, with an opportunity to make an early-season statement.
Saturday will see the two sides meet in Kitchener’s home rink, with game two scheduled in EMC territory on Sunday. Both squads will have plenty to prove in these games.
For the Canucks, it serves as an opportunity to bolster their standing as one of the top teams in the country. The Rangers on the other hand, have a chance to prove that they can compete with the best this birth year has to offer.
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| Friday, Sept. 23 @ 1:20 pm CET Mälarhöjdens Ice Hall |
After kicking off their season at the 2022 Farsta Games, Nacka HK is set for the upcoming DIF Elitcup for 2009 birth year squads from September 23-25.
Currently ninth in our preseason rankings, Nacka could use a successful run at this tournament to both raise their profile among fellow Sweden clubs. IFK Täby HC finds themselves on the outside looking in of the Top 10 Sweden rankings, and also kicked off their season at the Farsta Games. Both Nacka and Täby finished towards the bottom of the group in that tournament, but what will be interesting to see is if any emotion carries over into the Elitcup.
This meeting will be the second game of the tournament for each club, so both should have their legs underneath them and in prime playing shape. Nacka’s first opponent will be Rögle BK, while Täby opens their slate of games against the Malmö Redhawks.
These two teams both ended their tournament runs at the Farsta Games with back-to-back games against one another; Nacka took both via shutout win, 2-0 and 1-0. Sam Detterfelt led Nacka in points during the Farsta Games, with three goals and one assist, with Theo Carpenwall Grenalt (1G, 2A) and Dante Bovin (2G, 1A) both behind him with three points apiece.
One can be sure revenge will be on the mind of Täby’s players, so it will take Nacka everything they have to come out on the winning side in this matchup.
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| Saturday, Sept. 24 @ 1:00 pm MSK |
Turning our attention to Russia, where Dynamo Moscow will be taking on Lokomotiv 2004 Yaroslavl in a battle of 2010-born teams.
Dynamo has had a successful start to their season, accumulating a 9-4-0 record. Lokomotiv has also had a solid start, going 10-4-0, with their most recent game being an 8-4 loss to first-ranked CSKA Moscow.
Both clubs are off on the right foot, so this matchup is one to certainly keep an eye on. Dynamo currently sits third in our Russia Rankings and Lokomotiv not far behind at fifth.
It will not be the first time these two programs will be facing off on the ice this year, as back in August Dynamo bested Lokomotiv 5-3.
Overall, the two teams have suited up for eight games against one another, with Dynamo leading the all-time series 5-2-1, scoring 40 goals across their five wins.
Yegor Groza (3G, 3A) and Matvey Fedorenko (3G, 3A) lead Dynamo with six points (3G, 3A), while behind them are Maxim Goloshchapov with five points (3G, 2A) and Vladislav Gorbunov (4G) and Arseny Rychagov (4A) each with four points.
For Lokomotiv, they are led by Filipp Vychuhzhanin (2G, 4A) and Artyom Loginov (5G, 1A) whose six points each lead the team. They are followed closely by Anton Malinovsky (4A) and Mark Pritchin (2G, 1A).
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TV-Pucken is a Swedish national ice hockey event where the 24 districts of the country compete in an under-16, all-star style tournament. Each district is represented by the top players in each area, and are divided up into four pools of six teams. The top two teams from each group advance to the single-elimination playoffs, set for November 4 – 6th. This season, some of the best 2007s from across Sweden represented their respective districts, with the first portion of the tournament taking place last weekend.
Stockholm North and Stockholm South topped Group A with records of 5-0-0 and 4-1-0 respectively. South’s only loss was a 4-3 decision to North; the final game of pool play on Sunday, with Eric Nilson scoring the deciding goal in the final 10 minutes of regulation. It was his second goal of the game and seventh of the weekend, as he tied with Södermanland forward Samuel Kjellström for the top spot.
Nilson plays for Järfälla during the winter season; he was the only representative from his club on the Stockholm North squad. The 23-man roster featured players from 11 different clubs, including five from Mälarö Hockey, four from Täby HC and three from Solna SK. Nilson’s teammate Melvin Novotny tied with Stockholm South forward Anton Frondell for the group lead in scoring with 13 points apiece. Novotny averaged a point per game last season for Täby as an underage ‘07 playing amongst 2006-born players. Similarly, Frondell played up in ‘21-22 for Djurgårdens IF, leading the team in goals and points, and is eyeing a spot on the club’s J18 squad this upcoming season.
In Group B, the Ångermanland and Norrbotten Districts claimed the top two spots.
Ångermanland was the one of three Districts over the weekend to claim all 15 possible points in the standings. Their roster consisted of players from eight different winter clubs; MoDo Hockey being the most reputable of the bunch with 10 skaters. The team’s perfect record came in large part due to the efforts of Markus Skröder in net. The 5-foot-11 goaltender played in four of the five contests, posting a 1.50 goals-against average. The only goalie to best Skröder between the pipes was Norrbotten’s Love Härenstam. He played all but 58 seconds of game action for Norrbotten, while posting a 1.41 goals-against average. Luckily for youth hockey fans, both goaltenders will have the opportunity to shine in the playoff rounds as both teams advanced to the quarterfinals.
The leading scorer in the entire tournament thus far is Jakob Ihs-Wozniak. He represents the Norrbotten District out of Luleå HF. Ihs-Wozniak is coming off of a strong performance at the 2022 World Selects Invitational and was the leading scorer on U16 Luleå last season. Be sure to check out WHH’s exclusive interview from Nashville with the Swedish prospect below.
Härenstam made his mark nationally last spring when he backstopped his Djurgårdens squad to a U16 national championship. He is competing for a spot on Luleå HF J18 squad this season.
Småland District swept through Group C play with a 5-0-0 record. The team was primarily made of players from HV 71 and Växjö Lakers, and out-scored opponents 41-10 over the weekend. Noel Skarby (13), Liam Andersson (12), Albin Laksonen (11) and Filip Alvudd (eight) finished one, two, three and four in scoring.
Despite losing 11-2 to top-ranked Småland on the final day, the Göteborg District had clinched a bid to the playoffs prior to its meeting with the No. 1 seed. A 3-1 win over Skåne District Sunday morning guaranteed Småland a spot in the eight-team field for November. Ivar Stenberg scored a pair of goals, with Hugo Lundberg cashing in an insurance goal to secure the win and the second spot in the standings, all prior to its meeting with Småland.
Group D had plenty of parody, with all six teams picking up at least one win, and the lowest average goal differential of all four groups. Five games were decided by two goals or fewer, including a 3-2 decision between Dalarna District and Örebro Iän District.
While Gästrikland went 5-0-0 to secure the top spot, the second bid was very much up for grabs with both Dalarna and Örebro Iän in the hunt. A power-play goal from Robbin Stenström gave Örebro Iän the head-to-head victory over Dalarna on Saturday. However, Dalarna would go on to defeat Västmanland and Östergötland down the stretch to accumulate nine points in the standings and propel themselves past Örebro Iän for the final spot in the playoff field.
Dalarna goaltenders Carl Englund (Borlänge HF) and Emil Andersson (Leksands IF) were two of the top three performers in Group D. Their combined 1.83 goals-against average was only out-done by Gästrikland’s William Forsberg (Brynäs IF) who allowed just six goals in four games.
The Stockholm District has won the tournament 17 times — most in history — and last season, Stockholm North defeated Stockholm South 3-1 in the championship game. It is widely considered a great accomplishment for a Swedish hockey player represent their district in the TV-pucken. The tournament is named “TV-pucken” because when it was first played in 1959, every game was broadcast on television. Now, only playoff games are shown nationally. Playoffs are set to get underway on November 4th, with the following districts representing the best 2007-born players in Sweden:
Ångermanland
Gästrikland
Göteborg
Norrbotten
Småland
Stockholm North
Stockholm South
Västerbotten
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With the tournament season well underway in Sweden for the 2009 birth year, teams have been kicking off their 2022-23 campaigns against some tough competition right out of the gate.
And the lineup at the 2022 Farsta Games saw a majority of these top teams in action.
Five of the Top 10 teams in Sweden in our preseason rankings for ’09 birth year took to the ice at the Farsta Games, with AIK second-place finish and a 4-2-1 record on the weekend.
AIK opened their tournament with 3-0 and 5-2 wins against Nacka HK and IFK Täby HC, respectively. They then followed up their decent start by being shut out by Tyresö Hanviken Hockey 3-0.
They would regroup from that loss by serving up a shutout of their own; a 3-0 victory against Huddinge Hockey.
Next up on their schedule was a heavyweight bout with Brinkens IF, the eventual tournament champion and current No. 1 in Sweden in the preseason rankings. Ocean Warsi would open the scoring for AIK a little over three minutes into the matchup. A few minutes later, Viggo Malmin — one of the premier offensive players for Brinkens during the tournament — found the back of the net to tie things at 1-1.
Anton Persson would give AIK the lead right back towards the middle of the opening period, when he cashed in on a pass from Joel Johnsson for a 2-1 lead.
After a scoreless start to the second period, Malmin would tally his second goal of the game to even things up again at 7:38. That would be all for both squads as the contest would end in a 2-2 tie.
AIK would take out their frustrations over the tie in their next outing against host FOC Farsta Ishockeyförening, peppering them with goal after goal en route to a 8-1 victory. The squad’s depth was evident in the win, as they had four players record at least two points.
The stage was set for a rematch between Brinkens and AIK, but this time it was no close contest as AIK’s potent offense and stout defense were nowhere to be found in a lopsided 6-2 loss. Malmin once again was a standout for Brinkens, netting two more goals to finish his tournament run with 11, leading led all players.
Persson and Johnsson would end the tournament as the top point-getters for AIK, each tallying nine points in the form of five goals and four assists.
AIK Falls in Bronze-Medal Game at Nordic Youth Trophy
The following weekend, AIK was back in action as one of the 48 teams in attendance at the 2022 Nordic Youth Trophy in Värmland County, Sweden.
After being split into eight divisions of six teams, each ’09 club participated in a round-robin qualifying set of games against those in their division. Upon finishing the qualifiers, the field was divided even further into four playoff groups of A, B, C, and D.
AIK was placed in Group F for the qualifying round along with Nacka HK Vit, Hällefors IK/Filipstads IF, Lørenskog IK, Storhamar Hockey Gul, and Nor IK.
Day 1 of the tournament would see AIK start things off with a 4-2 victory over Nacka, followed by a 15-1 drubbing of Hällefors IK/Filipstads IF.
AIK would follow up their strong start by sweeping all three of their games during Day 2; a 7-0 win against Nor IK, a close-fought 6-5 win against Lørenskog, and a 16-0 rout of Storhamar.
By finishing the qualifying round atop Group F with a 5-0-0 record, AIK’s next opponent was Group C leader Djurgårdens IF in the quarterfinals for the A playoff group. In what would shape up to be a one-sided contest, AIK topped Djurgårdens and moved onto the the next round with a 7-0 victory.
Group F leader Flemingsbergs IK awaited in the semifinals, and AIK was quick to jump out to a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes of play thanks to goals from Persson and Lucas Sjöqvist.
However, Flemingbergs would come back for the second period with a renewed sense of urgency, striking for four unanswered goals in the span of just over 11 minutes to secure their 4-2 win.
Despite the loss, AIK had an opportunity to take home the Bronze Medal in their final game against Källered SK. Albin Lindström opened the scoring at 7:16 of the first period, before AIK’s Daniel Larsson found the back of the net nine seconds later to knot things up.
Sent to the power play at 11:41, Källered would strike on the man advantage at 11:54 to go up 2-1. With two more quick goals following that, they would end the period with a commanding 4-1 lead.
The second period would not fare any better for AIK, as they allowed four more goals to deepen their deficit. Despite two late tallies of their own, Källered would skate away with the bronze and an 8-3 win.
What didn’t help AIK was that its three leading scorers in Viking Simon (10G, 6A), Persson (10G, 4A) and Ernests Rullis (8G, 5A) could not match the firepower Källered presented at the other end of the ice.
A strong showing from AIK on consecutive weekends to open the season propelled them into the Top-10 rankings in the country, as well as the Top 25 in the world among 2009-born teams. Click HERE to see the full 2022-23 preseason rankings from all countries and birth years.
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