2003 Under-18 Junior World Cup Report
A review of the standout players from each represented country at the World Junior Cup tournament in the Czech Republic.
Gold medal - USA
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Despite not bringing their elite Under-18 NTDP team, the USA squad managed
to win the World Junior Cup. Their roster included solid defenders and some
bright individuals on offense, whose names will likely be heard at future NHL
Entry Drafts.
Dan McGoff was a rock on the blueline, playing a stay-at-home style
with minimal mistakes, showing lots of smarts. McGoff possesses solid skating
skills and is well-balanced. He tries to keep his game simple and avoids mistakes
when making decisions with the puck. He is positionally sound, always staying
with his man and shows a mean streak. McGoff has minimal offensive instincts
and doesn't support the forwards much, but fills his role of a defensive defenseman
with poise and maturity.
When looking for a two-way defenseman, look no futher than Jack Hillen.
The smallish rearguard was a real force offensively, constantly making smart
outlet passes and quarterbacking the powerplay. A swift skater, Hillen takes
advantage of his speed to control the defensive zone and join the rush. He is
very useful on the powerplay unit and impresses with his vision and solid hockey
sense. On the downside, Hillen lacks the size and strength to play a physical
style and relies more on his smarts than on toughness.
Guelph Storm's Tyler Haskins was one of the offensive leaders for team
USA. A solid skater for a player of his size, Haskins is balanced and willing
to maneuver in heavy traffic. He handles the puck smoothly and has good vision,
uses his size to his advantage and is a solid hitter. Haskins needs to continue
to improve his defensive awarenes, but shows signs of it developing.
Big, sized Moises Gutierrez plays with a solid edge, making use of his
frame to work hard around the walls and position himself in front of the opposing
net. He handles the puck quite well and is willing to help out the defense.
Needs to work on his skating and hockey sense to be more effective. Looked a
bit lost on the ice at times.
Silver medal - Russia
Like every year, the Russian team is stocked with quality prospects who've
already made a name for themselves at previous events. The Russians turned heads
with their strong individual skills and were supported by some great forwards
who made up for average goaltending and porous defense. The best of the bunch
clearly was potential 2004 top five pick, Evgeni Malkin. The forward
displayed a strong ability to contribute at both ends of the ice. He was setting
up smart plays for his linemates and also regularly shutting down the opponent's
offensive raids with his huge defensive awareness. Malkin isn't afraid of mixing
it up and his exceptionally soft hands make him a great asset to the team that
drafts him. He is a strong skater for a player of his size and is very balanced.
He sees the ice exceptionally well and plays a very mature game. Will challenge
for a top five pick in 2004.
Not far behind Malkin was another 2004 blue-chipper Enver Lisin. He
was able to reach top speed in a few strides and drove hard to the net. Lisin
boosted his stock with his willingness to handle the defensive duties, often
coming back to help out. Lisin possesses strong finishing skills, including
a good variety of shots. He is a smart passer and plays with a huge portion
of vision. Also showing adequate toughness, Lisin is on the way to develop into
a great two-way player.
Smallish winger Dmitri Shitikov belongs in the top echelon of Russian
players. Not much of a force defensively, Shitikov relies on his top-notch offensive
performance. Blessed with terrfic skating skills and smooth puckhandling skills,
he is a real force with the puck and has a very fast release on his accurate
wrist shots. Shitikov can execute in full flight and is lethal in one-on-one
situations and on powerplay units. Has the talent to become a first round pick
next year.
Highly coveted Russian defenseman Anton Belov didn't exactly have an
eye-opening performance at the World Junior Cup. He put his solid shooting skills
on display, which were hard and quite easy tippable. Belov has to use more speed
in his play by improving his skating ability. He must also upgrade his average
defensive zone coverage. A talented player with size and toughness, but still
raw.
Bronze medal - Czech Republic
After losing 5-1 in the last year's gold-medal game against Canada, the young
Czechs were hoping to win this event for the first time, brining to the World
Junior Cup a team of players with a wealth of experience from the Under-18 category
and even senior hockey battles.
The Czechs could rely on the great goaltending performance from possible 2004
first-rounder Marek Schwarz. Schwarz's goaltending savvy, athleticism
and exceptional reflexes made him the best goaltender of the World Junior Cup.
Virutally unbeatable at times, Schwarz started all the five Czech games and
except for the six goals he gave up against Russia he was like a wall between
the pipes. Playing with an excellent dexterity, Schwarz proved that he upgraded
his mental focus and that he can hold the team's chances on a victory. He skates
well and is very fast to recover after dropping to a butterfly.
The Czech back lines boasted a strong individual in 2005 eligible defenseman
Jakub Kindl. He showed that he is a complete defenseman, able to run
a powerplay and control the defensive zone with his swift skating, mobility
and size. The underaged blueliner unleashed booming shots from the point with
solid accuracy and was very hard to catch out of position. Kindl was a very
composed player out on the ice and is going to be a first-rounder in two years.
Czech captain, center Jakub Sindel, was able to pull off another impressive
showing after winning the scoring title for the Czech Under-18 WJC team despite
being an underager. After a cold start in the opening game against Switzerland
he was red-hot in the other games, scoring eight goals, including a hattrick
in the bronze-medal game. The opposing defenses had a tough time with Sindel's
gamebreaking ability and deceptive puckhandling skills. The Czech speedster
was the on-ice leader and a lethal offensive weapon. Sindel is a great skater
who is very agile and fast, making use of his speed to win many one-on-one battles.
Only his lack of toughness and average defensive play prevent him from being
a possible top 10 pick in 2004.
Big rearguard Jaroslav Mrazek was quite a disappointment when you look
at his performances from the two previous international seasons. He was counted
on to be one of the defensive anchors but struggled in his own zone and his
erratic passing was the cause of many turnovers. It was also obvious that he
needs to further develop his skating skills if he wants to think about being
a high draft pick in 2004. Mrazek has the size and a decent mean streak, but
more was expected from him.
4th place - Canada
The seven-time defending champions from the previous summer events in Europe
went home without a medal for the first time. Even if some mistakes cost them
the key games against USA and Czech Republic, the Canadian roster still boasted
highly talented players who have a good NHL future ahead of them.
Sturdy Medicine Hat Tigers defenseman Cam Barker had a great start into
the tournament, showing a terrific vision and excellent passing skills. Barker
unfortunately wasn't the same factor in the key games. But still Barker displayed
smooth skating for a player of his size and great smarts. He has a low panic
point and doesn't make mistakes even if pressed by an opponent. Barker doesn't
shy away from the rough stuff and throws very good hits. He possesses a hard
shot from the point, but it needs some polishing especially in accuracy.
The front lines were lead by young 2005 eligible prodigy Sidney Crosby.
A marvellous skater, Crosby utilizes on his speed and terrific offensive instincts
to slip through defenses and score or generate scoring chances. Crosby possesses
a great hockey sense and is a deceptive puckhandler who can score and pass equally
well. His shots are very accurate and quite hard. The only knock against him
would be that he doesn't show much toughness in his play, even if he doesn't
play afraid, but Crosby proved that he is on the track to become the top selection
in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.
2003 Memorial Cup winner Evan McGrath put in a good performance. He
showed that he has no trouble with maintaining the control of the puck even
in heavy traffic thanks to his superb puckhandling skills. McGrath is a slick
skater who is able to reach top speed in a few strides and a very agile player.
From his drawbacks he displayed that he has still to concentrate on the defensive
side of his game, he has to limit the options of the opposition more effectively.
McGrath can also show more of a nasty side in his play, but overall is a very
good prospect.
A little bit more was expected from highly touted netminder Devan Dubnyk.
The lanky goaltender gave up some bad goals, especially in the bronze-medal
game against the Czech Republic. Dubnyk has a great ability to stay square to
the shooter and he covers lots of net, but needs to be a bit more faster in
moving in the crease, especially side-to-side. Dubnyk possesses solid reflexes
and a very good glove hand. His puckhandling skills could be upgraded, too.
This tournament wasn't one of Dubnyk's best, but still he is a talented netminder
who has a bright future.