U-18 World Championship Scouting Notebook: The top standouts on Day 5

Steven Ellis
Steven Ellis
U-18 World Championship Scouting Notebook: The top standouts on Day 5
Credit: (Photo by Steven Ellis/The Hocke

BASEL, Switzerland – Well, that was a day of hockey indeed.

Monday’s action was quick with just a game in each city – but with both games having major implications. In Ajoie, Germany needed a regulation win to advance to the quarterfinal, and looked swell with a 4-2 lead midway through. But the Slovaks – who had an advantage with a shootout win over the Czechs to kick things off – came through on the heels of a major performance by Dalibor Dvorsky and a five-minute power play to win 6-4.

In Basel, the game was much more muted. Both teams entered without a point, so the winner would also advance to the playoff round. It was a muted game that was dominated in the neutral zone, but in the end, Toms Mots scored the lone goal with under seven minutes to go to win the game and advance to the quarterfinal.

We have just one day left in the round robin, and there’s still some re-ordering that can be done. As it stands, this is what we’re looking at for first-round matchups:

Sweden vs. Latvia*
Canada vs. Switzerland
Slovakia vs. Finland
USA vs. Czechia

Sweden and Latvia is confirmed, but the rest can still change in what should be an interesting final day of action in Switzerland.

Slovakia pulls off spectacular comeback

  • Dalibor Dvorsky was the easy choice for player of the game with a four-goal, five-point effort. One of the top European prospects for the NHL Draft, these are the type of close games the Slovaks look for Dvorsky to step up in. Mission accomplished. In terms of actual importance, Dvorsky had the best game of anyone in the tournament.
  • Juraj Pekarcik was rewarded with the final goal of the game, an empty-netter. But after grabbing three assists, that was easily one of the best games Perkarcik has ever had with the national team. He’s looking like a mid-round pick this year, but he’s been easily one of Slovakia’s most consistent players with seven points over his past three games.
  • It was obviously not the result he wanted, especially after holding the lead for most of the game, but German netminder Leon Willerscheid was the only reason the Slovaks struggled in the first 40 minutes, other than Germany’s power play. He finished with 32 saves, putting it all on the line against a superior Slovak team.
  • Kevin Bicker scored for Germany and was generally buzzing around. He played nearly half of the third period in an effort to try and get the Germans back in control. The game misconduct to Lua Niehus didn’t help.
  • Another standout night for Maxim Strbak, Slovakia’s best defenseman. He played a game-high 27:21 and didn’t look winded in the slightest. He had two points to boot, too.

Latvia scores one late to beat Norway

  • Aksels Ozols is finally rewarded with a 19-save shutout. He had some decent moments against USA and Finland but was pulled after the second period in both, hurting his overall numbers. He wasn’t great against Switzerland, but kept Latvia in it today.
  • Eriks Mateiko‘s name has been one that has circulated in the media tribune over the past few days. The Saint John Sea Dogs winger grabbed his second point of the tournament and has been one of the few Latvians to really be putting in the effort every shift. He’s not eligible until the 2024 NHL Draft, but he’s been noticeable.
  • It might not mean much in the end, but Stian Solberg has been Norway’s best player and it’s not even close. He played 26:22 to lead everyone in the game in ice time. He also landed a massive hit five seconds into the game that resulted in a penalty. It’ll be interesting to see where he takes his game next year because Solberg has some decent potential as a 2024 pick.
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