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2013 U18 WJC Video: Kasperi Kapanen, Finland
Photo: Forward Kasperi Kapanen and his teammates from Finland got off to a good start at the 2013 U18 WJC with a win over Latvia (courtesy of Chapin Landvogt)
If the surname of Kasperi Kapanen sounds familiar to hockey fans, there is a good reason for that. Kasperi is the son of former NHL forward Sami Kapanen, whose stops in the NHL included the Hartford Whalers, Carolina Hurricanes, and Philadelphia Flyers.
2013 U18 WJC Video: Haralds Egle, Latvia
Photo: Latvian forward Haralds Egle is one of four team members to have played in North America in the 2012-13 season (courtesy of Chapin Landvogt)
Latvia came into the 2013 U18 World Junior Championship hoping to at least equal that country's performance at the 2012 version of this tournament.
2013 U18 WJC Preview: USA going for fifth consecutive gold medal
Photo: Team USA forward JT Compher has had a strong second half to his 2012-13 season, raising his stock for the 2013 NHL Draft (courtesy of Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
It's difficult to think that the United States might not be able to defend their title from the last year and go on to win their fifth gold medal in a row and eighth in the history of the Under-18 World Junior Championship.
2013 U18 WJC Preview: Russia looking to mine gold on home turf
Terry Wilson / OHL Images
As the hosts of this 2013 Under-18 World Junior Championship, the Russians would love to prove that they are the best hockey country of the world. They won their last gold from this event in 2007, but last year failed to reach a medal position. As you know, hockey always carries a huge importance in Russia, but now, with the tournament on their own soil, they will probably make an even bigger deal out of this tournament. Unfortunately, the Russian Hockey Federation hasn't released the final roster as of this writing, but there are some names that should be in the mix once the WJC gets underway.
2013 U18 WJC Preview: Latvia hoping to match solid showing at last year’s tournament
Article: Latvia had a surprisingly good showing at the 2012 U18 World Juniors, and will be looking to build on that at the 2013 edition of this tournament.
Last year, Latvia participated in the U18 World Junior Championship for the first time since getting promoted from Division I in 2011. Many experts and journalists expected the Baltic state to fight to keep themselves in the elite group, but Latvians took their mission to another level.
