Video: 2013 World Junior Championship – Mikhail Grigorenko and Alex Khokhlachev, Russia Photo: Quebec Remparts forward and Buffalo Sabres prospect Mikhail Grigorenko played a major role in helping Russia advance to the semi-finals of the 2013 WJC (courtesy of Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images) After winning gold and silver at the last two World Junior Championships, 2013 host country Russia find themselves in a position to bring home another medal, possibly gold, in front of a home crowd. Notes and quotes from the preliminary round of the 2013 World Juniors Photo: Highly-rated 2013 prospect Aleksander Barkov of Finland has roots in the country that is hosting the 2013 World Junior Championship, Russia (courtesy of Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images) Notes Team Sweden is sporting the best power-play, coming in at 35.71%, while the USA tops penalty killing units at 88.24%. Interestingly enough, no team has been on the power-play more than Sweden and only Russia has been shorthanded less than the USA. Plenty of intrigue heading into medal, relegation rounds at 2013 World Juniors Photo: Although Edmonton Oilers prospect Nail Yakupov has generated a bit of offense for Russia at the 2013 WJC, he has not been the offensive force he will need to be if Russia is to take the gold medal (courtesy of Terry Wilson/OHL Images) For hockey fans across the globe, the preliminary round of the 2013 IIHF WJC has been just about everything anyone had ever hoped for. There’s been no lack of tension, rivalries, intrigue and background stories that have come together to make this tournament the type that fans everywhere crave. Dikushin, Tiffels part of growing global presence in USHL Photo: Green Bay Gamblers forward Grigory Dikushin (#97) is competing in his second USHL season after coming over from Russia for the 2011-12 season (courtesy of Rick Schaffer) In 2011, the USHL increased the amount of foreign players each club could carry from two to four. As a result, many teams have put more emphasis on global scouting in order to recruit European skaters that will improve their teams. But, while many of the foreign players in the USHL are from Canada, two teams are reaping the benefits of their global outreach and, in turn, have improved the league’s brand among the global hockey community. 2013 WJC Preview: Russia hopes home cooking will be the recipe for gold
 Photo: Chicago Blackhawks prospect Maxim Shalunov was a top offensive performer for Russia at the recently completed Subway Super Series (courtesy of Derek Leung/Getty Images) After the very good results from the last two World Junior Championships, where they grabbed a gold and a silver medal, Team Russia will play at home for the first time since 2001 and are hoping for a better finish in 2013 than their seventh place showing in twelve years ago. |
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