World Cup of Hockey preview
Ville Jacques-Cartier, DC - World Cup of Hockey groups have been drawn and the schedule has been released. Let's take a look at it. Terre Septentrionale is in group C with Mercedini, Ko-oren, Sarzonia, Sylestone and New Waldensia. First, the schedule:
MD1: Terre Septentrionale (20) vs Sarzonia (40) @ Colisée d'Oujé-Bougoumou
MD2: Sylestone (UR) vs Terre Septentrionale (20)
MD3: Terre Septrionale (20) vs Mercedini (3) @ Forum de Longueuil
MD4: Ko-oren (9) vs Terre Septrionale (20)
MD5: Terre Septrionale (20) vs New Waldensia (UR) @ Hala Sportowo Polnocna Telekom
Christmas Break
MD6: Sarzonia (40) vs Terre Septentrionale (20)
MD7: Terre Septentrionale (20) vs Sylestone (UR) @ OSiR w Ostrzeszowie
MD8: Mercedini (3) vs Terre Septentrionale (20)
MD9: Terre Septentrionale (20) vs Ko-oren (9) @ Forum de Longueuil
MD10: New Waldensia (UR) vs Terre Septentrionale (20)
Sarzonia (40):
WCoH 39: 4th in group
WCoH 38: Did not participate
Terre Septentrionale is starting off the tournament at home against one of their main rival, Sarzonia. While the Nordiques will try to sneak in the 2nd place, they needs to watch their back because the Stars are a good team despite their low rank. They're probably the most physical team in our group and the Zyskowska twins could be intimidated by their physical play. Terre Septentrionale is a highly skilled play that isn't fond on physical play and the only players who can respond to Alan Donald are Günther Schützenauer and Zofia Stepniewska. Schützenauer has 6 fights in about 150 career games in the Septentrional Hockey League (SHL). Zofia Stepniewska had a fight with a player from Abanhfleft during the WCoH 39 but she's now a reserve player.
Sylestone (UR): Sylestone are our 2nd opponent. They have yet to reveal their roster and we don't know much about them.
Mercedini (3):
WCoH 39: 4th place
WCoH 38: 3rd place
WCoH 37: 2nd place
Mercedini are the team to beat in our group but it's unlikely we can beat them. In the WCoH 37, they lost in the final against Neu Engollon. The following year they beat Siovanija and Teusland for the bronze and in the latest WCoH, the lost the bronze medal game against Neu Engollon. Funnily they went that far without even publishing their roster and we had to go back to the WCoH 38 to find some information about their players. Mercedinian players have good stamina, they rarely do line changes and they are one of the best attacking team in the multiverse.
Ko-oren (9):
WCoH 39: Loss in round of 16
WCoH 38: Loss in quarterfinals
WCoH 37: Loss in round of 16
We previously saw that Mercedini lost the final against Neu Engollon in the WCoH 37 and the bronze medal game against the same opponent in WCoH 39. Funnily, Ko-oren was also eliminated by Neu Engollon in the WCoH 37 and 38. Ko-oren is a highly defensive team who does not play physically. They prefer to rely on speed. Terre Septentrionale games against Ko-oren will feature high skilled plays and speed over physicality.
New Waldensia (UR): Lastly is New Waldensia but we don't know much about them.
Terre Septentrionale (20):
WCoH 39: 4th in group
WCoH 38: Loss in round of 16
WCoH 37: Did not participate
Let's talk about us! Our first participation was at the WCoH 38 and we did pretty good for an unranked team, we finished 2nd in our group and advanced to the playoffs.Then we lost in round of 16 against Mercedini. In the WCoH 39 things were harder, and because of a lack of articles in our newspapers, our players lost their confidence and the Reprezentacja Nordycki finished 4th in their group. The Northmen, like Ko-oren relies on speed, and we're also good offensively. Our top line with Jenny Hockey and the Zyskowska twins can do some damage. The 2nd and 3rd ones are also good ones offensively. Even the 4th line relies more on attacking than defending or physical play and this line features a 21 years old Fryderyka Krzyszczyk. However her WCoH debut might be delayed by one game if coach Georges Grondin decides to insert a more physical Zofia Stepniewska in the line up instead of Krzyszczyk.
Last minute information: It's now confirmed, Zofia Stepniewska will play on matchday 1 against Sarzonia instead of Fryderyka Krzyszczyk who will make her international debut on matchday 2 against Sylestone. Coach Grondin wants Stepniewska to respond to Alan Donald if he start making trouble.
Germain Coutu,
La tribune Septentrionale