Twelve days and nights, 56 games of hockey and, really, we’re just getting to the good stuff now. It’s almost quarter-final time at the 2024 IIHF World Championship and we wanted it to check in with our resident experts – Lucas Aykroyd, Chris Jurewicz, Andrew Podnieks, and Andy Potts – once again for the IIHF’s Ask the Experts, Volume 2. Enjoy!
Q: The preliminary round is done. Two-part question: What team has impressed you the most, and what team has been the most disappointing?
Aykroyd
By the numbers, it has to be the unstoppable Swedes with their 35-9 goal difference. But here in Prague, you can’t overlook what Canada is doing in terms of their traditional “finding a way to win” and “getting better every day” mantras. Disappointment-wise, if you only ever watch the UK’s Elite Ice Hockey League, you might see Finland as impressive in view of its 8-0 win over Great Britain. But seriously, this year’s Suomi team has struggled to score and to put away opponents (case in point: the last-second 3-2 loss to Austria). Barring a sudden momentum swing to upset Tre Kronor in the quarter-finals, this could be a rather unmemorable end to the Jukka Jalonen era.
Podnieks
Canada has been dominant, resilient, exciting. Yes, they blew a 6-1 lead in the third to Austria, but they shrugged it off and proceeded to play their best hockey. When the top teams pressed, they pressed back and won, notably against Switzerland and Czechia. Disappointing? I think Finland’s very average 3-3 record is a surprise given their massive WM success in recent years. But, of course, it’s only the preliminary round. Let’s see if they can get back on track in the quarters.
Potts
Two nations stood out. Among the likely medal contenders, Sweden looks the most cohesive team at both ends of the ice and, on current form, have to be prominent in any conversation about this year’s champion. But for ‘added value’ it’s hard to look beyond Austria. Before we started, most people had them in a relegation scrap; on Tuesday morning they had a realistic shot at dumping Finland out in the group stage. The final game got away, but there’s no doubt that Roger Bader gets the maximum from his players and is building a team that is starting to pull away from the relegation dogfight.
Austria’s success throws Finland’s issues into sharp relief. In recent years we’ve grown used to seeing the Finns in gold medal games. Now we’re seeing a second underwhelming campaign. It’s easy to say with hindsight, but perhaps Jukka Jalonen’s swansong as head coach turned into one championship too far?
Jurewicz
Start to finish, the Swedes are the most impressive. Consistent, strong, solid.
And start to Finnish, it’s Finland that is the most disappointing for me. The Finns will play in the quarter-finals but have simply haven’t looked great. Losses to Czechia and, especially, Austria have tainted their record and they now have the tall task of taking down Sweden in the quarter-finals.
Q: With the quarter-finals set, which of the four games is the most intriguing to you?
Aykroyd
The Czechia-USA quarter-final will be a spectacle to remember, determining whether the host team has a chance to emulate Sweden in 2013 or Finland in 2022 and win the tournament on home ice. No team is facing heavier expectations than the Czechs, not even Sweden or Canada, especially after adding David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha from the Boston Bruins. They could make up for the U.S.’s overall edge in firepower. I covered the last two Worlds quarter-finals in Prague as well. I remember the feeling of disaster and disbelief in the arena when the stacked 2004 team fell to the U.S. on Andy Roach’s tricky shootout goal and the total ecstasy when Jaromir Jagr’s two goals lifted Czechia to a 5-3 win over Finland.
Podnieks
Sweden-Finland. Classic rivalry, but a QF matchup feels a little early. But that’s because Tre Kronor has been unbeatable and Finland, as I said, a bit of a disappointment. What better way to recover their mojo than a win against Sweden? But that Swedish lineup is pretty wow!
Potts
I’ve enjoyed a lot of Switzerland’s play in the group stage, and it’s easy to love a team with the talents of Hischier, Josi, Niederreiter and Fiala on display. But we’ve been here before with the Swiss: a powerful group stage, followed by a letdown in the QF. I’m fascinated to see if they can change that script on Thursday against a German team that sprang huge surprises 12 months ago.
Jurewicz
Canada versus Slovakia is the one I’m most excited about. The Canadians will deservedly enter the game as favourites after finishing first in Group A with 19 points but I can sense a close game here.
The Slovaks will have the crowd’s support and they’re riding the hot play of goaltender Samuel Hlavaj, who sports a 0.939 save percentage and 1.93 goals against average in the four games he’s played. The Slovaks can score too and are led by Libor Hudacek (5-4—9) and Martin Pospisil (3-4—7). Let's hope Pospisil is healthy to play.
Q: Who is your current pick for Most Valuable Player?
Aykroyd
A few days ago, Switzerland’s Roman Josi would have topped my list, but right now, it’s got to be Canada’s Dylan Cozens. Big-time players step up in big games. Not only does the 23-year-old Buffalo Sabres star lead the tournament with eight goals, but five of those goals have come in Canada’s last three wins over its toughest group-stage opponents: Finland, Switzerland, and Czechia. If Cozens keeps up this pace (winning included), he’s a shoo-in.
Podnieks
I think the Swiss need to win at least one more game, but defender and captain Roman Josi has been a real leader and star for the Swiss. Perhaps one of the most under-rated defenders in the NHL for the last decade, he seems to be embracing his role in Prague and playing excellent hockey.
Potts
This could go sideways on Thursday, but assuming the Czechs make the medal games I’d expect to see Roman Cervenka in the conversation. He’s led this team by example so often here, and in other tournaments, and is still a big, big player at the age of 38. If Czechia makes its first gold medal game since 2010 that will surely involve more key contributions as Cervenka revives his partnership with David Pastrnak in the knock-out round. Throw in the home-town factor, and you know he’d be a popular choice.
Jurewicz
I’m with Podnieks. It’s gotta be Roman Josi. As he goes, so do the Swiss. He leads all defenders in scoring and continues his strong defensive play. Of course, a solid finish for the Swiss would help out Josi’s cause.
Brady Tkachuk (USA) and Dylan Cozens (Canada) have had great tournaments so far but Josi means more to his team than any other player in the event.
Q: Of the 56 games played thus far at Worlds, what's the best one you have seen?
Aykroyd
For the passionate atmosphere and the dramatic finish between two top contenders, I choose Canada’s 4-3 overtime win over the Czechs in Prague.
Podnieks
Well, I’m anchored in Ostrava, so I have watched all 28 games here closely and have managed to watch only bits and pieces from Prague, so I am naturally skewed to an Ostrava answer. I would have to say the Latvia-Poland tilt on 11 May was one of the most thrilling Men’s Worlds games I’ve ever seen. The crowd was 50-50 split in alliance, loud, wild, indefatigable. The game went back and forth, on the ice and the scoreboard. Poland scored first, Latvia tied it. Poland went up 2-1, and then 3-2, Latvia tied it and then went ahead 4-3. Then Mateusz Bryk tied it late in the third to send it to overtime, where Kaspars Daugavins won it. Amazing game.
Potts
The epic Austrian battles with Switzerland, Canada and Finland stand out in Group A. But my favourite 65 minutes was probably Poland’s opening game against Latvia. On paper, 2023’s bronze medallist should have cruised past a team playing its first game at this level for 22 years. But the Poles brought so much verve and passion that they could close that gap in a thrilling encounter that always felt like it could go either way. With two sets of raucous fans whipping up a great atmosphere in Ostrava, this was a real occasion – just what the World Championship is all about.
Jurewicz
Once again, I'm with Andrew. Poland versus Latvia showed what makes the World Championship so special.
Q: The preliminary round is done. Two-part question: What team has impressed you the most, and what team has been the most disappointing?
Aykroyd
By the numbers, it has to be the unstoppable Swedes with their 35-9 goal difference. But here in Prague, you can’t overlook what Canada is doing in terms of their traditional “finding a way to win” and “getting better every day” mantras. Disappointment-wise, if you only ever watch the UK’s Elite Ice Hockey League, you might see Finland as impressive in view of its 8-0 win over Great Britain. But seriously, this year’s Suomi team has struggled to score and to put away opponents (case in point: the last-second 3-2 loss to Austria). Barring a sudden momentum swing to upset Tre Kronor in the quarter-finals, this could be a rather unmemorable end to the Jukka Jalonen era.
Podnieks
Canada has been dominant, resilient, exciting. Yes, they blew a 6-1 lead in the third to Austria, but they shrugged it off and proceeded to play their best hockey. When the top teams pressed, they pressed back and won, notably against Switzerland and Czechia. Disappointing? I think Finland’s very average 3-3 record is a surprise given their massive WM success in recent years. But, of course, it’s only the preliminary round. Let’s see if they can get back on track in the quarters.
Potts
Two nations stood out. Among the likely medal contenders, Sweden looks the most cohesive team at both ends of the ice and, on current form, have to be prominent in any conversation about this year’s champion. But for ‘added value’ it’s hard to look beyond Austria. Before we started, most people had them in a relegation scrap; on Tuesday morning they had a realistic shot at dumping Finland out in the group stage. The final game got away, but there’s no doubt that Roger Bader gets the maximum from his players and is building a team that is starting to pull away from the relegation dogfight.
Austria’s success throws Finland’s issues into sharp relief. In recent years we’ve grown used to seeing the Finns in gold medal games. Now we’re seeing a second underwhelming campaign. It’s easy to say with hindsight, but perhaps Jukka Jalonen’s swansong as head coach turned into one championship too far?
Jurewicz
Start to finish, the Swedes are the most impressive. Consistent, strong, solid.
And start to Finnish, it’s Finland that is the most disappointing for me. The Finns will play in the quarter-finals but have simply haven’t looked great. Losses to Czechia and, especially, Austria have tainted their record and they now have the tall task of taking down Sweden in the quarter-finals.
Q: With the quarter-finals set, which of the four games is the most intriguing to you?
Aykroyd
The Czechia-USA quarter-final will be a spectacle to remember, determining whether the host team has a chance to emulate Sweden in 2013 or Finland in 2022 and win the tournament on home ice. No team is facing heavier expectations than the Czechs, not even Sweden or Canada, especially after adding David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha from the Boston Bruins. They could make up for the U.S.’s overall edge in firepower. I covered the last two Worlds quarter-finals in Prague as well. I remember the feeling of disaster and disbelief in the arena when the stacked 2004 team fell to the U.S. on Andy Roach’s tricky shootout goal and the total ecstasy when Jaromir Jagr’s two goals lifted Czechia to a 5-3 win over Finland.
Podnieks
Sweden-Finland. Classic rivalry, but a QF matchup feels a little early. But that’s because Tre Kronor has been unbeatable and Finland, as I said, a bit of a disappointment. What better way to recover their mojo than a win against Sweden? But that Swedish lineup is pretty wow!
Potts
I’ve enjoyed a lot of Switzerland’s play in the group stage, and it’s easy to love a team with the talents of Hischier, Josi, Niederreiter and Fiala on display. But we’ve been here before with the Swiss: a powerful group stage, followed by a letdown in the QF. I’m fascinated to see if they can change that script on Thursday against a German team that sprang huge surprises 12 months ago.
Jurewicz
Canada versus Slovakia is the one I’m most excited about. The Canadians will deservedly enter the game as favourites after finishing first in Group A with 19 points but I can sense a close game here.
The Slovaks will have the crowd’s support and they’re riding the hot play of goaltender Samuel Hlavaj, who sports a 0.939 save percentage and 1.93 goals against average in the four games he’s played. The Slovaks can score too and are led by Libor Hudacek (5-4—9) and Martin Pospisil (3-4—7). Let's hope Pospisil is healthy to play.
Q: Who is your current pick for Most Valuable Player?
Aykroyd
A few days ago, Switzerland’s Roman Josi would have topped my list, but right now, it’s got to be Canada’s Dylan Cozens. Big-time players step up in big games. Not only does the 23-year-old Buffalo Sabres star lead the tournament with eight goals, but five of those goals have come in Canada’s last three wins over its toughest group-stage opponents: Finland, Switzerland, and Czechia. If Cozens keeps up this pace (winning included), he’s a shoo-in.
Podnieks
I think the Swiss need to win at least one more game, but defender and captain Roman Josi has been a real leader and star for the Swiss. Perhaps one of the most under-rated defenders in the NHL for the last decade, he seems to be embracing his role in Prague and playing excellent hockey.
Potts
This could go sideways on Thursday, but assuming the Czechs make the medal games I’d expect to see Roman Cervenka in the conversation. He’s led this team by example so often here, and in other tournaments, and is still a big, big player at the age of 38. If Czechia makes its first gold medal game since 2010 that will surely involve more key contributions as Cervenka revives his partnership with David Pastrnak in the knock-out round. Throw in the home-town factor, and you know he’d be a popular choice.
Jurewicz
I’m with Podnieks. It’s gotta be Roman Josi. As he goes, so do the Swiss. He leads all defenders in scoring and continues his strong defensive play. Of course, a solid finish for the Swiss would help out Josi’s cause.
Brady Tkachuk (USA) and Dylan Cozens (Canada) have had great tournaments so far but Josi means more to his team than any other player in the event.
Q: Of the 56 games played thus far at Worlds, what's the best one you have seen?
Aykroyd
For the passionate atmosphere and the dramatic finish between two top contenders, I choose Canada’s 4-3 overtime win over the Czechs in Prague.
Podnieks
Well, I’m anchored in Ostrava, so I have watched all 28 games here closely and have managed to watch only bits and pieces from Prague, so I am naturally skewed to an Ostrava answer. I would have to say the Latvia-Poland tilt on 11 May was one of the most thrilling Men’s Worlds games I’ve ever seen. The crowd was 50-50 split in alliance, loud, wild, indefatigable. The game went back and forth, on the ice and the scoreboard. Poland scored first, Latvia tied it. Poland went up 2-1, and then 3-2, Latvia tied it and then went ahead 4-3. Then Mateusz Bryk tied it late in the third to send it to overtime, where Kaspars Daugavins won it. Amazing game.
Potts
The epic Austrian battles with Switzerland, Canada and Finland stand out in Group A. But my favourite 65 minutes was probably Poland’s opening game against Latvia. On paper, 2023’s bronze medallist should have cruised past a team playing its first game at this level for 22 years. But the Poles brought so much verve and passion that they could close that gap in a thrilling encounter that always felt like it could go either way. With two sets of raucous fans whipping up a great atmosphere in Ostrava, this was a real occasion – just what the World Championship is all about.
Jurewicz
Once again, I'm with Andrew. Poland versus Latvia showed what makes the World Championship so special.