Czech Republic U18 - USA U18

Friendly match played at 17:00 cet in Hodonin (Czech Republic), where Ivan Hlinka memorial starts on Tuesday. The Czech team is in a difficult position, missing many important players, who were drafted by clubs from the Northern America. It is highly probable the trainers will have to do without them at the World Championships division 1 held in April next year. Therefore the trainers decided not to invite them to the team for the forthcomming tournament and today's friendly match. So the team is built from players from the Czech league. IMO the squad lacks deep quality. According to the trainer's words he's not satisfied with the situation as too many players left, but there is nothing he could do about it.

The April's chapmionship is very important for this team, as they will have to get back among the elite, as their junior predecessors were relegated from the top group of the Worlds Championship (for the first time in the history of the Czech hockey).

The USA squd was selected during a player development camp held at the beginning of July in St. Cloud, Minnessota. It is said that the best players born in 1990 took part in this camp, so the selection should be probably very strong. For example the records of both U18 national team goalkeepers from this camp are very impressive: Hjelle - 0,80 goals-against average and 95 % save percentage, Crandall - 1.00 GAA and 94 % save percentage.

I think it's useless to name all the players here, as I don't think they could tell anyone too much. But I'm convinced about bigger quality of the American team.

If you are worried about a possible draw, you can play USA dnb at 1,65.



Pick : USA
Odds : 2.00
Stake : 6 / 10
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