Deep Russian squad looks to extend medal streak
Though Russia hasn’t had many household names on their World Junior rosters recently, they’ve seen major success at the tournament.
Last year, Russia went 2-2 in the group stage, getting dropped by Canada and the United States, but favourably matched up against Denmark in the quarterfinals. While they lost to the United States in the semifinals, Russia downed the favoured Sweden squad to give the team a bronze medal win, thus extending the medal streak to seven years.
Russia’s last gold medal came back in Buffalo in 2011. The team led by Evgeny Kuznetsov and Vladimir Tarasenko edged out Finland and Sweden in the quarter and semifinals, and then pulled off a memorable comeback against Canada in the gold medal game. The heavily-favoured Canadian squad held a 3-0 lead heading into the third period when Russia stormed back with five unanswered to pull off the shocking victory.
While the country hasn’t won a gold medal in the previous six tournaments, they’ve certainly been in the hunt. Russia has earned a medal in each of the past seven World Junior Championships. No country currently has a longer streak of consecutive medals earned at the tournament and Russia’s seven-straight years with a medal ties the nation’s record since the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991.
Nothing is ever a certainty in these tournaments, especially with Canada, the United States, and Sweden all boasting strong rosters. But Russia’s medal streak seems likely to continue as the country will send a roster to Buffalo that makes up for a lack of elite talent with a tremendous amount of depth.
Russia appears to only have three players from last year’s team returning for this year’s tournament in Buffalo. Third-string goalie Vladislav Sukhachyov didn’t play in 2017 but will be back, and defenceman Grigori Dronov and forward German Rubtsov, who was concussed at last year’s tournament, appear poised to take on bigger a role on this year’s team as veterans. The other 1998 player from last year’s roster, Mikhail Sergachev, is having a monster rookie season in the NHL with the Tampa Bay Lightning, so it’s unlikely he’ll be let go for the tournament.
The star of the tournament for Russia will be Andrei Svechnikov, if he’s deemed fit to play. The projected No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NHL draft has missed a good chunk of the season in his first year with the Barrie Colts of the OHL due to a hand injury. But when he’s been healthy, he’s played very well. The big, mature right winger has 11 goals through 13 games, which is good for fourth on the team despite the fact he’s played half as many games as anyone else.
Beyond Svechnikov, Russia will have a loaded roster filled with players currently getting their feet wet at the KHL level. There may not be household names like Ovechkin, Malkin, or Kuznetsov on this team, but it’s a deep one filled with mature players.
