Where is the ncaa lacrosse championship 2021. 2021 NCAA Lacrosse Championship: 5 ACC Teams Dominate Tournament Field

Where will the 2021 NCAA lacrosse championship be held. Which teams secured spots in the tournament. How many ACC teams made the cut. What are the key dates and venues for the championship games.

ACC Dominance in the 2021 NCAA Lacrosse Tournament

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) has made a significant impact on the 2021 NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Championship, securing an impressive five spots in the 16-team tournament field. This remarkable achievement underscores the conference’s dominance in collegiate lacrosse, as the ACC’s representation more than doubles that of any other league.

The five ACC teams that have earned bids to the tournament are:

• North Carolina
• Duke
• Virginia
• Notre Dame
• Syracuse

This stellar performance by the ACC teams is a testament to their strength and skill throughout the regular season. Their success has not only secured them spots in the tournament but also positioned them favorably in the seedings.

Top Seeds and ACC’s Stellar Performance

The ACC’s prowess is further highlighted by the fact that its teams have claimed four of the top six national seeds in the tournament. This impressive feat showcases the conference’s depth and quality of play.

The seedings for the ACC teams are as follows:

1. North Carolina – No. 1 seed
2. Duke – No. 2 seed
3. Virginia – No. 4 seed
4. Notre Dame – No. 6 seed
5. Syracuse – At-large bid

North Carolina and Duke, the ACC’s 2021 co-champions, have been chosen as the tournament’s top two seeds. This marks a significant achievement for North Carolina, as it’s their first time as the top seed since 1993.

First-Round Hosts and Match-ups

Two ACC teams, North Carolina and Virginia, have been selected as first-round host sites for the tournament. They will each host a pair of games, providing a home-field advantage as they begin their quest for the championship.

The first-round match-ups for the ACC teams are:

• North Carolina (11-2) vs. Monmouth (8-2)
• Duke (12-2) vs. High Point (8-5)
• Virginia (10-4) vs. Bryant (9-3)
• Notre Dame (7-3) vs. Drexel (10-2)
• Syracuse (7-5) vs. Georgetown (No. 5 seed)

These games promise to be exciting clashes as the teams vie for advancement in the tournament.

Historical Context and ACC’s Legacy

The ACC’s strong showing in this year’s tournament is not an isolated incident but rather a continuation of the conference’s rich lacrosse tradition. How has the ACC performed in past tournaments? The conference’s legacy is impressive, with at least one current ACC member team advancing to the national semifinals in 39 of the last 40 years.

Moreover, the five current ACC teams have a combined total of 24 national championships, demonstrating their consistent excellence over the years. This historical success underscores the conference’s status as a powerhouse in collegiate lacrosse.

Individual Team Achievements

Each ACC team brings its own impressive record to the tournament:

• North Carolina: 33rd NCAA Tournament appearance, 6 national championships
• Duke: 14th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, 24th all-time NCAA bid, 3 NCAA championships
• Virginia: ACC-leading 40th appearance in the NCAA Championship, 6 NCAA crowns
• Notre Dame: 15th straight NCAA Tournament appearance, 25 NCAA Tournaments all-time
• Syracuse: 13th straight trip to the NCAA Tournament, 39th appearance in program history, 10-time NCAA champion

These statistics highlight the depth of experience and success that the ACC brings to the 2021 tournament.

Tournament Schedule and Broadcast Information

The NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Championship follows a carefully planned schedule, with games spread across multiple venues. When and where will the games be played?

First Round

All Division I first-round games will be televised on ESPNU. The schedule for the ACC teams is as follows:

• Saturday, May 15:
  • Monmouth at North Carolina – Noon
  • Drexel vs. Notre Dame (at Denver, Colorado) – 5 p.m.
  • Syracuse vs. Georgetown (at College Park, Maryland) – 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, May 16:
  • Bryant at Virginia – Noon
  • High Point vs. Duke (at Chapel Hill, North Carolina) – 5 p.m.

Quarterfinals

The quarterfinal games will be held on May 22 at James M. Shuart Stadium in Hempstead, New York, and on May 23 at Arlotta Family Lacrosse Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. All quarterfinal games will be televised on ESPNU.

Semifinals and Championships

The Division I semifinal and championship games, along with the Division II and III championship games, will take place from May 29-31 at Pratt and Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut. Fairfield University will host these events.

The broadcast schedule for the final stages of the tournament is as follows:

• Division I semifinals: May 29, starting at noon on ESPN2
• Division I championship game: May 31, starting at 1 p.m. on ESPN2

The Road to East Hartford: Championship Weekend

As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on East Hartford, Connecticut, the site of the championship weekend. What makes this location significant for the 2021 NCAA Lacrosse Championship?

Pratt and Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford will serve as the epicenter of collegiate lacrosse from May 29-31. This venue will host not only the Division I semifinals and championship game but also the Division II and III championship games, creating a thrilling lacrosse spectacle.

The choice of East Hartford as the championship location provides a neutral ground for the final stages of the tournament. It offers a state-of-the-art facility capable of accommodating the large crowds expected for these high-stakes games.

Championship Weekend Schedule

The schedule for the championship weekend is as follows:

• May 29: Division I semifinals (ESPN2, starting at noon)
• May 30: Division II and III championship games
• May 31: Division I championship game (ESPN2, starting at 1 p.m.)

This concentrated schedule of high-level lacrosse action promises to provide an exciting conclusion to the 2021 NCAA Lacrosse Championship.

Impact of ACC Teams on the Tournament

The strong presence of ACC teams in the 2021 NCAA Lacrosse Championship field is likely to have a significant impact on the tournament. How might the ACC’s dominance influence the competition?

First and foremost, the high number of ACC teams in the tournament increases the likelihood of conference matchups in later rounds. This could lead to intense, familiar rivalries playing out on the national stage, adding an extra layer of excitement for fans and players alike.

Moreover, the ACC teams’ high seedings mean they enter the tournament with favorable positions. This could potentially pave the way for multiple ACC teams to advance to the later stages of the competition, further cementing the conference’s reputation as a lacrosse powerhouse.

Potential for ACC Dominance

Given the ACC’s strong representation and the teams’ impressive regular-season performances, there’s a real possibility of ACC dominance in the tournament. Some potential scenarios include:

• Multiple ACC teams reaching the Final Four
• An all-ACC championship game
• An ACC team claiming the national title, adding to the conference’s impressive tally of 24 championships

However, it’s important to note that the tournament’s single-elimination format means that anything can happen. While the ACC teams are strong contenders, they will face fierce competition from other talented teams across the nation.

Looking Beyond the ACC: Other Teams to Watch

While the ACC’s dominance is a major storyline of the 2021 NCAA Lacrosse Championship, it’s crucial to acknowledge the other strong contenders in the tournament. Which non-ACC teams could make a significant impact?

Georgetown, seeded fifth, stands out as a formidable opponent. Their first-round matchup against Syracuse promises to be one of the most closely watched games of the opening weekend.

Other teams to keep an eye on include:

• Denver: Hosting a first-round game, demonstrating their strength
• Maryland: Another first-round host, traditionally a strong lacrosse program
• Drexel: Facing Notre Dame in the first round, they enter with a strong 10-2 record
• Monmouth: Taking on top-seeded North Carolina, they’ll be looking to cause an upset

These teams, among others, ensure that the path to the championship will be challenging for all contenders, ACC or otherwise.

Potential for Upsets

The nature of tournament play always leaves room for surprises and upsets. Lower-seeded teams often rise to the occasion, fueled by the do-or-die atmosphere of championship lacrosse. This unpredictability adds to the excitement of the tournament and ensures that every game is worth watching.

As the tournament unfolds, it will be fascinating to see how these non-ACC teams perform against the conference powerhouses and whether they can disrupt the ACC’s potential dominance.

Five ACC Men’s Lacrosse Teams Named to 2021 NCAA Tournament Field

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2021 NCAA Tournament Bracket (PDF)

 
GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – All five Atlantic Coast Conference men’s lacrosse programs have earned bids to the 2021 NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Championship, as the 16-team field was announced Sunday evening by the NCAA. The ACC’s five selections are the most of any conference and more than twice as many as any other league.

 

After a strong regular season, ACC teams picked up four of the top six national seeds. The ACC’s 2021 co-champions, North Carolina and Duke, were chosen as the tournament’s top two seeds, with UNC earning the No. 1 seed and Duke taking the No. 2 seed. Virginia claimed the No. 4 seed, while Notre Dame earned the No. 6 seed. Syracuse also picked up an at-large bid to the field.

 

North Carolina and Virginia will serve as two of the four first-round host sites and will play host to a pair of games. Denver and Maryland also will host first-round games.

 

The tournament’s top seed for the first time since 1993, North Carolina (11-2) is playing in its 33rd NCAA Tournament and making its first NCAA appearance since 2017. The Tar Heels will host Monmouth (8-2) at noon Saturday. UNC has won six national championships, with the latest coming in 2016.

 

Duke (12-2) earned its 14th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and 24th all-time NCAA bid. The Blue Devils play High Point (8-5) in the first round in Chapel Hill at 5 p.m. Sunday. The Blue Devils have captured three NCAA championships, with the last coming in 2014.

 

Virginia (10-4) will make its ACC-leading 40th appearance in the NCAA Championship. The Cavaliers will play host to Bryant (9-3) at noon Sunday. UVA won the last NCAA Championship in 2019 and owns six NCAA crowns.

 

Making its 15th straight NCAA Tournament appearance, Notre Dame (7-3) takes on Drexel (10-2) at 5 p.m. Saturday in Denver, Colorado. Notre Dame has been selected to 25 NCAA Tournaments all-time.

 

Syracuse (7-5) is making its 13th straight trip to the NCAA Tournament and is in the field for the 39th time in program history. The Orange travel to College Park, Maryland, to play No. 5 seed Georgetown for their first-round matchup at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Syracuse is a 10-time NCAA champion, with the last two coming consecutively in 2008 and 2009.

 

All Division I first-round games will be televised on ESPNU. The quarterfinal games will all be televised on ESPNU on May 22 at James M. Shuart Stadium in Hempstead, New York and May 23 at Arlotta Family Lacrosse Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. The Division I semifinal and championship games, and the Division II and III championship games, will be held at Pratt and Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut, May 29-31 and hosted by Fairfield University. The Division I semifinals will be televised live on ESPN2 starting at noon on May 29. The championship game will be televised live on ESPN2 starting at 1 p.m. on May 31.

 

At least one current ACC member team has advanced to the national semifinals in 39 of the last 40 years and the current five ACC teams have combined for 24 national championships.

 
2021 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship – First-Round Games
Saturday, May 15

Monmouth at No. 1 North Carolina – Noon | ESPNU

Drexel vs. No. 6 Notre Dame (at Denver, Colorado) – 5 p.m. | ESPNU

Syracuse vs. No. 5 Georgetown (at College Park, Maryland) – 7:30 p.m. | ESPNU

 
Sunday, May 16

Bryant at No. 4 Virginia – Noon | ESPNU

High Point vs. No. 2 Duke (at Chapel Hill, North Carolina) – 5 p.m. | ESPNU

How to watch this Memorial Day weekend

While a good portion of the region looks to head out of town to kick off Philly’s unofficial start of summer, thousands plan to flock into the city for a weekend of NCAA college championships.

Philadelphia will once again be the mecca of the college lacrosse world as the NCAA men’s lacrosse championships return to Lincoln Financial Field, the first in a two-year commitment to bring its championship weekend to South Philly.

» READ MORE: After it nearly took his life, this is what the sport of lacrosse has taught Penn midfielder Sam Handley

According to the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, this weekend is anticipated to bring in close to $24 million in revenue to the city. Alongside lacrosse, the NCAA rowing championships will begin just over the bridge in Pennsauken, at the Camden County Boathouse along the Cooper River, the same location where the Dad Vail Regatta took place earlier this month.

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This year, the NCAA lacrosse championships will host the semifinal and championship games in Division I and the title games for both Division II and Division III teams.

For those coming to the city, here’s what to expect.

Which teams are playing this weekend?

The Division I semifinals feature No. 5 seeded Penn State taking on top-seeded Duke in the early game Saturday (noon, ESPN+), followed by No. 3 Notre Dame against No. 2 Virginia at 2:30 p.m. The winners will play in the championship game on Memorial Day (1 p.m., NCAA.com).

Sunday is championship day for D-II and D-III teams. No. 2 Mercyhurst will face No. 5 Lenoir-Rhyne at 1 p.m. (NCAA.com). Should be interesting considering that Lenoir-Rhyne is the first No. 5 seed to make it to championship weekend. The late game features an undefeated team from Tufts (22-0) taking on Salisbury (Md.) College (4 p.m., NCAA.com).

Any locals to look out for?

A ton. In fact among the eight teams taking part, there are 37 players across various rosters who hail from the Philadelphia region.

Among the locals….

Unsurprising: Penn State has the most area natives with 16 on its roster.

Surprising: Salisbury (Md. ), comes in a distant second with five players on the roster.

Interesting: Salisbury also features a pair of brothers, Michael and Matthew Clibanoff of Ambler who both attended La Salle College High School.

Refreshing: There are three local players on North Carolina-based Lenoir-Rhyne, one of whom is a USILA first-team All-American in Bryce Reese, a senior from Mount Laurel and a Lenape High School alum.

Homecoming: Penn State junior midfielder Brent McVicker is from Maryland but is a transfer who formerly played at Drexel and was a key piece of the Dragons’ run to the Colonial Athletic Association championship in 2021.

Did you know? Drexel will serve as the host of the NCAA lacrosse championships this year and next.

Are there tickets still available?

There are, a couple of options to select from, although many of the seats for these games have already hit the secondary market.

There are the all-session tickets, which offer all five games over the course of three days, and according to secondary ticket vendor StubHub, tickets start at $86. There are also options to buy tickets for Saturday’s Division I semifinal games or Monday’s championship game.

If you really have some cash to burn, the NCAA through its partner “On Location” is marketing its “fan experience ticket,” which in addition to a ticket to Monday’s final is said to offer an open bar with snacks, private entrance into the Linc, and a photo opportunity with the national championship trophy. Tickets start at $185 per person.

What’s the best way to get to Lincoln Financial Field?

Start by just calling it the “Linc,” which is accessible from all points of I-95 by getting off at either the Packer Avenue exit or the Broad Street exit and making your way southeast. Or from Center City take the scenic route and just head down Broad Street South.

Now, for those who like an adventure or plan to stay in a Center City hotel, our tip is to simply jump on the SEPTA Broad Street Line headed south and get off at the very last stop, NRG Station.

Take the escalator up to the concourse and there are all of Philly’s pro sports arenas right in front of you. The Linc is about a quarter-mile walk from the station. Just a suggestion, since we can’t be entirely sure if these numbers from secondary market retailer VividSeats are for real or a cruel joke, but if the going rate really is $83 to park your car in one of the lots at the Linc, then all we’re saying is consider the alternative.

» READ MORE: Here’s how West Chester women’s lacrosse used adversity to propel to the brink of a championship

MFM Guide: Russia has a new head coach, problems with goalkeepers and no one from Ak Bars

Who are the favorites, where and what time to watch matches.

December 27 at 00:30 Moscow time, the Russian team will play the opening match of the World Youth Championship in Canada against the Swedish team. Russia came to the main tournament of the year in an experimental squad – without hockey players from North America and a strong goalkeeping team. We tell you what to expect from the team Sergey Zubov and why she is not among the favorites of the tournament.

Photo: hereinafter the official website of the FHR

MAIN TOURNAMENT OF THE YEAR

The World Youth Championship always attracts a large audience. Firstly, future stars are participating in the tournament – the favorites of the NHL draft and the most promising guys who are about to make themselves known in adult hockey. Secondly, the tournament is held on convenient dates – overseas Christmas holidays, and in Russia – New Year holidays. For many, MFM has already become an attribute of the New Year mood, like Olivier salad or Soviet films.

Ice hockey at MFM attracts with its entertainment. No cold calculation, restrained tactics or other attributes of boring hockey. The guys are running forward: at the age of 20, they are overwhelmed by emotions. MFM is passion, excitement and crazy rescues in the last minutes.

In the situation with the coronavirus, when many international tournaments are postponed, the MFM remains an island of stability and hope that everything in the world will return to normal in the near future. At the moment, it is not clear what will happen to the Beijing Olympics. Players from the NHL will definitely not go there, and now there is information that the Games may be postponed at all due to the outbreak of a new strain.

If last year the World Youth Championship was held without spectators, this time the fans will be in the stands. The organizers said that up to 50% of the total capacity of the arenas could be in the stands. Recently it became known that 90% of the tickets for the tournament have already been sold. The youth tournament with fans is a double holiday.

RUSSIA HAS A NEW HEAD COACH AGAIN

For the second consecutive tournament, the Russian team will play under the guidance of a new head coach. If earlier the youth team traditionally drove to the world championships Valery Bragin , now everything is different. At the previous MFM the team was led by Igor Larionov . The players spoke admiringly about the legend of Soviet and Russian hockey, who, according to them, is also a very strong psychologist. There were high hopes for Larionov, and Russia had one of the strongest teams in the tournament. Plus, many other teams, including Canada, have lost their stars due to the coronavirus.

Sergey Zubov

However, in such ideal conditions, Russia was left without medals in the tournament, losing heavily in the semifinals to Canada (0:5), and then also to Finland in the match for 3rd place (1:4). At the same time, Larionov was removed from the post of head coach not immediately, but only recently. Now the team is led by Sergei Zubov , and also in his coaching staff Oleg Znarok.

Due to covid restrictions, our youth team played only one control match before the tournament, losing to Canada (4:6). Larionov that year had the opportunity to test almost all the young players at one of the stages of the Eurotour. Zubov did not have such an opportunity. Only one thing can be understood from the dry press conferences of the new head coach: Russia is going to Canada to win. But aren’t these big words? Zubov has never had any experience with young players. Yes, and the composition of the current team just can not be called strong, especially compared to last year. For the first time in a long time, Russia is not considered the favorite of the tournament, but, on the other hand, this may even be a plus, because there will be less pressure on the guys.

NATIONAL TEAM FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 15 YEARS WITHOUT PLAYERS FROM NORTH AMERICA

This year for the first time in 15 years in the youth team of Russia there will not be a single hockey player who plays in North America. Specialists overseas expected to see at least two defenders – Daniil Chaika and Yana Kuznetsov . There was talk that the head coach of the youth team would invite them to the final list of the national team, but he did without them.

“We followed the performance of Kuznetsov and Chaika, hoping that they would strengthen our defensive line. But in the end, we came to the conclusion that the players who went through the training camp with us are stronger in defensive actions, ”said Zubov. Perhaps the coach believes that the players who are here are better played, got used to each other. Although there may be other reasons: there is an opinion that the decision not to call players from across the ocean is a signal to young players not to leave so early for North America.

For many years there has been talk in Russia about the need to create conditions for promising young people and keep them in the systems of their clubs and develop them, and not let them go overseas. Recently, for example, the State Duma adopted a bill on payments to sports schools when young athletes transfer to foreign clubs. Any hockey player under 23 who intends to go abroad will have to pay an indexed amount. Thus, the authorities want to reduce the outflow of hockey players across the ocean.

Will not calling “foreign” players of the national team help? Controversial question. The control game with Canada before the start of the World Youth Championship showed that the defense has certain problems. Kirill Kirsanov and Arseniy Koromyslov performed in the second pair of defenses, but did not keep up with their rivals, were useless in the power struggle. The same Chaika is a fairly experienced defender who played in the CSKA system (MHL – VHL – KHL) that year. And now he is the leader of his team “Guelph Storm” in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), he has 21 points in 15 matches.

An important factor that plays in favor of the “legionnaires” is their experience. They meet in games with MFM opponents and understand what can be expected from them in the tournament. This can be a key factor in knockout games.

PROBLEMS IN THE GOALKEEPING LINE

This year the goalkeeping team has changed: only Yaroslav Askarov remained from last year’s team that went to Edmonton. For him it will be the third world championship in a row. Most likely, Askarov will start the tournament as the main goalkeeper. Experience, reputation and performance at an adult level over the past years is a fairly weighty argument in favor of this.

Two other goalkeepers of the national team – Egor Guskov (Loko) and Maxim Motorygin (CSK VVS). Guskov has a chance to oust Askarov. Last season, he was recognized as the best goalkeeper in the MHL. At the same time, Askarov himself does not look like the iron first number of the current team. This season, he has only five matches in the KHL and five in SKA-Neva. This is not enough for a goalkeeper who claims to be the main one in the World Cup. Askarov is not trusted with a place in the KHL, preferring instead the 21-year-old Dmitry Nikolaev , who over the past three years in the VHL has played only 43 games.

Yaroslav Askarov

The game with Canada showed that the lack of regular practice affects Askarov’s confidence. He missed the simplest pucks, which highlighted the main problem of the national team in the tournament. In previous years, goalkeepers who had constant practice went to the World Cup – Artur Akhtyamov, Amir Miftakhov, Daniil Tarasov , Peter Kochetkov. Two other keepers also have problems with the game. Guskov played only 13 games in the MHL, and Motorygin is the goaltender of the last team in the KHL, with a terrible safety factor (4.04) and percentage of shots saved (89,4).

“We have two more days to weigh everything in detail. We will make a decision on which of the goalkeepers will start the tournament before the first match, maybe even on the day of the game we will finally decide everything, ”Zubov said after the game with Canada. The coach did not criticize Askarov, who missed five goals. Given all the criticism that fell on the goalkeeper the year before last, when he threw a stick out of his hands to confuse an opponent, now there is no need to put extra pressure on Askarov.

WHO SHOULD BE SUPERVISED?

The main stars of this team should be Marat Khusnutdinov and Matvey Michkov . The first is SKA’s main player (29 matches, 11 points) and has made incredible progress in recent years. In two years, the 19-year-old striker has gone from the youth team to the KHL, where he now spends 14-15 minutes on the ice. At the MFM-2022, he will be the captain and the first center of the team.

Marat Khusnutdinov

Michkov – the main avenue of St. Petersburg residents. A year ago, the 17-year-old striker extended his contract with SKA until 2026 and is already impressive. He has 5 (2+3) points in 14 KHL games and 28 (17+11) in 11 MHL games. Moreover, at the Karjala Cup, the striker scored his debut goal for the national team, breaking the record of Alexander Ovechkin. And he scored in lacrosse style.

In the match with the Canadians, he scored 3 (2+1) points – it seems that the MFM will become the tournament where Matvey will be able to ignite. “There are no limits for this young sniper and we hope he will show why he was invited to the youth tournament this year,” the official website of the tournament wrote.

The main defender in the Zubov team will be Shakir Mukhamadullin from Salavat Yulaev. On December 1, he signed a three-year rookie contract with New Jersey, and now plays in Salavat on loan. In the national team, he will be a key defensive player. He is also the first assistant captain and is highly regarded by the coaching staff.

The 18-year-old pupil of Togliatti hockey Fedor Svechkov , who moved to the SKA system in the summer, where he most often plays in the VHL for SKA-Neva, should also prove himself. He has 15 games and 11 (2+9) points. In the spring, Svechkov became one of the best in the junior team at the World Championships, where he scored 10 (4 + 6) points in 7 matches. In Edmonton, we should expect the Togliatti hockey player in the top three.

You can also surprise Nikita Guslistov, Danila Yurov, Vasily Ponomarev and Nikita Chibrikov . Everyone has experience playing at an adult level and given the creative skills of all four players, you can expect beautiful and combinational hockey in their performance.

TEAM DID NOT TAKE ANYONE FROM AK BARS

The last time there were no representatives from Ak Bars in the youth team in 2017. But then there was at least a native of the club school Andrey Svechnikov . This year, 9 could go to the World Cup0003 Dmitry Katelevsky , who was previously involved in the youth team in various friendly matches and test tournaments.

However, his VHL performance for Bars went unnoticed by the coaching staff. Katelevsky could well close the third or fourth three, coming out in the minority. Two seasons in the Premier League also play in his favor, but all this is not an indicator for the national team. A certain fault for not calling the player lies with the head coach of Ak Bars Dmitry Kvartalnov . The specialist did not release the hockey player even as the 13th forward, and if he did, it was only for a couple of minutes. Kvartalnov focused on his son Alexander, who is a year older than Katelevsky and does not even go to the VHL.

Katelevsky will still have a chance to compete at the World Championships next year. Kvartalnov at press conferences assures that the striker will play in the first team next year. There were no other candidates born in 2002 from the Kazan club system.

Dmitry Katelevsky / photo: Ak Bars official website

WHO ARE THE FAVORITES OF THE TOURNAMENT?

Coronavirus did not interfere much with the MFM – all teams brought optimal lineups to Canada. That year there was a whole tragedy: Canada was left without leaders, and the Swedes almost abandoned the trip to Edmonton altogether. This time it worked out and we are definitely waiting for one of the best tournaments in the last few years.

Bookmakers consider Canada the favorite of the tournament, which plays at home (odds 2.20). Next come the Americans, the reigning world champions – 4.00. The same coefficient was set for Russia and Sweden – 7.00.

Russia may have problems already at the group stage, where they have to play with the Swedes and the Americans – it is with them that the Russians will fight for first place and reach the playoffs against a weaker opponent. The Swedes have a promising and overall goalkeeper Jesper Wahlstedt , who was drafted by Minnesota. Wilm Eklund and Alexander Holz will lead the attack. Eklund has already made his NHL debut, playing 9 games for San Jose, and Holz is perhaps the main star of this team. He made his debut this season for New Jersey, and at the last MFM he scored against Russia and criticized our team.

Team USA came to defend the title. The Americans have Jay Sanderson – the leader and captain of the team who won the last MFM. Also defender Matthew Beniers – second overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, future Seattle star. He was also at the previous tournament.

Team Canada has perhaps the strongest squad in this tournament. Canadians are ready to take gold medals and it is unlikely that the local public will forgive them for another home tournament without first place. The main star of the national team is striker Owen Power . In the spring of this year, he played for Canada at the adult world championship and beat, for example, Russia in the quarterfinals. He later became the first overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. You can select a defender Cole Perfetti who has already played in the NHL for the Winnipeg. The attacking defender breaks the AHL for the second year in a row, and at the MFM, he can become the main scorer-defender.

WHERE TO LOOK?

The World Youth Championship will be held from December 26 to January 5 in two Canadian cities – Edmonton and Red Deer. The format of the tournament has not changed: two groups of five teams, after the group stage, four best teams will advance to the quarterfinals.

Channel One will show all matches of Russia live. All other MFM games will remain with Match TV.

Group A : Canada, Finland, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria.
Group B : USA, Russia, Sweden, Slovakia, Switzerland. Russia – Sweden December, 00:30, Channel One

Russia – Slovakia
December 30, 00:30, Channel One

Russia – USA
January 1, 05:30, Channel One

Men’s hockey tournament at the Olympics: what to expect, who are the favorites and stars, when they play, what regulations .

12 teams will compete for prestigious Olympic awards, the winner will be announced on February 20. The Kazakh team, unfortunately, will not be there.

And who is there?

Of course, the big six – Canada, Finland, USA, ROC (Russia), Sweden, Czech Republic. In addition to them, there are strong teams from Switzerland, Germany, Slovakia, as well as teams from which they do not expect much, but in such a year and in such a tournament almost everyone can shoot. Troika, which can not be attributed to the favorites and even contenders – Denmark, China, Latvia.

All participants are divided into three groups, within which they will play three matches. The winners of the quartets, as well as the best team from among the runners-up, go directly to the quarter-finals. At the group stage, no one flies out of the tournament, but then the most interesting thing begins: knockout matches. The participants ranked from 5th to 12th form play-off pairs, in which they will compete for the four remaining spots in the playoffs. Elimination games consist of one match: failed to win – goodbye. Thus, each of the teams will hold at least four meetings in Beijing.

Where and when do they play?

Matches of the Olympic tournament will be held at two venues: the Beijing National Sports Palace (18,000 spectators) and Ukeson Arena (9,000). Moreover, the second will take only six fights. The group stage will begin on February 9th and end on the 13th. Within its framework, 18 matches will be played. After – 12 more to take off, including a joint for bronze medals. Tournament final – February 20 at 10:10 am.

Some hockey matches from Beijing will be shown by the Qazsport TV channel, and broadcasts can also be watched on our website. The match calendar looks like this (start time – Astana):

February 9 (Wednesday)

Group B. ROC – Switzerland – 14:40
Group B. Czech Republic – Denmark -19:10

February 10 (Thursday)

Group C. Sweden – Latvia – 10:10
Group C. Finland – Slovakia – 14:40
Group A. USA – China – 19:10
Group A. Canada – Germany – 19:10

February 11 (Friday)

Group B. Denmark – ROC – 10:10
Group B. Czech Republic – Switzerland – 14:40
Group C. Sweden – Slovakia – 14:40
Group C. Latvia – Finland – 19:10

February 12 (Saturday)

Group A. Canada – USA – 10:10
Group A. Germany – China – 14:40
Group B. ROC – Czech Republic – 19:10
Group B. Switzerland – Denmark – 19:10

February 13 (Sunday)

Group C. Slovakia – Latvia – 10:10
Group C. Finland – Sweden – 14:40
Group A. China – Canada – 19:10
Group A. USA – Germany – 19:10

February 15 qualifying matches, February 16 – quarter-finals, February 18 – semi-finals, 19February – the match for third place, and on February 20 the final will be played.

What are the regulations?

Everything is standard, if you understand what it means. If not, then briefly: 3v3 overtime in case of a draw, including in playoff matches, then shootouts (five shots each). The duration of the additional period is increased to 10 minutes in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, to 20 minutes in the final.

Recalling the recent experience of the canceled youth world championship in the elite, it is worth adding that in this case there is a protocol for the Olympics. Players who have passed positive tests for covid are quarantined, they are allowed to be replaced by hockey players from the reserve. There have already been precedents that made many people worry and break their heads: in the national teams of Latvia, Russia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Slovakia, Sweden. Fortunately, it did not come to epidemics, all participants made replacements and are ready to start. The minimum number of field hockey players who must be included in the application for the match is 13 (15 at the playoff stage). Otherwise, the team will be awarded a technical defeat. If the understaffing occurs at the playoff stage, the sick team will be replaced by the best ranked team following it.

There can be many options for the development of events (even absurd ones). But we hope everything goes smoothly and the audience will be able to enjoy hockey, and not discuss the events around it.

NHL players arrived?

No. Given the current epidemiological situation, the strongest league on the planet at the end of December officially did not let its hockey players go to Beijing. But there are so many Americans and Canadians playing hockey in the rest of the world that these teams easily put together decent teams. Though not as stellar as they could be. However, more on that below.

In this situation, many national teams called for help from KHL players. The league recently reported that 40 percent of hockey players at the Olympics are from the same championship that stopped a month ago. 10 teams out of 12 have at least one representative of the KHL. Most of all – in China and the ROC (25 each), not a single one – in Switzerland and Germany, whose domestic tournaments are not much inferior to the Russian one. The full lineup of participants can be viewed here.

So who’s the favorite?

Russia. Yes and no. Seriously, the current champions, of course, are in the pool of contenders for the “gold”. A good line-up speaks in their favor, given the current realities, and the positive experience of the previous tournament without NHL players. There are also arguments against. For example, the ability to stumble under serious pressure, without which the Russians are not sent to any such competition, leapfrog with the coaching staff. In general, the team’s roster is not amazing, as it could be if there were stars from across the ocean, but this is a strong combat-ready team, so Shipachev and the guys should at least fight for medals.

The Finns look much more menacing. This well-oiled machine has been amazingly good at top tournaments in recent years, you yourself know this very well. In Beijing, Jukka Yalonen is taking guys who at first glance are ready to take a swing at the Olympic “gold”. It has not yet been conquered by the Finns. It will be a logical end to a cycle in which the team has shown itself very well, achieving great results at the world championships.

What is important, the Finns have long been accustomed to doing without NHLers. Due to their absence, the potential of the national team does not suffer at all. Third – a very experienced team, even the most experienced among all the participants. There are no hockey players on the roster under the age of 26. This season’s best KHL scorer Niko Oyamaki (29goals in 48 matches) is just 26. The most experienced in the Finns is the recent NHL player Valtteri Filppula, whose comeback to Detroit did not end with another Stanley Cup, but his entire career as a whole, which included 16 seasons, more than 1200 matches and over 600 points speak for themselves. In the Swiss “Servette” this season, he knocks out about a point per game. 36-year-old giant Marco Anttila is also in place. And how do you link from “Salavat” Granlund – Manninen – Hartikainen? Phew, the Finns should definitely give fire.

Who else? Canada, of course, led by veteran Eric Staal, a 37-year-old member of the Triple Gold Club. Under one and a half thousand matches in the NHL, more than a thousand points – these numbers alone can terrify opponents. True, Eric Staal has only four games in the AHL this season. It is difficult to say what he will show in Beijing. But he plans to show a lot, because at the beginning of the year he said that he wants to use the Olympic Games as a springboard back to the NHL. The Canadians were building a European roster, sprinkling it with two young geniuses – defenseman Owen Power (#1 in the 2021 draft) and forward Mason McTavish (#3). Both last spring won the “gold” of the world championship in Riga. After all, we remember that no one really bet on the maple leaves, they left the group with great difficulty. But Canada is Canada – in hockey, this team is always a favorite. As confirmed in June 2021.

All the rest, with the possible exception of Denmark and China, can be classified as dark horses to varying degrees. Depending on the circumstances, someone is able to both shoot and surprise, and fail miserably. There are always enough surprises at tournaments without NHL players. For examples, you can go to the last Olympics, which the Germans almost won. They, by the way, even now have a very strong line-up of players mainly from the local championship. Like Switzerland, which has long supported the world’s tops. A lot of youth from the NCAA, flavored with Kakhaelians, were taken to the tournament by the Americans, and this is enthusiasm, excitement, speed. The US has the youngest team, with an average age of around 25.

It will be interesting to look at the swan song of the representatives of the golden generation of Latvia, led by 37-year-old Lauris Darzins. In Slovakia, we watch Patrik Rybar and Libor Gudacek from Dynamo Minsk, for the same reason we can follow Sweden, in which Lukas Bengtsson will play.