World Junior Championship 2014: Preview and Ultimate Guide

ROSTERS, SCHEDULES, PREVIEWS, AND PREDICTIONS

 Oh, it's the most wonderful time of the year! With the holiday season almost over, we're about to unwrap Malmö, Sweden chasing gold medals and national pride.
one of the greatest gifts of all: World Junior hockey. Yes, it's the same present every year, like socks from grandma, but unlike those socks, the IIHF's annual tournament manages to maintain enough charm to keep us elated year after year. This year will likely be no different, as the best junior age hockey talent on Earth will be in
 Here we've compiled every team's roster, round robin schedule, and a preview of what to expect from them over the next two weeks in Sweden.
 There's two groups with five teams each, and it's worth mentioning that this is the first time that the top FOUR teams from both groups will advance to a single-elimination quarterfinal. Previously, only the top three countries would advance and the top team from the group would have a first round bye. Now, every squad will have to win three straight games with their championship dreams on the line if they want to go back home with gold around their necks.
 Unlike the NHL, overtime and shootout wins are scored differently than regulation wins. A victory in regulation is worth three points, an overtime/shootout victory worth two points, an OT/shootout loss only one point, and, of course, a loss in regulation gets you a big fat goose egg towards the group standings.
 Now that those technicalities are out of the way, we can finally take a look at the teams that will be competing against each other.

World Junior Championship: Preview and Ultimate Guide

Rosters, Schedules, Previews, Predictions

 Sheesh, it's been a long time since I posted anything on here. But you don't want to read about how "busy" my life is. No, what you want is hockey, and there could not be a better event to get The Hart of Hockey back into the blogosphere than the IIHF World Junior Championship.

 The World Juniors are a gigantic annual tournament and a gold medal from this international showdown is one of the most celebrated accomplishments a player can earn in his career. However, since an overwhelming majority of players have never played a shift in the NHL, it can be a difficult competition to follow at first if one has not been keeping tabs on the junior ranks for most of the year. We make it easier for you, and have compiled a the roster of every team in this year's World Juniors, their playing schedule and a summary of what their team can do. Hopefully this will help in your preparation of the great tournament that is the World Junior Championship.

Nail Yakupov: International Ping-Pong Ball

 Nail Yakupov better have a sweet frequent flyer agreement with his airline provider, because he has been getting bounced around between different countries far more than the average 18-year-old. Earlier today, the International Ice Hockey Federation ruled that because of Nail Yakupov's current major junior eligibility in North America, Hockey Canada never officially approving his departure, and several other technicalities, his transfer card to play for HC Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk of the Kontinental Hockey League is invalid. The IIHF subsequently fined Russia Hockey, a light slap on the wrists really, but then proceeded to threaten Neftekhimik and Hockey Russia with greater sanctions if Yakupov were to continue playing in the KHL. So what does this mean for the Edmonton Oilers' 1st overall selection in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft? It means he could end up being the first player in hockey history to play in the KHL, CHL, and NHL in one season.