Well, it's the most exciting time of the hockey season. World Jr 2017.
Last year, Finland shocked the world (...except me and my son in our prediction! Lol!)
Before I get into the Gold Medal prediction for this year, I will mention a few kids to watch...anyone with a cage on!!! A cage means that the kid could be playing youth hockey. But of course, he is NOT...
Why? Because the kids in the cages are so friggin good that their respective countries figured it out and play pro hockey...So check out Rasmus Dahlin (Sweden)...Did I mention that this kid is a 2000 birthyear

No CAHA Select needed for him to go to....
So, first upset game??? Latvia...over US...is it possible? Yeh, it's possible...but I do like Tyler Parsons in net...However, Latvia has a bunch of Major Jr players (3) and some Swiss league kids and they also have some NAHL/USHL and I think the US team could be looking too far ahead and forget to play today's game today.
US has two Major Jr players and an AHL player. They cut 3 OHL players...hum, I don't like that...but USA Hockey has to "develop" somebody...
Canada, enough said, stacked offensively (Gauthier!!!)...the defense is suspect. And the problem for Silvertip's Hart is that he was questionable over the summer in the Summer Showcase and well, yesterday, he almost blew it against the Swiss in the pre-Tournament game...Swiss' cage player Nicko Hischier is incredible...but everyone knows that as he is leading scorer in the QMJHL, Halifax Mooseheads. He clearly showed against Hart, hey just shoot it...it will go in...and with every young goalie and Hart is apparently no exception, if the floodgates open, they open big...so Canada will have to win games by big scores...
Russia, experts said, good as usual...no surprise...how old are those kids anyway???
Finally, Sweden: Sweden Takes GOLD. The list goes on and on...Oliver Kylington (Stockton Heat AHL). I just saw him play last week in Bakersfield, spectacular...and believe me the AHL is the real deal. when compared to these kids Next, Alex Nylander (Rochester Americans AHL), never heard of Nylander name before...!!! Rasmus Dahlin, (2000 birthyear) next Eric Karlsson? And Felix Sandstrom in net...all Tournament Team as usual...
Finland proved that you only need 4 players to win Gold in World Jrs...and I think Sweden has those four, at least four!!!