EURO CURVE

Euro Curve chronicles the latest international hockey news.

Team Canada improved to 2-0-0 at the 2008 World Junior Hockey Championships in Pardubice with a quiet 2-0 victory over Team Slovakia on Thursday morning. It was the other games yesterday however which drew more attention. I discuss those as well as Friday's games in today's World Junior Hockey Championship/Spengler Cup report.

Team Canada will play an explosive Swedish squad tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. ET at the Pardubice Arena, a battle of two unbeaten teams. In the other marquee match-up, the host Czechs will play Slovakia at 10:00 a.m. ET at Pardubice Arena. This game will surely be one of the better games of the round robin tournament.

Other games tomorrow:

Kazakhstan vs. Finland, 10:00 a.m. ET., Tipsport Arena
Russia vs. USA, 2:00 p.m. ET., Tipsport Arena

Yesterday

- The Czech Republic responded from losing their first round-robin game to Canada by whooping lowly Denmark 5-2. 1st round draft picks Michael Frolik (Florida Panthers) and Jakub Voracek (Columbus Blue Jackets) each had impressive outings, not only registering on the scoresheet but by providing much needed leadership and poise for the home team. The Czechs were favoured going into this tournament because of their highly-talented forward corps and these two phenoms gave us a little taste of what they can bring.

- Russia seemed to take Kazakhstan rather lightly, winning 5-4. Alexei Cherepanov (2007 1st round draft pick of the New York Rangers) registered a goal in the game, making his NHL management and agents happy. Ditto for Finland, who needed a shootout to beat Switzerland? Yikes!


Friday

It was a light day at the WJC with only two games, one of which was a laugher. Sweden stomped Team Denmark 10-1. This is the first year that Denmark is in the top group at the World U-20 Junior Hockey Championships.

In the only other game, the United States defeated Switzerland 4-2 at the Tipsport Arena, with Philadelphia Flyers prospect James van Riemsdyk getting the game-winner.

- Team Canada is flying pretty high at the Spengler Cup hockey tournament after defeating HC Davos 6-2 Thursday afternoon. They are now 2-0 and look to stay undefeated when they host Salavat Yulaev Ufa on Saturday in Davos. Canada has meshed very quickly and are playing an extremely intelligent puck possession game. Serge Aubin and Yannick Tremblay played marvelously on Thursday, and are emerging as the co-offensive leaders on a talented Canuck squad.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Ezra Ginsburg.