The World Juniors is under way in Buffalo as 10 of the best Hockey countries show off their U20 talent at the annual IIHF Tournament.
The tournament format went through a slight adjustment a few years ago when they increased the elimination round from 6 to 8 teams.
To me, this was a horrible decision that has significantly altered the group stage and it has become almost boring as the group stage appears half meaningless.
The current format is two - five team pools divided equally based on rankings of the previous years tournament. For instance, Canada this year is placed in a group that features USA Finland Slovakia and Denmark.
I'm sorry but it was a foregone conclusion that Denmark was going to be the odd team out. More importantly, with no bye on the line to the Semis, the added importance to win the group isn't there anymore.
Hockey has been a tough sport to conduct a successful draw around, at the national level, there are six teams there above the rest competing for #1 while two others that usually hold their own ground. At the u20 level its a tad different. The gap between the elite and average is bigger as well as the gap between average and weak is also bigger.
Women's hockey has had a similar problem to except the gap was even bigger and they have seemed to rectify it over the years with the four best teams in one group and the next four in Group B.
Maybe it's time for the Men to learn something from the women for once.
In my totally revamped IIHF World Junior Draw my 16 team bracket would consist of four groups of four teams with each Group being sorted as the Olympic Women's Tournament is.
Based on the U20 Rankings, this is how the Draw would shape up:
Group A Group B Group C Group D
USA Finland Denmark France
Canada Czech Republic Latvia Kazakhstan
Russia Slovakia Belarus Austria
Sweden Switzerland Germany Norway
Unlike the Women's Olympic Tournament where the Elimination Round berths were split two each. These would be divided up unevenly as Group A would get 3, B, 2 C, 2 and D, 1. If my calculations are accurate, each group would be competitive with lots to play for. With the last place team going into Div II the following year.
I will admit, in this format the Quarterfinals might be a bit boring but that would beat an entire group stage that has failed to exit me.
To add to this, the last place team in Group A goes into Group B for the following year and vice versa for every first and last place team in the group. Games for 5th 7th 9th and 11th would be played to maximize the game opportunity in what would still be a December 26th to January 5th Tournament.
Finding a perfect draw is almost impossible but IIHF needs to look themselves in the mirror and ask themselves if their doing everything to grow the game. The World Championships are a proven joke every year as it isn't best on best and now this tournament at times has been non competitive with teams like Denmark and Belarus having -12 and -9 goal differentials through a quiet three games.
I guarantee there is someone out there that will say I'm stupid to even propose this, but we need to grow the game and the only way we do that is have non hockey countries win games.
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