NORWAY
Last Year: Norway won the Group A title last year, going undefeated in 5 games to earn a promotion to the Top group this year.
Returning Players: G Joakin Svendsen, D Mattias Norstebo, D Erlend Lesund, F Jorgen Katerund, F Markus Soberg, F Erik Saltsen
Key Missing NHL players: none
Ottawa Interests:
Key Players: F – Marcus Soberg is the lone NHL draftee on the roster, and was second on the team with 7 points as the Norwegians earned promotion. D -Norstebo is playing in the Swedish Hockey League and had 2 assists last year. G- Svendsen was on the team last year but didn’t see a minute of action as the backup.
Draft Watch: Norstebo leads a duoo of players that could get selected in the 2014 draft, along with Martin Ronnild.
Key To Victory: No one is under the delusion that the Norwegians will be able to do much in the way of competing in this tournament. Their victory will come if they can avoid relegation in the best of 3 format against the 5th place finisher in Group A.
Projected Round Robin Finish: They will be the 5th seed in the group, without a doubt.
Potential Finish: Even beating the Germans in the best of 3 relegation round will be a tall task. Look for the Norwegians to be back in tier 2 when Denmark takes their place in 2015.