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Winter Olympics 2018: Men’s hockey power rankings

By Derek Grochowski

This picture taken on February 14, 2017 shows South Korea's ice hockey team player US-born Mike Testwuide (L) during a practice session at a rink in Goyang, northwest of Seoul.South Korea sit 23rd in the world ice hockey rankings and have never qualified for the Winter Olympics' blue riband event. But as the host nation of Pyeongchang 2018 they have an automatic berth and are scrambling to build a competitive roster to avoid embarrassment. / AFP PHOTO / JUNG Yeon-Je / TO GO WITH AFP STORY Oly-2018-ihockey-KOR-CAN-SKorea-social BY HWANG Sung-Hee (Photo credit should read JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images)
This picture taken on February 14, 2017 shows South Korea's ice hockey team player US-born Mike Testwuide (L) during a practice session at a rink in Goyang, northwest of Seoul.South Korea sit 23rd in the world ice hockey rankings and have never qualified for the Winter Olympics' blue riband event. But as the host nation of Pyeongchang 2018 they have an automatic berth and are scrambling to build a competitive roster to avoid embarrassment. / AFP PHOTO / JUNG Yeon-Je / TO GO WITH AFP STORY Oly-2018-ihockey-KOR-CAN-SKorea-social BY HWANG Sung-Hee (Photo credit should read JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images) /
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STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN – MAY 13: Sebastian Furchner of Germany skates against Norway during the IIHF World Championship group S match between Germany and Norway at Ericsson Globe on May 13, 2012 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images)
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN – MAY 13: Sebastian Furchner of Germany skates against Norway during the IIHF World Championship group S match between Germany and Norway at Ericsson Globe on May 13, 2012 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images) /

10.  Germany

Germany is an underdog team that could cause some trouble for the power house teams. Long time NHL defenseman Christian Ehrhoff leads the blue line. Ehrhoff has nearly 800 games of NHL experience after playing on the San José Sharks, Vancouver Canucks, Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings and a brief stint with the Chicago Blackhawks.

In the forward groups, Germany will look towards Marcel Goc. Goc played in the league with the San José Sharks, Nashville Predators, Florida Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins and the St. Louis Blues before returning to Germany to play in the DEL. Both Goc and Ehrhoff have Olympic history with Germany as well. Germany will play Norway, Sweden and Finland in the group stage. Norway will be Germany’s best chance to get a win this Olympics.

9. Norway

Norway does not bring a lot of NHL talent to its lineup. Only two players have NHL experience, just one of them played over 100 games. What Norway lacks in NHL experience they make up for in Olympic experience. Thirteen of the players on their roster have played in either the 2014 or 2010 Olympics. This number is greater than the majority of team in the tournament.

Norway will need to heavily rely on that experience against teams like Finland, Sweden and Germany. Unfortunately, Norway will be without the services of New York Ranger forward Mats Zuccarello. One player that North Americans will be familiar with is Ludvig Hoff, Hoff is a sophomore at the University of North Dakota with seven points in 21 games.

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