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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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AUGSBURG, GERMANY – NOVEMBER 06: Patrick Geering of Switzerland in action during the Switzerland v Slovakia match of the 2016 Deutschland Cup at Curt Frenzel Stadion on November 6, 2016 in Augsburg, Germany. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Bongarts/Getty Images)
AUGSBURG, GERMANY – NOVEMBER 06: Patrick Geering of Switzerland in action during the Switzerland v Slovakia match of the 2016 Deutschland Cup at Curt Frenzel Stadion on November 6, 2016 in Augsburg, Germany. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Bongarts/Getty Images) /

8. Switzerland

The Swiss are ranked seventh in world. The team is led by former NHL goalie Jonas Hiller. Hiller broke into the league with the Anaheim Ducks and put together strong seasons. Health problems and inconsistent play derailed his NHL career. Hiller was signed by the Calgary Flames before leaving and playing overseas in Europe.

Switzerland will need Hiller to be his best and consistent in net if they want to make it out of their group and cause some chaos in the elimination rounds. Switzerland opens their tournament with a tough test going against Canada February fifteenth.

7. Slovakia

Ladislav Nagy and Tomas Surovy are the only players on Slovakia that have substantial NHL experience. There is also fair amount of Olympic experience sprinkled throughout the lineup with six players participating in past tournaments.

Slovakia has not won a medal at the Olympics since they were known as Czechoslovakia. They will need some Olympic magic to win some big games and earn a medal this year. The lack of NHL talent will help level the teams across the board and it may be just enough for Slovakia to get back to the medal stand.

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