Subject: USA U-18 Team

The United States has officially avoided relegation. This was my primary goal for this season because the group of Slovakia, Russia, and Spain looked like a very difficult group. I'm glad that I ultimately decided to try to win in the preliminary round rather than conserve energy for the relegation round.

The United States followed up its 4-1 win against Slovakia with a 4-1 win against Spain today. I decided to go all out against Spain, likely the most beatable team in the group, using only three lines. Luckily, the United States had such a strong showing that I was able to conserve energy and rest the starter in the third period

Shots were 28-20 in favor of the United States. Once again, the United States converted at a better rate and received a strong performance from its goaltenders. The United States won 59.6% of the faceoffs today. Penalties were even, though nobody converted on special teams. The United States continued to received points from its lower lines, getting 3 points from the third line (which is supposed to be more of a shutdown line due to its relatively low shooting). Levar Jones had 2 goals and 1 assist (1 goal short of a hat trick and 1 fight short of a Gordie Howe hat trick). Corey contributed one more from the first line with an assist by Shorter.

Going into this game, Spain had a strong roster and should have been much more difficult to beat, but it turned out that Spain was mixing up its centers and wings on offense and continued to do so into World Championships. Credit goes to Ziggy00, who scouted Spain, for figuring out that Spain was doing this, rather than simply having a weak roster or playing its substitutes during the exhibitions. I thought that Spain might be trying to surprise with its roster in the World Championships or to surprise the United States (which should have been its main competitor to avoid relegation) to avoid relegation, but that didn't turn out to be the case.

Now that the United States is done with Spain, I can give credit also to Headhog for his help in scouting the entire Slovakian team, which helped with yesterday's win.

Slovakia beat Russia 3-2 in a shootout in the other game, giving the United States sole possession of first in group 3, for now. With one game left, it is impossible for Spain or Slovakia to catch up to the United States in the preliminary round. Anything but a regulation loss against Russia tomorrow will allow the United States to win the preliminary round group. Russia has also avoid relegation. Spain can pass Slovakia by winning against Slovakia tomorrow, but I doubt that will happen.

In the other groups, today was a day where many of yesterday's losers beat yesterday's winners. Only Serbia, the tournament host, has as many points as the United States at this point (and wins on a goals scored tiebreaker; GD is even between the two teams).

Going forward, the United States hasn't made the playoffs yet. In the other group that will combine with group 3 in the qualifying round, Serbia is guaranteed to move on. Belarus will face relegation unless the Netherlands and the Czech Republic lose badly tomorrow. The standings at this point for the likely qualifying round group are 0 points in 1 game for the Czech Republic, 3 points in 2 games for the Netherlands, 3 points in 1 game for Serbia (they play the Czech Republic tomorrow), 2 points in 2 games for Slovakia, 1 point in 1 game for Russia, and 3 points in 1 game for the United States. 2 wins is usually enough to make the playoffs, so a win against Russia (which will be difficult despite the strong start by the United States) could be enough to make the playoffs (the third round of 8 teams). With a win against Russia, and points against a third team in one of the three qualifying round games, the United States would be nearly guaranteed to make the playoffs. With that said, there are a few teams that I would like to avoid as possible opponents from the other qualifying round group in the first round of playoffs so that it may be worth continuing to try for a top 1 or 2 spot in the qualifying round. Of course, while the opportunity for the United States to be very successful in this tournament are now high, the United States will still be the underdog in the majority of the games that it plays in this tournament.

Good luck to the other national teams. It looks like both of them are at 1-1 at this time and should have a chance to compete for the playoffs.

Congrats on the win! Btw I haven't forgotten about that list you gave me to scout. I had to shake up my managers to make money on one before he retired, so my scouting is slightly slower than before, but I'm still plugging through it.

Thank you! Do you think you will be able to cover all 40 players?

I've made good progress. Truth be told I forget to bump them ahead of the players I had been scouting or I'd be further along. I have 24 left and I can scout 3 every 2 days. One of the guys on the list isn't an option since the team went inactive btw but I'll be buggered if I can remember who. I'd be betting Tujague would be willing to provide info on his players.

True - Willmott also had his players covered.

You want info on some of my players for the U18 team? Wow. It seems like it's been forever since I had a hockey player even considered for any of the NTs.

I usually consider at least a few players from your team. The guidelines for OR (relative to age) that I use for choosing players to scout are really lenient in case there are problems with depth or poorly trained players with good OR.

Gus Wahl is a 5th string wing on the team this season. Ross Copeland should be among the last goaltenders considered, though Scruggs is probably going to be the starter (and I believe there was one other goaltender that was close to Scruggs).

The list was on page 43.

Lmao. My players are so screwed up. I messed up a lot of my younger players training because I didn't use Auto training. I went so long pulling crap that I stopped looking at anyone not in the starting lineup/backups.

LD Jacobson is fine and getting playing time with his new team(14 Exp). Only 58 pass Q though.
RD Newcomb is okay if your dmen don't need tech.
C Root has tech trained too high.
RD Russ is all defense.
C Kirkpatrick has too much tech.
And K.Dahl is a C/W hybrid with no tech.

Sorry

It looks like I have some decent 15year olds. I'll try not to mess them up.

I had the same problem so... I sold the vet starters so I can better focus on high prospects

Berry just turned 500. He is probably the first 15yo USA player to have 500 OR and 20 experience.

Hopefully he will be the first 16yo to reach 650 OR and 40 experience.

For Root, I actually prefer centers to have tech slightly higher than 50%. It helps me get the edge in faceoffs. What's the ratio that you say it's too high?

Do you need the info of my players? They're scouted. I also have the entire U18 team scouted,if you're talking about that. Let me know.

I already have all of your prospects over 16 scouted. I haven't started scouting 15 year olds yet, though it would help to get the scouting information for your 15 year olds over 500 OR.

*I have your 16-17 year olds are scouted

Yeah, I'll send you all of my scouted info at the start of next week when the season turns. I'm pretty sure he's already on your radar, but Jim Spear at LD is going to be my next big contribution to the team. He's 15, and I think he'll hit 700 OR next season when he's 16. He won't get the same experience that Berry is getting, especially now that I'm moving up to I.1 next season, but I'll see what I can do to work him into the lineup as much as possible.

Awesome to see Levar Jones putting up some good numbers at the international level! I'm very excited about his future.