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PowerPlay Magazine

PPM Ice Hockey World Championship

Added: 11.01.2012 11:12:25 | Category: Magazine - Competitions

The game of hockey was created more than a century and a half ago. The sport soon won hearts and aroused passions that are played out everyday in the streets by children in their winter boots, dreaming of the World Championships. Whole families sit cheering in front of their television sets, encouraging their idols. In the stadiums, where the gods of the ice bravely forge their legends, the atmosphere is quite simply euphoric. That's why 30 000 people were waiting, on Romanian National Arena, Vlady's announcement. Who will host the PPM Ice Hockey World Championship ? ...wait...wait...wait...here comes Vlady:

"The season 9 PPM Ice Hockey World Championships are set to start this Saturday in all three divisions. I am glad to announce that the Top Division tournament will be organized by ... Romania."

The stadium exploded. All Romanian fans started to sing: Romania, Romania !

PPM Ice Hockey World Championship is brought to you, this season, by Romania. Here is the presentation video of tournament:

The logo of the competition:

The mascot of the competition:

Count Dracula is a fictional character and the titular antagonist of Bram Stoker's 1897 Gothic horror novel Dracula. He is described as an archetypal vampire and some aspects of his character have been inspired by the 15th century Romanian general and Wallachian Prince Vlad III the Impaler. The character appears frequently in all manner of popular culture, from films to animated media to breakfast cereals.

"I saw... Count Dracula... with red light of triumph in his eyes, and with a smile that Judas in hell might be proud of."

— Jonathan Harker's Journal, Dracula, Chapter 4

We have organized 2 competitions for you:

Prediction pool

Rules:
1. you have to predict the winner of each game. e.g. Romania-Slovakia 1 or 2 (we hope 1 :D). It doesn't matter if the game goes to overtime or even to the penalty shots, all you have to do is just to name the winner.
2. in the preliminary and qualifying rounds each correct prediction gets 1 point, each incorrect prediction gets 0 points.
3. starting with the quarterfinals each correct prediction gets 2 points, each incorrect prediction gets 0 points.
4. there is a pool prize and the Top 3 competitors will be rewarded (more details on competition's page).

The Championship will start on January 14th, but you can already choose your predictions for the first round.
There is one more contest, were you have to predict the Top 3 of the World Championship.
Click on prediction pool and Top 3 and you will be redirected to competitions pages (competitions are set to start on 12th of January).

Now, let's get back to real business.

Czech Republic won this competition 3 times, Latvia won it 2 times while Slovakia just one time. Who will win this prestigious trophy this season? Will be Latvia, the defending champions, again? Or maybe Romania will take advantage of home ice and produce a big surprise.

Presentation of participanting teams and short interviews with general managers:

Russia

General manager: Rayd

Assistant: Krom

Best performance in Top Division: 2nd place in season 3

Star player: Kirill Chernov

Denmark

General Manager: Ragoon

Assistant: fedepede1

Best performance in Top Division: -

Star player: Ingvar Matthiesen

PPM Reporter: For the first time in her history, Denmark will play in Top Division. What are your expectations in this edition of World Championship ?

Ragoon: I expect us to avoid relegation, that is our primary goal. If we manage to reach the qualifying round, we will take it from there.

PPM Reporter: What do you think about your group stage rivals ?

Ragoon: It is a tough group, especially the defending world champions from Latvia, and we are the underdogs in our group.

PPM Reporter: Who do you think will win this edition of World Championship ?

Ragoon: I think Lithuania will win their first world championship.

PPM Reporter: Do you think that new energy system will affect somehow this edition of World Championship ?

Ragoon: It will obviously affect which players the different national teams will bring to the World Championship, and thus it will have an affect on the WC itself.

Latvia

General Manager: liepinsh87

Assistant: tuliks

Best performance in Top Division: World Champions in season 3 and season 8

Star player: Edvīns "RIGAS BALZAMS" Bite

Serbia

General Manager: FreeMayk

Assistant: pera013

Best performance in Top Division: 3rd place in season 6

Star player: Vojimir Jovanović

Canada

General Manager: themightyoil

Assistant: deadrick

Best performance in Top Division: 4th place in season 5

Star player: Noah Tierney

PPM Reporter: What are your expectations in this edition of World Championship ?

themightyoil: Canada is aiming for a Top 8 finish. We'll need some luck to get there, but we've been lucky before.

PPM Reporter: What do you think about your group stage rivals ?

themightyoil: Slovakia is the class of our group. Belarus and Belgium are teams that we are equal to, we hope for good results against them.

PPM Reporter: Who do you think will win this edition of World Championship ?

themightyoil: I'll pick Slovakia, they have an easy road to the playoffs. I think they will be saving energy in the first two rounds. Russia could surprise and win it all. I can also see Finland doing quite well.

PPM Reporter: Do you think that new energy system will affect somehow this edition of World Championship ?

themightyoil: It made selecting the team much easier. In season 7, we made the final roster after the league playoff finished, this season we have already decided which players are on the team. It probably benefits teams like Lithuania, Brazil, and the USA the most.

Belgium

General Manager: brotherke23

Assistant: punkrist

Best performance in Top Division: 14th place in season 8

Star player: Sam "Hitman" Maebe

PPM Reporter: What are your expectations in this edition of World Championship ?

brotherke23: I hope for us to maintain in Top division, though it will be hard, as we got the weakest team, I hope to avoid relegation group!

PPM Reporter: What do you think about your group stage rivals ?

brotherke23: Tough group!!! Slovakia for gods sake, Canada and Belarus (who we know from the past). We got the weakest team of this group, that's for sure, I hope we manage to win a match, so we might go on to the next round, but it will be hard, if not, we'll end up in relegation group, which I fear the most.

PPM Reporter: Who do you think will win this edition of World Championship ?

brotherke23: No clue on that one, all depends on luck, got a bad day with your goalie and take a lot of goals because of it, you can forget it (most of the time).

PPM Reporter: Do you think that new energy system will affect somehow this edition of World Championship ?

brotherke23: It's a good thing yes, now everybody starts from scratch, all even! I like that a lot.

Slovakia

General Manager: radowan

Assistant: liksa

Best performance in Top Division: World Champions in season 7

Star player: Stanislav Chyla

PPM Reporter: What are your expectations in this edition of World Championship ?

radowan: I don't have any expectations... I am going to pray, that's all I can do.

PPM Reporter: What do you think about your group stage rivals ?

radowan: They are all beatable we are not going to underestimate them.

PPM Reporter: Who do you think will win this edition of World Championship ?

radowan: I am not guessing... Any team can win.

PPM Reporter: Do you think that new energy system will affect somehow this edition of World Championship ?

radowan: No, I don't think the impact will be massive. The randomness will play the most important role as usual.

Belarus

General Manager: Jura

Assistant: no assistant

Best performance in Top Division: 2nd place in season 8

Star player: Stiapan "рыба" Zhabyka

PPM Reporter: Can Belarus repeat, in this season, the great performance from last edition of World Championship ?

Jura: I think it would be difficult to repeat last year's performance, but certainly hopefully to improve the result.

PPM Reporter: What do you think about your group stage rivals ?

Jura: This season we were lucky with the group. I am confident that we will reach the next round.

PPM Reporter: Who do you think will win this edition of World Championship ?

Jura: I think - Latvia. I would hope to replay the final game of last year :)

PPM Reporter: Do you think that new energy system will affect somehow this edition of World Championship ?

Jura: With the new energy system i think stronger clubs will get more benefits. Previously, clubs whose players played in the weaker national teams have tried to save energy to its players, while the top-clubs have spent the energy of his top-players in CL and CWC. Now, with the same for all energies, the difference between top-players and other will become more noticeable.

Hungary

General Manager: DemonX

Assistant: whiterangers

Best performance in Top Division: 4th place in season 7

Star player: Norbert Szabó

PPM Reporter: Can Belarus repeat, in this season, the great performance from last edition of World Championship ?

DemonX: We want to win medals. It is not easy to do, but we believe in success.

PPM Reporter: What do you think about your group stage rivals ?

DemonX: The three strong team, but anyone can win a game. Anyone can fall out and get any further.

PPM Reporter: Who do you think will win this edition of World Championship ?

DemonX: There is no favorite team, but I'm sure you can see an exciting championship.

PPM Reporter: Do you think that new energy system will affect somehow this edition of World Championship ?

DemonX: This is for everyone new. I think it will affect.

Finland

General Manager: Antsa

Assistant: Llama

Best performance in Top Division: 2nd place in season 4

Star player: Reijo Taipaleenmäki

PPM Reporter: What are your expectations in this edition of World Championship ?

Antsa: I'm expecting some interesting matches and also some big surprises. WCH has always been a very intresting tournament because tiny things can decide how a team will finish there.

PPM Reporter: What do you think about your group stage rivals ?

Antsa: We got promoted to top division last season and I can't say there's any easy opponents in our group. Czech has won the championship 3 times and they're again one of the favourites. Slovenia and Hungary have advanced every season from the 1st group stage and I'm sure they'll do their best to do that again.

PPM Reporter: Who do you think will win this edition of World Championship ?

Antsa: I think Latvia, Czech and Slovakia are the biggest favourites but I think every team has a chance if they have a good strategy.

PPM Reporter: Do you think that new energy system will affect somehow this edition of World Championship ?

Antsa: I think teams like Lithuania who has most of their players in one club, won't be as strong as earlier. I also think the national team managers have to make more difficult decisions than earlier to be succesful.

Czech Republic

General Manager: Shaav

Assistant: Zdenall

Best performance in Top Division: World Champions in season 4, season 5 and season 7

Star player: Václav "Tominátor" Tomeš

Slovenia

General Manager: UK13

Assistant: Yzerman

Best performance in Top Division: 6th place in season 4

Star player: Tim Goličič

Germany

General Manager: reich

Assistant: Creinfield

Best performance in Top Division: 3rd place in season 8

Star player: Lois Beherns

PPM Reporter: What are your expectations in this edition of World Championship ?

reich: If we will qualify for the second round we can set our objectives.

PPM Reporter: What do you think about your group stage rivals ?

reich: It`very hard for us to come to the next round.

PPM Reporter: Who do you think will win this edition of World Championship ?

reich: I think Latvia, Czech Republic or Slovakia.

PPM Reporter: Do you think that new energy system will affect somehow this edition of World Championship ?

reich: That was a very bad idea, I think it was taken in order that the 4 greatest country to fight for the title every season.

Lithuania

General Manager: ACHUJIENAS

Assistant: tiute

Best performance in Top Division: 2nd place in season 6 and season 7

Star player: Renius "supernova" Lionas

PPM Reporter: What are your expectations in this edition of World Championship ?

ACHUJIENAS: We hope to play in final 8.

PPM Reporter: What do you think about your group stage rivals ?

ACHUJIENAS: We hope to be on 1 or 2 place.

PPM Reporter: Who do you think will win this edition of World Championship ?

ACHUJIENAS: Maybe our team :).

PPM Reporter: Do you think that new energy system will affect somehow this edition of World Championship ?

ACHUJIENAS: Not very much.

Poland

General Manager: ZenekKonevka

Assistant: No assistant

Best performance in Top Division: 11th place in season 6

Star player: Lesław Marczak

Romania

General Manager: leonidas2

Assistant: tavi972

Best performance in Top Division: 9th place in season 8

Star player: Adam Ion

PPM Reporter: What are your expectations in this edition of World Championship ?

leonidas2: Well mate, we hope to fulfill the public's expectations which means progress. Yes, our goal is at least the quarterfinals and, why not, even more than that. From wishing to actually manage it is still a long way though.

PPM Reporter: What do you think about your group stage rivals ?

leonidas2: Well, they should think about us, not us about them. Good teams, powerfull, great managers, but we are talking about a game made from 1 and 0 so anything is possible :D.

PPM Reporter: Who do you think will win this edition of World Championship ?

leonidas2: You mean who will be second... Let's see... Who will we like to play in the final... Germany :D.

PPM Reporter: Do you think that new energy system will affect somehow this edition of World Championship ?

leonidas2: Yes. Before, the power to convince the community to rest NT players made 50% of the succes at the WCH. Now, the big names get an even bigger advantage. They have stronger rosters and they will start in full energy. Take a look our latest game and you will see that Slovakia has almost 50 points over us, a difference tat could have been lower in the older system.

Note: Article will be updated when managers will answer to PPM reporter's questions.

First games of the tournament will be played on 14th of January, as follows:

Group 1: