After winning the D1A tournament last year, the freshly promoted Norwegians are looking to do something they haven’t done since the early 90’s – Maintain their hold on a spot at the top level of competition. The last time Norway was promoted to the highest division of play was the 2013-2014 tournament, which featured very limited talent as 4 of their top 5 scorers from the previous year we’re ineligible to return. This time, however, the group is mostly intact with only 7 out of 26 players not returning.
The Norwegian team is a rag-tag group of all shapes and sizes, and who come from an almost diasporic distribution of leagues and teams – you have most players from various levels of Norwegian and Swedish leagues, but also the BCHL, NCAA, WHL and QMJHL. Player’s heights and weights go from 6’3, 205 pounds to 5’6, 165 pounds. Despite their various backgrounds, experience, and measurables, they are united by their earned right to don their countries jersey. Those that have watched them play know that this is an honour not taken lightly by anyone on the team, and that they pour their blood, sweat and tears into every game.
As a unit, Norway plays with a ton of skill, speed, and energy. They’re aggressive on the forecheck and put a ton of pressure on the puck. Even though they’re the smallest team in the tournament, they won’t be shying away from physicality. While Norway does possess some high-end talent in Michael Brandsegg Nygård (2005), Petter Vesterheim (2004) and Stian Solberg (2005), it doesn’t compare to the plethora of talent on the more established teams’ rosters. They’ll most likely be rolling 4 lines and staying true to the same hi-tempo identity that got them here. Whether or not it will be enough to stave off relegation remains to be seen, but the goal is clear: hang on to that spot for dear life.
Norway’s tournament kicks off their tournament against USA on the 26th, followed by a back-to-back against Czechia on the 27th. After that, they play another back-to-back against Slovakia and Switzerland on the 29th and 30th, respectively. Since they haven’t been on the big stage in quite some time, I doubt too many people are familiar with team Norway. Let’s go through some of their key contributors and what to expect from them on the ice.
Ten To Watch plus a Sleeper
Michael Brandsegg Nygård – RW
Michael Brandsegg Nygård’s reputation as Norway’s most highly regarded prospect in years precedes him, and it is a responsibility the young power winger carries with grace. He is the face of the nation at this tournament and will be relied upon in the most difficult matchups and situations. He works hard and leads by example. He is the embodiment of the high-tempo style that Norway plays, which should be evident to anyone who’s seen him play with Mora IK in the HockeyAllsvenskan. With his physical maturity, impressive toolkit and high-end processing speed, he should be making a lot of noise come Boxing Day. It’ll be interesting to see just how much noise he can make on the biggest stage of competition against the best prospects in the hockey world.
Petter Vesterheim – C/W
Despite going undrafted last year (even though, in my opinion, he very much should have been drafted), Petter Vesterheim has seen his game jump to the next level and cemented his spot with the Mora IK senior club. He has tallied 1G-8A in 24 matches centering the 4th line, playing with fellow team Norway teammates Michael Brandsegg Nygard and Noah Steen. Vesterheim led the Norwegian team in scoring last year at the D1A, and he’ll try to do the same again as the presumptive 1C. This will likely be his final WJC because of his September birthday, so hopefully that’s an extra kick in the pants to leave it all out on the ice.
Stian Solberg - D
Meet Norway’s big body, top pairing defenceman Stian Solberg. He’s been playing against men since he was 16 years old. He plays a hard-nosed style of defence, meaning keep your head up when you’re on the ice with him. He can also move the puck and has a heavy shot, so don’t expect him to only stay at home. Despite making the team 2 years ago when he was 16, this will only be Solberg’s 2nd appearance with the U20 squad. He played with the U18 squad in a bigger role than he would have gotten with the U20s last year. The young 6’2” blueliner will be relied upon to shut down the opposition’s top players, as well as see heavy minutes on the PK and PP. With a good showing, I expect his draft stock to rise dramatically.
Noah Steen - LW
Yet another Mora IK-grown winger from the “Nordmann” connection, Steen is expected to take his place with Brandsegg Nygard and Vesterheim on the 1st line. If Brandsegg Nygard is the muscle and Vesterheim is the playmaker, Steen profiles as the finisher. Considering he’s scored 4 goals across 22 contests with an average of 8:40 TOI/G, I’d say he’s shown a knack for putting the puck in the net with limited usage. I imagine he’s chomping at the bit to show what he can do with a massive role like he’ll be getting for the duration of the tournament. Like Vesterheim, this will be his last WJC and, again like Vesterheim, he has been instrumental in getting Norway to where they are today.
Mats Bakke Olsen – F
After a moderately productive season with Malmö in the Swedish J20 last year, Bakke Olsen has already eclipsed his previous year’s point total in 22 fewer games – all while donning the “A” for the J20 club. After scoring 2G, 3A in 5 GP last year at the D1A tournament last year, he will hope to continue his role as an important top 6 contributor. It is unclear whether or not that will be on the wing or up the middle, but Bakke Olsen has the versatility to play both. He will most likely also see time on the PP, where he will showcase his playmaking and goalscoring ability.
Oskar Kind Bakkevig – F
Here’s another Malmö Redhawks J20 player who has eclipsed his previous years points total in far fewer games. The difference this year is that Kind Bakkevig has really learnt to trust his shot. Thanks to that development, he has absolutely filled the net with pucks, scoring 20 goals in 29 games so far in the J20. He’s not all shot, though. His energy, aggressiveness and tenacity are aspects of his game that Norway values highly. His shot will be relied upon by the Norwegian team this year like it was last year (and already this year at the 5-Nations in Denmark). I expect we will see heavy usage as a triggerman on the PP and fitting somewhere on the wing in the middle 6.
Tobias Bjerke Larsen – D
Where the Norwegian team lacks in size up front, they make up for it with on the back end. Tobias Bjerke Larsen is no exception, standing at 6’2 and weighing in at 205 lbs – and he knows how to throw it around. He has great range and his good physical positioning allows him to retrieve pucks effectively. He has decent mobility and passing to help him initiate breakouts after retrievals as well, but don’t expect him to bomb a pass across two lines or the skate the puck from coast to coast. Bjerke Larsen knows his role and opposing players ought to know as well. He has been quietly effective on Färjestad BK J20’s top pair as a counterbalance to a more offensive defenceman and as a PKer, so I would expect him to be in a similar role in the top 4 for Norway. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him don a letter, either.
Markus Røhnebæk Stensrud – G
I think international audiences are in for some shock and awe when little Markus Røhnebæk Stensrud mans the blue paint for Norway. The 5’9 netminder has been playing in Norway’s top pro league for 3 years now, and has had a hammerlock on the starter job for Norway internationally over the same period of time. Other teams would be foolish to underestimate him because of his size. He is agile, has cat-like reflexes, and is mentally tough – you have to be as a goalie as small as him. This will be his 3rd and final WJC, and I am thrilled that he will get to have his moment on the big stage taking on the behemoths of international junior hockey.
Gabriel Koch – D
Standing at 5’11, 163lbs, Koch is an exception to the “big and mean” blueline identity. However, he is still an integral part of Norway’s core. Koch’s game is his ability to skate the puck and send dangerous passes, and a great deal of Norway’s offence from the blueline come from him. After a very disappointing season last year with Malmo’s J20, Koch has enjoyed success in a reduced role with Norway’s top pro team Vålerenga alongside Stian Solberg. Hopefully (and this is a big ask) he will be able to replicate his torrential production at this years’ U20 5-Nations in Denmark, but obviously the stakes and level of competition is higher. There, we saw Koch take on a bigger role with Norway than he did last year, becoming a fixture in their top 4 and as a puck distributor on the power play, and I expect that’s where he'll be come boxing day as well.
Felix Granath – C
Despite being one of just a handful of newcomers brought into the fold for Norway, Granath felt like somewhat of an obvious choice. Both he and his brother Philip (2002) have a strong international resume, having played a combined 66 games for Norway during their junior eligibility. Felix even donned the “C” at the U18 WJC last year. In addition to being an excellent playmaker appreciated for his leadership, Granath is responsible for bringing down Norway’s average height by an inch or so. The 5’7 center will be playing on familiar turf, as he’s been playing for Gothenburg’s Frölunda HC for the past 3 years. It is difficult to determine exactly where he’ll slot into the line up, but he is a speedy, skilled forward who brings tons of energy whenever he’s on the ice. I’d expect to see him center somewhere in the middle 6 as well as get reps on the 2nd power play unit.
Sleeper: Ludvig Lafton – D
Lafton is an intriguing option on the back end for Norway. He’s one of the youngest players on the team and profiles as a two-way defenceman. He has great spatial awareness and plays responsibly, timing his pinches well and backing off when it isn’t worth the risk. He’s mobile, flashes some of fine skill here and there, and is a very effective passer. He’s got good size and uses it effectively to close gaps and retrieve pucks. He has been getting some consistent reps with the Frisk Asker senior squad, where he has picked up two helpers in 21 contests. He’s been everything you could ask of a 17-year-old bottom 6 defenceman playing against men. He brings a sense of stability that every team needs. It is his first year at the U20 level at the WJC, so it’ll be interesting to see how he adapts to the pace of play. I expect him to be on the bottom pair, but I have a feeling he could break out and earn a bigger role as the tournament goes on.
