World Junior 2015 Preview: Denmark makes case to avoid relegation

GROUP B: DENMARK
2014 finish: Promoted to top division
2014 round-robin record Division I (Group A): 5-0-0-0, 20 GF/10 GA

Yahoo! Canada Sports has asked North American-based players, some of whom are playing in the world junior championship, to break down their national teams.

If ever there was a time for Denmark to make a splash at the world junior championship - this is it. This is the third time the Danes have made an appearance in the top-tier - the last time being the 2011 tournament in Edmonton and Calgary. This time, however, Denmark is looking to stay, and they have their best chance in years to do it.

The Danes have six players who are currently playing their hockey in the CHL, including Portland Winterhawks star Oliver Bjorkstrand, Memorial Cup champion Mads Eller and Halifax Mooseheads forward Nikolaj Ehlers - arguably one of the best players in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Denmark won the lower Group I A final last year in Sanok, Poland with a perfect record in order to qualify for this year's tournament. Despite their success in the lower group and the number of higly-touted CHLers on their team, playing on North American ice will be a challenge for the Danes.

"I think our only weakness would be the size of the rink," said Ehlers, a first-round pick of the Winnipeg Jets. "I know a lot of guys on our team haven't tried that yet. More than half of our guys are playing in Europe, so that's going to be our weakness, if you can call it that."

The good thing for Denmark is the fact that many of these players are familiar with one another. As a small hockey-playing nation, the pool of top players isn't as deep, so many of the Danes have grown up playing with and against each other. There are 16 players returning from last year's winning team.

"It's amazing to see how good our chemistry is," said Ehlers. "I think that's why in the last two years we have been able to move up and win the world juniors twice in the B Division. It's going to be a good time, but it's going to be tough."

The chemistry is also good because there are a number of family connections on the squad. Ehlers says he's looking forward to playing with his cousin, Alexander True, 17, a forward with the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds. They're keeping the Ehlers-True family tradition going as their respective fathers - Heinz Ehlers and Soren True - have also represented Denmark internationally.

"My cousin is coming too, so that will be pretty cool," said Ehlers. "I'll get to see him again and see him play and be on the same national team as him.

"His dad and one of his uncles (Mads True) actually played with my dad on the national team, so that's pretty funny."

Denmark's coach, Olaf Eller, will also be coaching his son on the team - 19-year-old, Mads. Eller is in his second season with the under-20 program and is very familiar with the group.

"He's a good coach," said Ehlers of Olaf Eller. "He knows when we can have some fun in practice and he knows when it's game time or when we have to be serious. We have some good systems that we played during the world juniors last year and he's a good guy, too. He has respect for us and we have respect for him - he trusts all of us which makes us tighter as a group."

On their back end, Denmark's defence will be led by Oshawa Generals defenceman Sonny Hertzberg and Mads Larsen, who plays in Sweden with the Malmo Redhawks. They'll be counted on by Olaf Eller and his staff to shore up the blueline.

"They mean a lot because they have a lot of experience," said Ehlers of Hertzberg and Larsen. "We need them on our blueline to kind of help the younger guys, even though they're not that much younger, it's has a lot to do with experience."

In net, the Danes will benefit from the experience of George Sorensen, who is expected to be their starter. Listed at 5-foot-10 and 165-pounds Sorensen isn't the biggest goaltender, but what he lacks in size he makes up for in agility. He's currently playing for his hometown Herning Blue Fox in the top Danish hockey league.

"He's a small goalie, but he plays in the best league in Demark right now," said Ehlers of Sorensen. "He's an amazing goalie for us. He's a small goalie, but he does his thing and I remember against France at the world under-18 he even scored a goal. So it's pretty cool he's going to be back with us again."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Nikolaj Ehlers (F, Halifax Mooseheads - QMJHL)

As the top scorer at the World Junior A Challenge, Ehlers will definitely be the guy to watch on Denmark. A smart, highly-skilled forward with excellent skating ability make him a threat every time he's on the ice. He's become stronger since the 2014 NHL draft when he was selected ninth-overall by Winnipeg. Last year he scored 49 goals and 104 points in Halifax which was good enough to win him the CHL rookie of the year award.

Mikkael Aagaard (F, Niagara IceDogs - OHL)

All the focus on Ehlers means that Mikkael Aagaard might have an opportunity to put up some points under the radar. In last year's Group I A tournament, the undrafted winger led the Danish team in scoring with eight points in five games. He made the jump to North America this year and it looks like he's adapting well to the smaller ice surface after a slow start. In 28 OHL games this year the 19-year-old has five goals and 15 points.

Oliver Bjorkstrand (F, Portland Winterhawks - WHL)

Bjorkstrand is in his third season with the perennially competitive Winterhawks and comes into the tournament with a wealth of experience. Bjorkstrand, like Mads Eller, has already competed at three world junior tournaments - including the last time they were in the top tier (and coached by his father Todd in 2011). A third-round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Bjorkstrand has been one of Denmark's most consistent scorers. In Portland this season, the 19-year-old winger has 21 goals and 40 points in 28 games.

 MUST WIN GAME

As with every team promoted to the top group the Danes will have to avoid relegation. In that regard, they're going to be in tough playing in Group B with the likes of Russia, Sweden, Czech Republic and Switzerland. Realistically, their must win game(s) will come against Germany, who are playing in Group A, in the relegation round. The Germans came close to relegation at last year's tournament forcing a deciding third game - they won 3-1 - against Norway. The changes to the IIHF's relegation format - a three-game series with only one team being demoted - has been a boon for the German program. Denmark is hoping to change that this year with a good performance.

"We have a lot of good hockey players, but that's not enough for the world juniors here," said Ehlers.

"I think we have a pretty good chance to stay in the top group this year which would be awesome. I know the guys we have on the team want to do that, they will do everything, sacrifice everything to stay in the top group."