Anaheim Ducks Guide to the 2018 IIHF World Championships
By Ed Stein
May the Fourth is International Star Wars Day. Oh and its the start of the IIHF World Hockey Championships in Denmark. There will be several players with connections to the Anaheim Ducks participating in the two-week tournament.
Six players with ties to the Anaheim Ducks will be representing their countries at the World Championships.
Curtis McElhinney, Canada – Goalie
McElhinney played for the Ducks in parts of 2009-10, and 2010-11 seasons. In 31 combined games, he went 11-10-3, with a 3.20 GAA, and .899 SV%. A journeyman over the last 10 years, he easily had his best season in 2017-18 as Frederik Andersen‘s backup in Toronto.Unfortunately for Team Canada, a decent 18 game stretch at age 34 doesn’t scream gold medal-winning goalie.
Frederik Andersen, Denmark – Goalie
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A veteran of five NHL seasons, Andersen spent his first three as a member of the Anaheim Ducks. Our Jacob Robles wrote earlier this week, that had contracts been a little different he might be Anaheim’s goalie instead of John Gibson.
While he was a Ducks goalie, Andersen had a record of 77-26-12 in 125 appearances. The now number one goalie of the Toronto Maple Leafs will be doing his thing in front of his native country’s fans. As one of only two current NHL players on the Danish teams (Frans Nielsen), he may be all they have to cheer for.
Reto Berra, Switzerland – Goalie
2017-18 was the only season Berra spent in the Anaheim Ducks organization. Although he spent most of the season in San Diego, he did manage five appearances with the parent team. A veteran of 76 NHL Games, the 31-year-old signed to play with Biel HC in his native Switzerland next season.
Korbinian Holzer, Germany – Defenseman
The Ducks consummate spare defenseman and I-5 shuttle bus rider is a member of Team Germany. So far Holzer has played 77 games in an Anaheim sweater over parts of the past three seasons. Although the Germans have some talent on their team, Holzer is one of three members on the roster who played in the NHL last season (Leon Draisaitl, Dennis Seidenberg).
Hampus Lindholm, Sweden – Defenseman
This season in Anaheim, he set career highs in points per game and time on ice per game. He was also better than even +/- for the fifth straight season at +16. Lindholm’s versatility makes him an asset to any team he plays for. He will be part of Sweden’s star-studded blue line along with Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Adam Larsson, and John Klingberg.
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Rickard Rakell, Sweden – Left Wing/Center
The Swedes are young and deep on defense. Up front, they are more young then deep. Rakell scored a career-high 69 points in 2017-18. He could be part of a dynamic top line along with Mika Zibanejad, and either Gustav Nyquist or Adrian Kempe. If he plays in the tournament the way he played for the Ducks last season, he could be Sweden’s MVP.