Without some of its top national team stars, Norway will have to work even harder to maintain their mid-table status in the top pool.

Goal

Lars Haugen has been a consistent performer for Norway since taking over for Pal Grotnes in 2011. He's been their starting goaltender at the World Championships and the Olympics and among the

national team's best players. Haugen is well travelled having spent time in the
KHL and SHL. For the last three years Haugen was between the pipes for Farjestad in the Swedish Hockey League. On the

strength of an impressive 2017/18 season, Henrik Haukeland is making a case to be in the mix at Norway's starter. Haukeland came off his best professional campaign with Timra. His regular season

goals against average was a sterling 1.72, along with seven shutouts. Thanks to
Haukeland, Timra earned a promotion into the SHL for the 2018/19 season. Only 23, Haukeland has the advantage of time

in securing a possible starting role with the national team. Henrik Holm is slotted as the third goaltender.

Defence

There is little question that Jonas Holos is Norway's top defender. Since 2006,
Holos has represented Norway, most notably at the 2012 World Championship where
he scored four goals and nine points.

He can be counted to help Norway on the power play with his ability to move the
puck and score. Holos spent his first season in Switzerland playing for Fribourg-Gotteron and was an assistant

captain. Alexander Bonsaken has been steady and reliable. He is a veteran of 55
World Championship contests. Johannes Johannesen made his debut with the national team in 2016 at the age of 19. At

that tournament in Russia, he scored two goals. Now at 21, Johannesen has seen time in all major international competitions. Norway will miss Mattias Norstebo
in the line-up. Norway's defence is

not very deep making Norstebo's absence a significant development. Christian Bull, Stefan Espeland, Villiam Strom, Dennis Sveum and Daniel Sorvik will round
out Norway's defensive corps.

Forwards

To start, Norway will be without two of its most important forwards, Mats Zuccarello, who is out with an injury, and Patrick Thoresen, who opted not to play. Thoresen has been Norway's offensive

catalyst over the years and not having him around is a big loss. The diminutive
Zuccarello remains one of the New York Rangers' key players. Andreas Martinsen may still be an option but is

currently unavailable due to the AHL playoffs. However, there will be many familiar faces who can help generate offence. Brothers Mathis Olimb and Ken Andre Olimb combined for ten points at last

year's tournament, tying for second in team scoring. Both played for Linkoping in Sweden this season. Anders Bastiansen has played for the senior men's national team since 2005. At 37, he's the

oldest member of the team. Michael Haga will participate in his second World Championship. Niklas Roest scored 52 points for Sparta Sarpsborg in the GET Ligaen, but has yet to make an impact at the

World Championships since debuting in 2013. While Patrick Thoresen is not playing, his brother Steffen will be in the team.

Coaching

Petter Thoresen has been successful as a player and then a coach in Norway. As a player, he participated in 96 national team games and five Olympic tournaments. As a coach, he's led Storhamar,

Valerenga, and Stavanger to Norwegian league titles. Thoresen, whose sons are Patrick and Steffen, took over for Roy Johansen as national team head coach in 2016.

Projected results

Every game in this tournament will be tough for Norway. The team lacks the depth that some of its opponents in this tournament enjoy. Therefore, their task is made more difficult with Patrick

Thoresen, Zuccarello and Norstebo missing from the line-up. Norway will be fighting to stay away from the bottom of the group.

JOHN SANFUL

http://https://www.new-iihf.com/en/events/2018/wm/news/2265/norway-facing-uphill-battle
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