Editor’s Note: We’re heading back to Prague! For the first time, LaxAllStars.com will have three of our members on the ground in Radotin for the Ales Hrebesky Memorial to give you the most in-depth coverage and behind the scenes views of the week. Thanks to the support of MaxLax, the world leader in box lacrosse gear for goalies and players, we’ll be showing off the AHM like never before! Make sure you peep the new MaxLax player gloves – super protective, super comfortable, old school inspired beauties!
This year is a bit more confusing than years past, and that’s just the way we like it. With the addition of three more teams, plus the Wolves replacing the Pioneers, things were shaken up a bit. Have no fear, make sense of nonsense is (almost) what we do best and there’s nothing more precious to us than the Ales Hrebesky Memorial.
For an explanation on how the teams got organized before the draw, jump back to when we announced all 24 teams heading to Radotin. Let’s set our sights on the pools for 2018 and the paths that can follow. You might not have the best roster at the AHM, but your draw and the path in front of you mean oh so much.
Pool Preview – Ales Hrebesky Memorial 2018
Silver
A: TJ Malesice (CZE), Chocolax (SWI), Non-Olympic Athletes from Everywhere (Earth)
B: Adler (GER), Bratislava Bats (SVK), LCC Wolves (CZE)
C: Helan Gar (SWE), Polish Eagles (POL), Jagged Mountain (USA)
D: Dublin Riggers (IRE), London Knights (ENG), Plzen Old Dogs (CZE)
Gold
A: LC Custodes (CZE), Alberta Warriors (CAN), Vienna Monarchs (AUT)
B: Megamen (USA), Goldstar Tel Aviv (ISR), Istanbul Sultans (TUR)
C: Turku Titans (FIN), Green Gaels (CAN), Bundeswehr (GER)
D: Glasgow Clydesiders (SCO), SK Jinzi Mesto (CZE), Nova Scotia Privateers (CAN)
AHM 2018 System
24 teams were drawn into four upper round-robin groups (Gold A–D) and four lower round-robin groups (Silver A–D). The teams were divided into three pools for the upper group and three pools for the lower, based on their results from last year. The four newbies were all entered into the final pool.
In the round-robin games, the winning team gets 3 points, each team gets one point for ties, and the team who wins the shootout gets an extra point.
Here’s how they decide the team order in round-robin groups:
- Number of points;
- Head-to-head outcome;
- Difference between goals scored and goals against;
- Higher number of scored goals;
- Coin flip.
The winners of the Gold groups automatically advance to the quarterfinals. Second place from the Gold groups will meet the winners of Silver groups in Play-in games 1–4. The winners of the Play-in games head to the quarterfinals, the losers continue on to the 9th–16th place playoffs (Blue Bracket).
The third teams from the Gold groups will play the second teams from the Silver groups in Play-in games 5–8. The winners of these games move up to the to 9th–16th place playoffs (Blue Bracket), while the losers continue compete for 17th–24th place (Green Bracket).
The third place teams from the Silver groups fall directly into the 17th–24th place games (Green Bracket).
We’re Pickin’ Winners!
What better way to get hyped for the Ales Hrebesky Memorial than speculate on who’s going to win and how things will shake out?!
| Connor – Green Gaels | |||
| First | Second | Third | |
| Silver A | TJ Malesice | NOAFE | Chocolax |
| Silver B | Adler | Bratislava Bats | LCC Wolves |
| Silver C | Polish Eagles | Jagged Mtn. | Helan Gar |
| Silver D | Dublin Riggers | London Knights | Plzen Old Dogs |
| Gold A | LC Custodes | Alberta Warriors | Vienna Monarch |
| Gold B | Goldstar TA | Megamen | Istabul Sultans |
| Gold C | Green Gaels | Turku Titans | Bundeswehr |
| Gold D | Glasgow Clyde | SK Jinzi Mesto | NS Privateers |
| Mark – NOAFE | |||
| First | Second | Third | |
| Silver A | NOAFE | TJ Malesice | Chocolax |
| Silver B | Bratislava Bats | Adler | LCC Wolves |
| Silver C | Helan Gar | Jagged Mtn. | Polish Eagles |
| Silver D | Dublin Riggers | Plzen Old Dogs | London Knights |
| Gold A | LC Custodes | Alberta Warriors | Vienna Monarch |
| Gold B | Goldstar TA | Megamen | Istabul Sultans |
| Gold C | Green Gaels | Turku Titans | Bundeswehr |
| Gold D | Glasgow Clyde | NS Privateers | SK Jinzi Mesto |
| Brian – Glasgow | |||
| First | Second | Third | |
| Silver A | TJ Malesice | NOAFE | Chocolax |
| Silver B | Bratislava Bats | LCC Wolves | Adler |
| Silver C | Jagged Mtn. | Polish Eagles | Helan Gar |
| Silver D | Dublin Riggers | Plzen Old Dogs | London Knights |
| Gold A | LC Custodes | Alberta Warriors | Vienna Monarch |
| Gold B | Goldstar TA | Megamen | Istabul Sultans |
| Gold C | Green Gaels | Turku Titans | Bundeswehr |
| Gold D | Glasgow Clyde | NS Privateers | SK Jinzi Mesto |
Brian’s Two Cents!
Silver Draws
The best group draws go to the Dublin Riggers and Jagged Mountain. I’m thinking 2-0 is a sure bet with these two. The Bats are also pretty safe, but I can see a letdown loss. NOAFE and Chocolax have the best group to sneak out 2-0 pulls.
A – While Malesice is the safe money, NOAFE is the safest money for an upset. Chocolax can’t be counted out. This is the tightest silver group
B – Bats beat the Wolves in NBLL play. SVK will be loaded with some helpers and the Wolves will lose some of their top players to other teams. Adler could be legit, but it’s a different roster every year in a pool with two actual teams.
C – Colorado gets beginner’s luck. Poland and Helan Gar have had rough luck in the past few years, but they’re improving. Poland is skipping Ebox to focus on the AHM, and I think this is the year they punch someone in the nose and take their lunch money. Helan Gar upset Malesice last year and is putting more goals up where in the past they’ve lacked. Colorado won’t come out clean, but they’ll come out. I see the 2 seed beating the 1 and the 3 beating both. Very interesting group.
D – Riggers have the path to glory out of Silver. Being just out of gold gives the advantage of playing weaker silver 2+3 teams and then getting your first test. That’s opposed to being a few spots higher and getting the brunt of the storm game one from a gold 1 or 2. Plzen will bring everything they’ve got. They’ve been missing for a few years, and now they’re back to prove something. Knights…. I have no idea. Hopefully some English talent decides to give the box a try. Plzen chemistry > Knights experience.
It’s Not Easy Being Gold
A game of two sides. On the one half of the bracket: LCC, Alberta, Gaels, and Titans all have to slaughter each other, with the unfortunate prospect of seeing the other pool’s phoenix team shortly after. The other half of the bracket has Goldstar, Glasgow, Megamen and Nova Scotia as the contenders… without throwing stones, this is the preferred party to be at in the prelims.
A – The most recent two champions will have a dogfight day 1. Vienna has a bad day.
B – Three teams that have familiar faces as a core, but change every year. Who brings what? Impossible to be accurate with revolving door teams, but I believe Goldstar is always bringing in better talent than what leaves.
C – Gaels will have a physical batter with Turku, but ultimately the average talent level of Ontario > average talent level in Finland. Bundeswehr goes up 1-0 in the first two minutes on both of these teams, but has a bad day after that.
D – Who shows up ready to play? Nova Scotia can be amazing, Nova Scotia loses to people who they shouldn’t. Jizni Mesto has defeated excellent North American teams, the two trick pony is in trouble when it gets exposed. Glasgow plays great when Glasgow plays great, until the clock strikes midnight.
The Path Easiest Travelled
Gold Paths – Glasgow and Tel-Aviv
Silver Paths – Bratislava and NOAFE
“The Path” defined – you don’t necessarily need to be the best. “The path” refers to that tiny little window of opportunity that enables teams to slingshot into higher placements than maybe the average AHM fan would predict.
“Phoenix” defined – the Gold group teams that go 1-1 will get a second shot at the finals. You can lose to someone and as a result have a different path to hardware. Is that path harder? Easier? “The path” is the path?
