MEN´S WFCQ 2018 - AOFC - Team Presentations

Australia, Japan, Singapore, Republic of Korea, Thailand, New Zealand, Malaysia and China will play in the WFCQ AOFC on the 22nd – 27th of January 2018 in South Korea.

The Asia-Oceania qualification will be held in Jeju Island, South Korea. This will be the first IFF event that Korea has hosted.

In AOFC, the 8 teams are divided into two groups and the teams will play once against each of the other teams in their group.

Based on the results from these group matches the teams will progress to the play-off rounds, as follows and four teams will qualify:
– 1st in Group A & Group B progress to the final and qualify directly to the WFC Final round
– 2nd in each group play a quarter final against the 3rd placed team from the other group. The winners of this progress to the 3rd placed match and both qualify directly to the WFC Final round
– The losers of the quarter-finals will play for 5th place
– The teams who finish 4th & 5th in their group will play off for 7th-9th place, according to the following:
4th in Group A will play once against 4th & 5th in Group B. These two matches plus the result of the group match between the 4th & 5th placed teams in Group B will be used to calculate the 5th-7th placements.

More information about the WFCQ2018 is available here.

Team Presentations

Group A

Australia

For the 2018 WFCQ in Korea, Australia has a good blend of youth and experience with half the team 22 years of age or younger demonstrating the strength of our junior development program. Their primary goal is to qualify for the World Floorball Championships to be held in Prague 2018 whilst using the tournament to further prepare and develop the team, specifically the younger players, for the future.

Players to watch

Carl Hammarlund: Carl is the Australian team captain and the most experienced player. Supremely fit and very skilled, Carl is an uncompromising defender well know for counter attacking when least expected.
Daniel Gartner: Daniel represents the future of Men´s Floorball in Australia. He is a naturally gifted Floorballer with sublime stick skills and an eye for the goal net. Together with his twin brother Tomas they expect Daniel to cause problems for all the teams at WFCQ 2018.
Joshua Hay: Joshua Hay is another member of the young brigade and makes the step up from U/19 to Seniors. At 2m tall, very agile and skilled, competitors will find him very difficult to get around. A natural
midfielder, Joshua is equally confident defending and attacking all in the same movement!

#21 C. Hammarlund

#74 D. Gartner

#13 J. Hay

Republic of Korea

Republic of Korea has a totally new team. Most players are new generation. They have 6 teenagers (High school students), 9 players are in their early 20´s and 5 old veteran players. Many will have their first international debut games in 2018WFCQ. They have not much experience, but they are very talented and they have started Floorball at early age. Some of the young snipers have no fear ~ The point is the harmony of old and young players. The goal is of course getting ticket to Prague, Czech Republic.

Players to watch

Kyoung Hoon Seo: Most Asian players will know him. He is the one of best players in Korea team and also the captain of the team. He is one of the players who make goal chances. The best assistant.
Doo Sun Park: He has a lot of experience and he is physically very good ~ He is the no. 1 in goal.
Sang Ki Kim: He was in the National team from 2005 and stopped for a little while, because of his work. Now he came back. He is the shortest in the team but the one of the fastest players. He is also a player who makes goal chances.

#77 K. H. Seo

#1 D.S. Park

#22 S.K. Kim

Thailand

The Thailand Floorball team is a relatively new team. Team has been formed from players playing in both Thailand and leagues in Europe. It will not be an easy feat but these Thai boys are determined to qualify through to the next WFC!

Players to watch

Pawat Thaidit: He is a strong and experienced player. With his good form and strong physique, Pawat led as one of the top scorers in last year´s competition.
Sattaya Phoosinoi: He is a player with speed, strength and good potential. With his agility, he excels in reading and adapting to the game, assisting his team in every way possible.
Alexander Rinefalk: He is a young forward with great abilities. His experiences playing at a top level allows him to adjust and assist his team mates in maximizing all opportunities in a game, and score goals.

#19 P. Thaidit

#9 S. Phoosinoi

#11 A. Rinefalk

China

The team China is is a young team. Players are very fast, they have strong power and good strength. They shoot forcefully, but most of the team members are participating international competition for the first time. They lack experience, so they will focus on learning the game, but they will also strive to achieve certain results.

Players to watch

Ruan Jianxiong: 25 year old center-forward who plays his second time for China. He is one of the first Chinese floorball players. He made 4 goals and 3 assists in AOFC held in Thailand in July and made a golden ball which beat the Philippines. He scored the most goals in China and has good technical skills, good at breaking through and explosive.
Xiakaerxia Hanike: 22 year old forward who also plays his second time for China and is one of the Floorball pioneers in China. He is fast, has good technical skills, good at breaking through and attack. He is a speed player. Let´s hope he can score for China.
He Xiaolong: He is the goalie of the team and he also plays for his second time for China. He made 121 successful saves in 5 games in AOFC in July. We look forward to his performance in this competition.

#33 R. Jianxiong

#7 X. Hanike

#99 H. Xiaolong

Group B

Japan

The strongest team in Japanese history. A well balanced team of veterans and young players. They aim to win!

Players to watch

Ichiro Ueda: The half Japanese – half Swedish forward has great fighting skills. His positive attitude will push him and the team at the same time.
Tomoaki Nakagawa: He has high experience skills after playing in the national team so many times. He knows the Asian Floorball.
Yuta Saito: He is a young player. His agility and quantity of motion are very attractive. He is Japanese top level players.

#8 I. Ueda

#19 T. Nakagawa

#11 Y. Saito

Singapore

Singapore will be looking to improve on their performance from the recent AOFC cup. With a blend of new and experienced players, Singapore will be hoping to qualify for the finals for the World Championships and once again try to regain the title of the best team in the Asia Pacific region.

Players to watch

Nicolas Siew: Making his first debut in the WFC, he will be eager to prove himself in the international stage. Being the youngest in the team at only 18, do not let his age get to you. He is a versatile player who can play anywhere the coach put him.
Joshua Seow: A small and petite player, and a player who never stops running when in court, one will wonder if he has an additional lung in his body. He will want to make up of being in the team that did not make it to WFC 2014 and ensure that Singapore will qualify this time round.
Wong Gary: Captain and voted as one of the top defenders during the last Asia Oceania Floorball Qualifiers, Gary has erased doubters over the past year with his consistent improvement of skills, physique and composure on court. Locally, he is playing with the reigning league champions, NUS Nemesis. One of the best bodies in the team, he is sure to raise a few eye brows among the ladies. Off court, he is a humble, friendly and easy-going guy whom you can talk to easily.

#71 N. Siew

#18 J. Seow

#5 G. Wong

New Zealand

Team New Zealand is still developing as a team with a number of young players. The aim of the team is to qualify for the World Floorball Championships.

Players to watch

Matthew Bertschinger: Player with great fitness and technique who is dangerous for opposing teams from anywhere.
Jiri Sliva: The most experienced player in the team. A solid defender, strong on the ball, with a good overview of the game.
James Matheson: Forward with good decision making and accurate shooting.

#21 M. Bertschinger

#17 J. Sliva

#12 J. Matheson

Malaysia

The team is currently in transition. It has a good blend of experienced and young players with 9 new
players set to make their debut in the WFCQ. The team aim to finish in a better position than the last qualifier.

Players to watch

Mohd Fahmi Nasir: Despite his age, he is one of the fastest forward in the team with deadly shots.
Mohamad Shukri Shamidi: He is a strong defender with very hard slap shot.
Lin Ken Kao: The veteran of the team will be key to stop the opponent from scoring goals.