Dennis Altörn was the big surprise in Sweden's squad for the Junior World Championship in Canada, which starts on Boxing Day.
It's going to be incredibly fun to get away and really get started for real. This is a dream you've had since you were little, to get to wear the national team jersey. And to get to do it in the JVM, it couldn't have come at a better time, says Altörn.
Altörn, who normally plays in Leksand, emphasizes that the more experienced players in the team will be crucial for the team. A large part of the squad, nine players, have already played at least one JVM.
I think it's good to have the experienced players, with a grip on all the routines around the tournament. They have a grip on what applies, both on and off the ice. It's super important for the whole group to have a good core, says Altörn.
"Leaders in the team"
Jack Berglund is also one of the newer players in the JVM squad. He agrees that the more experienced players mean a lot.
They are leaders in the team, regardless of whether they have a letter (on the jersey) or not. They are people you follow, and really good players. So it's incredibly important to have experienced players who know what applies and is required. It's just a matter of backing them up.
But Berglund also thinks it's important to take responsibility yourself.
I think at the same time that it's very important to help out as much as you can yourself, even if you're a bit newer. It's not often you get to participate in the JVM, so it's just a matter of having fun with the guys and enjoying it as much as you can, says Berglund.
Core squad
National team coach Magnus Hävelid describes the more experienced players, including Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Felix Unger Sörum, as his core squad.
They are very important, of course. Previous experiences like the JVM in Gothenburg with the atmosphere that was there, having been there and being able to maintain focus on what we're going to do and our own performance does a lot for the players. It's good that we have players who have been through that before. It helps a lot in team building, says Hävelid.
+ The JVM takes place from December 26 to January 6 in Ottawa, Canada
+ Sweden's group stage matches:
December 26, 18.00: Slovakia
December 27, 23.00: Kazakhstan
December 29, 18.00: Switzerland
December 31, 23.00: Czech Republic
