Sweden will not meet any of the superpowers USA or Canada in the opening of the Junior World Championship.
At first glance, it can be seen as an advantage. But there is a risk that it will instead be a major contrast in level of play, if Sweden makes it through the group and then faces top opponents directly in the playoffs.
National team captain Magnus Hävelid, however, believes that his men are well prepared.
How the group looks, we can't influence, but when we face the best teams, we will have become well-equipped, says Hävelid ahead of the premiere against Slovakia on Boxing Day.
Must be humble
Several of the players are on the same track as the national team captain. Jack Berglund (who at the time of the interview had not yet been forced to withdraw from the Junior World Championship due to an injury in the rehearsal against Germany, editor's note) means that the opposition doesn't make a difference, the attitude must be the same.
You go in with the same attitude in every match. It has come to a time when all national teams have become good. If you're not on top of it, it won't work regardless of the opponent. But facing the host nation Canada in the playoffs is, of course, special. Otherwise, I don't think there's a big difference in the matches.
Junior World Championship debutant Dennis Altörn:
I think we should be humble before all matches. But it's clear that it gets tricky when you don't have such a good team in the group, but it shouldn't affect the playoffs, then it's still win or lose.
"All matches extremely tight"
The junior national team's experienced captain Axel Sandin-Pellikka also doesn't think that the group stage will be easy. He points out that it will be even regardless of the opponent.
All matches are extremely tight, so it's about being on your toes all the time. We'll probably see some even battles in the group stage. In Canada, all matches will be packed, even if we don't meet the top teams. So we'll still get to experience many exciting matches in the group stage. We'll take the even more fun matches in the playoffs.
+ The Junior World Championship is played from December 26 to January 6 in Ottawa, Canada
+ Group A: Canada, USA, Finland, Latvia, Germany
+ Group B: Sweden, Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Switzerland
+ The four best teams in each group advance to the quarterfinals
+ Sweden's matches:
December 26, 18.00 - Slovakia
December 27, 23.00 - Kazakhstan
December 29, 18.00 - Switzerland
December 31, 23.00 - Czech Republic
