Junior World Championship | Sweden too strong for Canada

You’d have to be a bit of a chauvinist to say you’re disappointed with Canada’s performance at the World Junior Championship on Friday.

Not only does Sweden have a more seasoned roster, but it benefits from the size of the Olympic rink and local support.

Without much surprise, the Swedes won 2-0, to bring their record in the tournament to three victories in as many matches. She still hasn’t allowed a goal.

Sweden has a great vintage this year. Fifteen of their players won the World Under-18 Championship together in 2022, beating the Americans in the final.

Canada finished fifth that year. Moreover, only one player belonging to this Canadian under-18 team is competing in the World Junior Championship, Matthew Wood… as 13^e attacker.

Sweden has nine first-round picks, compared to Canada’s eight, but eight players from the Swedish junior team played in the tournament last year, compared to only one for Canada, and again, the Canadian’s prospect, Owen Beck , was recalled in a hurry at the end of the competition to replace an injured player and played only three matches. Ten players from the Canadian team are having their first experience at the international level with Canada, probably never seen before in a tournament of this scale.

Canada started the match strongly, thanks to a sustained and aggressive forecheck, but once the storm passed, Sweden took control of the match.

Jordan Dumais was in trouble at the start of the second period in defensive territory, his teammate Matthew Poitras, already in the NHL, did not help him with a soft play along the boards, and it was 1-0 Sweden on a precise shot by Vancouver Canucks first-round pick defenseman Tom Wallinder, 11^e overall in 2023, and teammate of Lane Hutson at Boston University.

Noah Östlund, Sabres’ 2022 first-round pick, 16^e in total, scored the insurance goal, well posted in front of the net, nine minutes later. Östlund was undoubtedly the best in his camp. He played 19:55, a high among the team’s forwards. Only defender Elias Pettersson was used more.

However, this is not a dramatic defeat for Canada. With one match remaining, against Germany, the Canadians are guaranteed to advance to the elimination round and, barring an unexpected defeat, will finish second in Group A.

Lane Hutson steps forward

After a modest start to the tournament against second-rate teams, defender and CH prospect Lane Hutson stood up against the Czech Republic on Friday, before the meeting between Canada and Sweden.

The Americans won 4-3 in a shootout and Hutson prepared the equalizing goal by carrying the puck into the opposing zone before passing it to his teammate Ryan Chesley in the slot.

Hutson, a late second-round pick in 2022, was more incisive offensively, and impeccable defensively, both at five-on-five and in the first wave on the penalty kill. He played 26:16, obviously a record for the Americans.

Another Canadian hope, goalkeeper Jacob Fowler, was not perfect, but uncompromising after allowing the third goal to the Czechs. He made an important save during an opposing breakaway in the third period and stopped six of his seven opponents in the shootout.

Canada’s next game is Sunday against Germany at 1:30 p.m. Eastern. The United States faces the tough Slovaks and Filip Mesar, of the Canadian, also on December 31, but at dawn.