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U18: 2021 WJC18

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PanniniClaus said:
The last time i recall a Swedish team taking a beating was at the World Juniors in Halifax. A very average skating, less than skilled team with possibly the worst goaltending tandem they have ever had. They lost 7-2 to a Canadian team that was workmanlike but not full of high end skill. Michal Zajkowski and Mathias Fagerstrom in goal. I think Sweden decided after that tourney that they needed a new approach to skill development.
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They have been blown out in similar fashion by the US several times.
 
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VictorLustig said:
Goaltending was perhaps not great but Canada created more than enough high danger chances to score 10+ goals. Canada played great, our boys were terrible.
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If you compare Shots/Goal ratio, the score should be 1-2 not 1-12... Must have been a total meltdown...
 
Garl said:
All the best are there.

And just overall, the idea that missing some players is the difference when a team loses 12-1 is lets say not realistic. Realistically, Sweden shouldn't lose 12-1 even if they bring C-team and Canada has it's U20s.
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Well, missing Stjernborg, and Jupiter(Sweden's imo best -03 goalie). Also missing Östlund considering he hasn't even gotten to play.

One could also say missing coaches as they're beyond dreadful. But that's par for the course, sadly.
 
swedehollow said:
If you compare Shots/Goal ratio, the score should be 1-2 not 1-12... Must have been a total meltdown...
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Sweden had very few high danger chances, many of those shots happened in shear panic from way outside. Believe me, it was like watching Canada vs. Italy.
 
Future GOAT said:
Jesus, I know Canada is generally the best hockey country, but wtf is going on with Sweden?

Surprised to see them get routed like this.

Also lowkey worried about Canada getting too over confident.
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Could the size of rink affected the Sweden? The rink is much smaller than what they are used to playing on and these rinks look to have pretty shallow corners as well even for NA standards, thus the Swedes not able to make the plays with the little space that they were not used to?
 
VictorLustig said:
Sweden had very few high danger chances, many of those shots happened in shear panic from way outside. Believe me, it was like watching Canada vs. Italy.
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According to the interviews, the first goal wasn't unsaveable, and it just went downwards from there. They were a beat team after the first, and Canada just kept going. Hopefully, Sweden learned more from this game than Canada. But, without good or even average goaltending, the will get nowhere...
 
No love for Milic yet in this thread. Despite the result on the scoreboard, I still think Sweden had a dozen very high quality chances. He shut it all down and only let a single absolute seeing-eye shot in. Great performance, also seems to have really good puck handling skills.
 
Breakers said:
How did Cuelemans look?

He intrigues me so much about this draft, but he did not look very good in two of the games I saw in this crazy season in the AJHL.
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He was excellent. I’m a huge fan. He didn’t do anything flashy, but he’s just so calm and collected with the puck and defending the rush. Looked bigger out there, too.
 
Dominance said:
No love for Milic yet in this thread. Despite the result on the scoreboard, I still think Sweden had a dozen very high quality chances. He shut it all down and only let a single absolute seeing-eye shot in. Great performance, also seems to have really good puck handling skills.
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Made a good double save on a breakaway of a terrible turnover halfway through the first
 
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bobby183 said:
Could the size of rink affected the Sweden? The rink is much smaller than what they are used to playing on and these rinks look to have pretty shallow corners as well even for NA standards, thus the Swedes not able to make the plays with the little space that they were not used to?
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It's definitely a factor. These kids come mostly from the Swedish junior league where the style of play is completely different, it's almost like different sports. Strong conservative forces within the hockey federation will likely keep it that way. I think the new technology (skates, sticks), modern training and emphazis on speed might make it very difficult for Swedish junior teams to compete on small ice in the future. Pace is just too high.
 
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My 2 cents...

Sweden is an amazing hockey country.
They are defending gold medalists (from 2 years ago)
They, again, have several first rounders on this team
They had a shitty night and got blown out of the building

If you are going to have a shitty night and be blown out.. the first game against Canada is the time! They can still legit finish 2nd in the group.

I have zero reason to believe that Canada will be outscoring their opponents 12-1 and winning gold in this fashion. They may win Gold and they have some lighter opponents but don't expect the semi's and finals to be 12-1 type victories because Canada is that good.

I have more reason to beleive that Sweden regroups and get's stronger as the tourney moves along. I'd still expect to see them in the semi finals to be honest.

I do think Canada is the gold medal favourite but the States, Russia, Finland and Sweden may still all have a say in that. It is nice to finally have Canada send their strongest squad to U18's.. I hate that both U18 tourneys are flawed... States have best team in U18 usually and Canada in Hlinka.
 
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Czechboy said:
My 2 cents...

Sweden is an amazing hockey country.
They are defending gold medalists (from 2 years ago)
They, again, have several first rounders on this team
They had a shitty night and got blown out of the building

If you are going to have a shitty night and be blown out.. the first game against Canada is the time! They can still legit finish 2nd in the group.

I have zero reason to believe that Canada will be outscoring their opponents 12-1 and winning gold in this fashion. They may win Gold and they have some lighter opponents but don't expect the semi's and finals to be 12-1 type victories because Canada is that good.

I have more reason to beleive that Sweden regroups and get's stronger as the tourney moves along. I'd still expect to see them in the semi finals to be honest.

I do think Canada is the gold medal favourite but the States, Russia, Finland and Sweden may still all have a say in that. It is nice to finally have Canada send their strongest squad to U18's.. I hate that both U18 tourneys are flawed... States have best team in U18 usually and Canada in Hlinka.
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This is actually not Canada's strongest squad. QMJHL players (1 of the 3 major leagues this team is usually drawn from) could not attend, so that eliminated potential 2021 1st/2nd round candidates, such as Zach Bolduc (16th on Bob Mckenzie's list), Zachary L'Heureux (27th), Zach Dean (32nd), Evan Nause (46th) and Cam Whynot (56th). Also, Canada is missing Cole Sillinger (13th) and Carson Lambos (15th) due to COVID/injury, and Matthew Savoie who is a likely top-10 pick in the 2022 draft.
 
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kyle44 said:
This is actually not Canada's strongest squad. QMJHL players (1 of the 3 major leagues this team is usually drawn from) could not attend, so that eliminated potential 2021 1st/2nd round candidates, such as Zach Bolduc (16th on Bob Mckenzie's list), Zachary L'Heureux (27th), Zach Dean (32nd), Evan Nause (46th) and Cam Whynot (56th). Also, Canada is missing Cole Sillinger (13th) and Carson Lambos (15th) due to COVID/injury, and Matthew Savoie who is a likely top-10 pick in the 2022 draft.
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Yep, Bolduc, L’Heureux, Dean, Whynot, Sillinger, and Lambos make the team without a doubt. That’s a third of the roster. Still, I feel like our team is stronger than what we usually send to this tournament.
 
kyle44 said:
This is actually not Canada's strongest squad. QMJHL players (1 of the 3 major leagues this team is usually drawn from) could not attend, so that eliminated potential 2021 1st/2nd round candidates, such as Zach Bolduc (16th on Bob Mckenzie's list), Zachary L'Heureux (27th), Zach Dean (32nd), Evan Nause (46th) and Cam Whynot (56th). Also, Canada is missing Cole Sillinger (13th) and Carson Lambos (15th) due to COVID/injury, and Matthew Savoie who is a likely top-10 pick in the 2022 draft.
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We agree this is a much stronger team than Canada would normally send when all 3 leagues are in playoffs now, right?
 
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VictorLustig said:
It's definitely a factor. These kids come mostly from the Swedish junior league where the style of play is completely different, it's almost like different sports. Strong conservative forces within the hockey federation will likely keep it that way. I think the new technology (skates, sticks), modern training and emphazis on speed might make it very difficult for Swedish junior teams to compete on small ice in the future. Pace is just too high.
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But most Swedes are stronger skaters than from any other country.
 
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Next games for Sweden is against Switzerland than Latvia. We are gonna get slaughtered. Our win against Belarus was actually a lucky one, our goalie had a super game while theirs had a bad game.
 
57special said:
But most Swedes are stronger skaters than from any other country.
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I'd say Swedes and Americans are usually the best skating teams overall . Russians have players that can turn on the jets when they want to. Some Russian teams will tend coast or lack intensity in the beginning until they start losing , then they get a goal , pick up momentum and they will start showing a gear you never knew they had.
 
Hate that the Leafs game is at the same time I’ve been watching that instead... How’s the game going?
 
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