Macklin Celebrini dropped back to pass B次元官网网址� with a glove in place of a football B次元官网网址� and fired towards a sliding Fraser Minten.
Conor Geekie and Nate Danielson were play fighting close by, while goaltenders Mathis Rousseau and Scott Ratzlaff had a friendly grappling match in the corner.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been together for a little bit now,B次元官网网址� Celebrini said Thursday. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e a team of brothers.B次元官网网址�
A delayed group picture along with some time away from the rink to be with family and friends offered Canada a brief respite from the enormous expectations that come with pulling on the red Maple Leaf at the world junior hockey championship.
After getting a chance to recharge following a pair of victories to open the annual showcase, things are about to get a lot more difficult.
Canada will march into the jam-packed Scandinavium arena B次元官网网址� a building that resembles CalgaryB次元官网网址檚 Scotiabank Saddledome B次元官网网址� against the tournament hosts Friday night in a marquee Group A matchup.
B次元官网网址淪killed, dangerous,B次元官网网址� Canadian head coach Alan Letang said of Sweden. B次元官网网址淰ery, very dangerous off the rush.B次元官网网址�
Canada is looking secure a third straight gold medal at the under-20 tournament for the first time since the country grabbed five in a row from 2005 to 2009, but is without some major NHL star power B次元官网网址� namely Connor Bedard.
B次元官网网址淭hese games are the easiest to get up for, and have energy and be present in,B次元官网网址� said Minten, CanadaB次元官网网址檚 captain and a Toronto Maple Leafs prospect. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just really fun.B次元官网网址�
There are about 3,500 red-clad Canucks in Gothenburg for the tournament. Despite those strong numbers, they will be in the minority Friday.
B次元官网网址淐rowdB次元官网网址檚 is going to be electric,B次元官网网址� said Letang, who has just one returnee from the 2023 tournament in Montreal Canadiens draft pick Owen Beck. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l see how we handle that pressure, that momentum.B次元官网网址�
Rousseau, who looks set to make a third consecutive start, said the belief in CanadaB次元官网网址檚 camp is strong.
B次元官网网址淓verybody has the same mindset,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e here to do big things. Everybody trusts each other.B次元官网网址�
The Swedes, who were set to meet Germany on Thursday and are viewed as favourites along with the United States, cruised past Latvia 6-0 in their opener.
Canada, meanwhile, topped Finland 5-2 before thumping the Latvians 10-0 on Wednesday. The 17-year-old Celebrini B次元官网网址� expected to be the top pick at the 2024 NHL draft B次元官网网址� stole the show with a goal and four assists.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e seen him out-compete, outscore guys two years older than him his whole life,B次元官网网址� said Minten, who, like the star centre, grew up in Vancouver. B次元官网网址淐ome to expect it at this point.B次元官网网址�
Celebrini and linemate Matthew Wood are two players with recent experience against FridayB次元官网网址檚 opponent.
And it wasnB次元官网网址檛 pretty. Canada lost 8-0 to Sweden at AprilB次元官网网址檚 under-18 world championships in Switzerland.
B次元官网网址淏it of redemption here,B次元官网网址� Celebrini said. B次元官网网址淥nly time playing against them, they wiped us. Definitely motivation.B次元官网网址�
The Swedes are led by Vancouver Canucks draft pick Jonathan Lekkerimaki and Detroit Red Wings prospect Axel Sandin Pellika, who both play professionally in their country.
Letang said he expects CanadaB次元官网网址檚 defence to be under a lot of pressure, but is confident his group can handle it with support from the forwards.
B次元官网网址淓xcited for this challenge,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 all the stuff weB次元官网网址檝e been preaching.B次元官网网址�
One of those blueliners is Ty Nelson.
The Toronto product didnB次元官网网址檛 make the initial roster, but was summoned from a family Christmas trip in Pittsburgh due to a rash of Canadian injuries.
He drove back to Toronto, flew to Germany and boarded his connection to Gothenburg.
ThatB次元官网网址檚 when things got interesting over the weekend.
A windy day on SwedenB次元官网网址檚 west coast meant the flight from Frankfurt briefly touched down on the tarmac before taking off again and heading to Stockholm.
NelsonB次元官网网址檚 heart skipped a few beats.
B次元官网网址淚t was quiet on the plane,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淓verybody was scared. We had to keep the window shade open. I was wishing I could close it. It was scary. We just touched down and right back up. We werenB次元官网网址檛 expecting it.B次元官网网址�
The pilot tried to land again a few hours later B次元官网网址� successfully, this time B次元官网网址� after a brief stop in the Swedish capital. Nelson, whose absence pushed the taking of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 official picture back to Thursday, was off to join his teammates and try to kick the jet lag.
B次元官网网址淗ard to take in,B次元官网网址� he said of being at the world juniors. B次元官网网址淕rowing up as a kid you always want to play in this tournament, especially being a Canadian.
B次元官网网址淗aving the honour to represent our country, it means so much.B次元官网网址�
Now heB次元官网网址檚 part of a group thatB次元官网网址檚 chasing a dream B次元官网网址� and staring down a tough test.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e become really close,B次元官网网址� Celebrini said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 awesome to have that chemistry and have that brotherhood.B次元官网网址�
TheyB次元官网网址檒l need each other Friday night.
Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press
