Tight-knit Canada set for tough test against hosts Sweden at world juniors
CTV
Canada will march into the jam-packed Scandinavium arena -- a building that resembles Calgary's Scotiabank Saddledome -- against the tournament hosts Friday night in a marquee Group A matchup. "Skilled, dangerous," Canadian head coach Alan Letang said of Sweden. "Very, very dangerous off the rush."
Macklin Celebrini dropped back to pass -- with a glove in place of a football -- 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.
"We've been together for a little bit now," Celebrini said Thursday. "We're a team of brothers."
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 -- a building that resembles Calgary's Scotiabank Saddledome -- against the tournament hosts Friday night in a marquee Group A matchup.
"Skilled, dangerous," Canadian head coach Alan Letang said of Sweden. "Very, very dangerous off the rush."
