Canada faces biggest pre-tournament test as rivalry with Sweden heats up
Team Canada held a media availability at the hotel on Saturday in Ottawa.
Two of the favourites in the World Juniors will clash on Saturday when Canada faces Sweden in pre-tournament play.
"It's the closest you're going to get to a real tournament game in exhibition," said Team Canada defenceman Tanner Molendyk.
"It's going to be a tight game. It's going to be tight-checking and a step up from last game, but I think we're ready. We know what's coming."
Canada beat Switzerland 7-1 on Thursday in its exhibition opener.
"The level of competition is going to be a little bit higher, no disrespect to Switzerland," Team Canada head coach Dave Cameron said. "If the competition is higher you have to elevate every part of your game, the speed, the positional play, the execution off it, so we're just looking to get better."
They're also looking for some payback. Sweden beat Canada 3-2 in a shootout on July 31 in Windsor, Ont. at the World Junior Summer Showcase. After that game, Canadian players expressed displeasure with how Swedes Felix Nilsson and Otto Stenberg celebrated their shootout goals.
"They did some things that are not going to sit well with us," Molendyk said back in July. "It's the middle of the summer, but we're still going to take that into Christmas."
Nilsson made a kissing motion at the Canadian players after scoring while Stenberg stared down the bench.
"It's definitely on guys minds," Team Canada forward Tanner Howe confirmed on Saturday morning. "We're looking to get a little revenge, but we're not going into the game with that mindset."
Molendyk eventually shared a laugh with Nilsson, a fellow Nashville Predators prospect, about the game and is downplaying the revenge angle ahead of the rematch.
"When it happened, it was a little bit of a touchy subject," he said. "But it's over with and it's a clean slate."
Melker Thelin starts for the Swedes on Saturday. He was the first star of the game in the summer making 44 saves before slamming door in the shootout. Carson Rehkopf scored both Canadian goals.
"We don't like to lose," newly-named Canadian captain Brayden Yager said after the game in the summer. "It leaves a little bitter taste in your mouth regardless that it's July 31st. It motivates us for December. We know they're a good hockey team and we know what we're capable of. With the group that we have we can build a special hockey team here, and come December be ready to........
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