When? The first match of the junior crowns in the Junior WC against Austria will be played on Boxing Day, starting at 19.30 Swedish time.
Was? Scotiabank Centre, Halifax
The division of the group
Group A – play their games in Halifax
Sweden, Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, Canada
Group B – play their games in Moncton
Finland, USA, Switzerland, Slovakia, Latvia
Sweden training matches
Ahead of the JVM, the Junior Crowns have had two practice matches since arriving in Canada eleven days ago. Against the USA it was a big loss as the USA won 5-1. Sweden’s only goal was scored by Fabian Lysell, to equalize at 1–1.
In the second match where Sweden met Switzerland, it was more balanced. After three periods the score was 3–3 after Fabian Lysell scored the goal to make it 3–3.
In extra time, however, Switzerland was able to decide and win 4–3.
The medals in the JVM 2022
The previous JVM tournament was canceled due to several teams having covid-19 positive players, including Sweden. Instead, it was moved up to August of this year.
The home nation Canada won the JVM Final against Finland after deciding in extra time.
Sweden won the bronze medal after winning against the Czech Republic in the bronze medal match.
JVM noobs
Austria will have to do without their biggest star Marco Kasper in the Junior World Cup.
The 18-year-old forward finished eighth in the NHL draft and subsequently signed a contract with Detroit. However, he is on loan at Rögle, where he has joined for the 20/21 season. Already in the same season he made his debut in the SHL.
Kasper has played two JVMs for Austria, but it won’t be the third time since the teenager has decided to turn it down.
– It’s clearly not an easy decision to make. I like playing for Austria, but I also want to help Rögle and develop, he said Marco Kasper at Expressen when the decision became public.
New captain of the national team
It’s not just the Junior crowns that have a new national team captain – Tomas Montén has been replaced by Magnus Hävelid – the Austria stand also has a new captain.
In September, Kirk Furey was unveiled as the new national team captain after Marco Pewal. Canadian Furey moved to Austria 15 years ago and has been a coach since he ended his hockey career seven years ago.
Lower divisions
The history of the Austrian JVM mainly consists of lower division games. When they moved up to group A ahead of JVM 2021, it had been eleven years since they last played in the top division.
In 2010 they went out straight away, but due to the coronavirus pandemic no team was relegated during the last two JVM tournaments. Austria is therefore included in Group A for the third JVM in a row. In the last two championships there have been defeats.
The question is whether the first victory can come in the team’s third consecutive championship.
Telecast
The first match of the junior crowns is shown on SVT2.
Other games on opening day:
26/12 17.00 Finland-Switzerland, the match is played in Moncton.
26/12 22.00 Latvia-USA, the match is played in Moncton.
27/12 00.30 Czech Republic–Canada, the match is played in Halifax
