SWE: Ending Swedish Drought

After a ten-year long medal drought at the WJC level, the Swedish U20's team start's off their season this week by playing four games against the United States. The Swedish coach Torgny Bendelin provides his thoughts about the trip and the upcoming season.

In what is a first stop in the preparation for this year's WJC tournament on Swedish home ice in Leksand and Mora, Bendelin's young guns travel overseas to the old Olympic venue Lake Placid for taking on the 40 top US born junior players, divided into two teams – USA Blue and USA White.

"It's an important part of our preparation for the WJC's, as it provides high level competition and games with lots of intensity and drive", says Bendelin.

"It' also about getting to field test our system, preparing the players mentally for what to expect at these type of games and of course start gelling the group together."

The Swedish team will however miss a few of their presumptive key cogs in Lake Placid, as the New Jersey drafted pivot Alexander Sundstrom cannot seem to stay healthy. This time he is plagued by hip injury. Missing in action is also the highly touted fourh overall pick from this summer's draft, Nicklas Backstrom, who was denied a release from training camp by his SEL club Brynas. Backstrom who obviously will be the Swedish go-to guy when the puck drops in December at the WJC.

"Nicklas is certainly a tremendously gifted player, but we can't go around being a one-man team and I like to believe that we could be competitive without him as well", notes Torgny Bendelin.

Bendelin is however quite certain that the smooth playmaker made the right call turning down the Washington Capitals' eager offers this summer, in order to stay at home and play in the SEL with Brynas.

"He made the right decision. He is getting his feet warm in Brynas now as he has attained a solid role within the team and has a good environment to develop further. This upcoming season is going to be about dealing with the new and higher expectation people are going to put on him, which will be a step big enough in its own for him to handle."

A tough medal hunt ahead

The fact the Sweden have left the last ten WJC tournaments without a medal around their necks, is a dark spot in an otherwise shiny Swedish trophy room, coming off season when capturing the Olympic gold medal as well as the World Championship gold. Home ice advantage or not – Torgny Bendelin is quite clear about the fact that a tough journey is ahead of the Swedish team to break the medal drought this time.

"Obviously we want to improve our position from last year (5th), but it won't be an easy task. We are in the same group as Canada and the US in the preliminary round, so the first objective is of course getting through that stage. It's going to be an enjoyable tournament – but a difficult one."

The Swedish age group available does not lack either talent or depth though, as Bendelin aside from Nicklas Backstrom, could ice a team consisting of high draft picks from the last two drafts such as Nicklas Bergfors, Patrik Berglund, Dennis Persson and Jhonas Enroth, to drop a few names. One could also expect SEL regulars such as Robin Lindqvist, Patric Hornqvist and Alexander Ribbenstrand to round out the roster.

"I think we have a talented crop of players available. Just like last year, the final roster for the WJC will be decided after a 30 men training camp, to ensure that we bring in players who are hot at the moment and in great shape for the tournament", Bendelin explains.

On a long-term positive note, Bendelin notes that Swedish junior players attitude towards training and the game itself, has improved constantly during his four seasons as coach of the national tram.

"I think the SEL clubs are more competent in dealing with young talent today. They take care of the players in a better way and do not let them rotten on the bench after on bad play. But fundamentally, the attitude of the players is the most important factor for long term success and that as also gotten a lot better the last three or four years."

Whether or not the improvement in youth development and the improved attitude among the players are enough for Bendelin's team to capture a medal this time at the WJC's, remains to be seen.