WJC: Respecting the Champs

Despite recent success Swedish winger Fredrik Pettersson has a healthy respect for Team Canada for the upcoming World Junior Championships in Sweden. Pettersson scored the game winning goal in Friday night's dress rehearsal game against the Canadians, but is convinced that the Canadian team have got more aces up their sleeves.

Fredrik Pettersson's Calgary Hitmen team-mate, defenseman Karl Alzner, gave Canada an early lead in the pre-tournament game and not before long; Sam Gagner doubled it, making Canada two goals up after the first period. Eventually, the Swedes would find a way to respond though.

"We took too many stupid penalties early on and that cost us quite a bit", said Pettersson after the game.

Playing his second season of junior hockey in Canada, the smallish and energetic winger admits that it is a special experience facing off against Canada.

"It is a bit different but a good experience to play against the guys you see every night back in Canada, but this time it's in our home".

Although Jonas Ahnelov and Patrik Berglund went on to have a goal each, having tied up the game at 2-2 in the third period when Fredrik Pettersson was able to put home the game winning goal against fellow WHL'er Leland Irving.

"I got the puck on the right wing and I didn't really get a good shot off, but somehow it found its way in between his pads", Pettersson said in reference his goal.

Still, although happy about the goal and the win, Pettersson kept his feet firmly down on the ground after the game. He is well aware of the fact that tune-up games could be one thing and the real deal something very different.

"I think we played a good game, although we must be ready right away in the opening game against these guys"

"Because I think, no, I know that they will play a lot better then. So it's still going to be a really tough game for us".

With playing against Canada both in the opening game of the tournament on Boxing Day and in the final exhibition game, looks as a bit of an odd schedule planning, although Fredrik Pettersson sees it as beneficial for the Swedes.

"I believe this is a good thing for us. Playing them now gives us a good taste of how the actual tournament is going to be in terms of the pace and the quality of the games".

Speaking of pace, that is something that Fredrik Pettersson rarely is in a short supply of. Playing alongside Patrik Zackrisson and New Jersey draftee Alexander Sundstrom, Pettersson's speed constantly caused trouble for the Canadian defensive corps.

"I played an okay game I'd guess", was his own humble judgement of his performance.

When most of the Swedish media were busy chasing either Nicklas Backstrom or Nicklas Bergfors for quotes after the game, the largely unknown Pettersson could prepare for his shower in solitude. But if he keeps scoring the game winning goals when the actual tournament begins, expect that to change.