Sweden started really strong at the IIHF World Junior Championship, winning their first five games. However, they ended up going home without a medal. After the disappointment, Frolunda Gothenburg defenceman Jacob Larsson tried to figure out what went wrong. 

by Leo Runsas

HELSINKI – Sweden was unbeatable in the beginning. They beat Switzerland, the USA, Denmark and Canada in the preliminary round and Slovakia in the quarter-finals. But then the big disappointments came.

“We did really well in the group phase and won all four games. The quarter-final was good but the rest wasn’t that good anymore,” appraised Swedish defenceman Jacob Larsson, who also plays for Frolunda Gothenburg.

As they always are, the Swedes were once again one of the biggest favourites to win the whole tournament. The pressure could be felt easily but Larsson also noted that it is a thing that just has to be handled.

“These tournaments can be hard to handle sometimes but we can't think about that and keep moving while doing the best we can.”

Sweden’s downhill slide started when Finland beat Sweden in a close semi-final game. The result was quite devastating to the team.

“I think we let in some easy goals and made a lot of mistakes. I don’t know what happened in the semi-finals. We had the lead at 1–0 and suddenly Finland scored two goal and had the game,” Larsson pondered.

In the bronze game Sweden faced the USA and didn’t really stand a chance. They were beaten haplessly 8–3 to send the Swedes home medalless. 

“I am really disappointed. That was a really bad game for us. I think that we didn’t get up and play the kind of hockey we can. We made too many mistakes and didn’t score enough goals,” Larsson said of himself and his teammates.

Sweden had some bad luck in the tournament when they lost Skelleftea AIK defenceman Sebastian Aho just before the start of the tournament and William Nylander and Djurgarden Stockholm's Adam Ollas Mattsson during the tournament due to injury. Larsson didn’t hide behind the setbacks.

“Of course the injuries had an impact but we were prepared if something like that would happen. We just tried to play our game and focus on that.”

Now heading back home

Larsson has had a good season so far. He has played 27 SHL games and scored six points. He has also played 10 CHL games where he has two points.

“This has been a good year for me. I have played a lot in Frolunda and scored some goals. It has been very good. Now I was even able to play in the World Junior Championship, and that was great. Now I have to fight for my spot on the team yet again as we have nine defencemen. It is fun to compete against others though.”

He continued, “It is going to be fun to head back home and I’m going to do my best. Both leagues are really fun to play in. The CHL has been a good experience to meet new teams and see different countries. It is also fun to experience different kinds of things.”

The next country that Larsson will experience is Switzerland, where Frolunda begin the CHL Semi-Finals against HC Davos on Tuesday. Larsson is excited about the challenges ahead now, and also has an idea what he needs to do in order to improve himself in the near future.

“I need to improve my overall game, especially my defensive game. I need to get stronger too.”