Defending Champion Sweden opens its 2013 World Junior Championships campaign against a rising Czech Republic side on Wednesday.
The champions had a solid group stage a year ago, which saw them pick up 10 over a possible 12 points through four matches. The team scored 26 goals throughout the group stage and picked up first place by defeating Russia in overtime 4-3. In the knockout stages the team dispatched Finland 3-2 and then obtained a dramatic 1-0 win over Russia in the final to secure its second title.
This year's roster features a tremendous amount of talent that includes Filip Forsberg, Elias Lindholm, Niklas Lundstrom, and Oscar Dansk. Sweden is expected to win Group A with facility and is looked upon as having a tremendous chance at repeating as champions. A great deal of the pressure will fall on Filip Forsberg, who was tremendous in last year's tournament and was a highly touted prospect heading into the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Many expected that he could go as high as second or third overall, but he fell to 11th where he was selected by the Washington Capitals. He must lead this team to victory if they are to have a shot at reclaiming their title.
In the preliminary matches the team lost in overtime to the United States and the lost 2-1 in the shootout to Canada.
The Czech Republic will prove a good indication of where this Swedish team really is. Last year the Czechs won two matches and lost two in the group stage to earn a berth in the quarter finals. Russia defeated them 2-1 to end their tournament hopes, but this year's squad includes a plethora of talent that includes Martin Frk, Radek Faska, Tomas Hertl, and David Musil. This team will make noise in Group A and should give Sweden a tough test on Wednesday morning.
Prediciton: It could be a close match, but Sweden should come out on top 4-2.
Start Time: 7 AM EST