LATEST | Willander revealed what drove the Swedes in their win against the Canadians

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Cooper Godin
December 30, 2023 (12:46)

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Vancouver Canucks fans are blessed to have a trio of prospects playing for their country at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship, those being Tom Willander, Jonathan Lekkerimaki and Elias Pettersson, all of whom are with Sweden.

The trio took on Team Canada on Friday in Gothenburg in-front of a packed house at Scandinavium full of Swedish and Canadian fans.

Tom Willander played the role of hero, scoring the game's first goal, which stood as the game winner as Sweden defeated Canada by a score of 2-0, which sees them sit first in Group A with three wins in three games, while not allowing any goals.

After the game, Willander spoke with reporters and was full of praise for the crowd and that it fueled them in their win over Canada.

"So much fun. I think, to be honest, the Canadian fans did a good job, they weren't as many, but they were loud. I think just the aura in the building is fantastic."

Willander's goal on Friday was his first point of the tournament so far, but he's played quite well on the defensive side of the puck, as have the entire Swedish D-core, which has led them to not allowing any goals in their first three games of the tournament.

With Sweden having wrapped up top spot in Group A, regardless of the result in their game on Sunday against Finland, they'll face either Switzerland or Norway in the quarter-finals on January 3rd at 10:30 a.m. ET/1 p.m. ET.

Do you think Lekkerimaki, Willander and Pettersson will win gold with Sweden? Let us know what you think in the poll below!