World Juniors: Swedes Top Russia in Shootout; Win Pool B

Published on 31-Dec-2017 by J Square Humboldt

NHL    NHL Daily Update

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World Juniors: Swedes Top Russia in Shootout; Win Pool B

Traditional international hockey rivalries are fairly obvious:

Invasions will do that to a nation. Among other things, it's why Jaromír Jágr's jersey number is 68.

There was another invasion roughly 1200 years ago that still harbors hard feelings.

That's when Vikings traveled the Eastern European river systems and the seas into which they flowed. The locals called them the Rus, their word for rowing men.

It's where the name Russia originated. In fact, the first czar was a Swedish Viking named Rurik.

But the Soviet years saw many of this history altered to contend that the Northmen were merely pirates, that Rurik was a myth, and that all czars were Russian.

Naturally, Swedes are proud of their history, and they didn't take kindly to the propaganda.

Most hockey players aren't historians, but bedtime stories and school lessons do leave an impression. It's one reason why the Tre Kronor -- Three Crowns -- take particular pleasure in beating Russia.

At the 2018 World Juniors in Buffalo, with first place in Pool B and a top seed on the line, Sweden did it again. They outlasted Russia, 4-3, in a match that went to a shootout:

 

For hockey fans not as steeped in century-spanning grudge matches, this game featured Swedish defenseman Rasmus Dahlin in all his glory.

If anyone doubted the virtually unanimous assessment that he's this spring's top choice in the NHL draft, odds are they don't anymore:

Dahlin will now lead Sweden into bracket play, where their first one-&-done opponent will be lightly-regarded Slovakia.

As a result of their falling to third place in Pool B, Russia gets the USA.

In 2018, that could be just as daunting for them than shiploads of rowing men.