JVM: This was a Swedish accident

Of: Hans Abrahamsson

Published: January 03, 2021 at 00.11
Updated: January 3, 2021 at 00.44

Failure or failure?

Choose yourself.

I call it a clash against a rather mediocre Finland.

With just 23 seconds to go, Roni Hirvonen scored the winning goal and came after a couple of minutes of pressure in the Swedish part of Finland.

It was significant in every way for the two closing periods.

A cruel ending but also a logical ending.

You can’t blame the, to say the least, shattered preparations and missing players or leaders. Hugo Alnefelt cannot be blamed. Together with Elmer Söderblom, he was the best player in Sweden.

You really can’t blame anything other than too weak an effort in this particular match. Very few were in their prime when it was most needed.

The junior crowns had a semi-final spot in hand, but still managed to give it away. I am the first to congratulate Finland, which does not have any of its best vintages in Edmonton and managed without the big star Kaapo Kakko. But who showed morale and courage when they turned these quarterfinals around after a nightmarish start?

Joel Rönnmark’s team lost everything that was successful in the first 20 minutes. If you ask me, it was completely inexplicable and a team with ambitions to play far in the tournament cannot act.

The simple analysis is that the energy is gone, and that is at least worrisome in a tournament situation where you have to grow.

Or you are afraid of losing and it is at least as sinister. You can lose, but you must not stop daring to play. Then you really have failed.

Video coach saved Sweden

During the last 40 minutes, the Swedish players barely won close matches, with no loose discs. The successful balance between the board game or advance and the check faded and Finland was able, especially in the intervening period, to outperform five Swedish players who repeatedly miscounted.

Powerplay was lousy. He sucked in energy instead of giving in.

Hugo Alnefelt and Jason Pietrzykowski made sure that Finland couldn’t take advantage in the intermission period. Yes, Edmonton Oilers video coach Pietrzykowski stepped in and organized a successful coach challenge, ensuring that Finland’s tie was ruled out.

But it was Finland, Finland and Finland.

Immediately after, Finland had a shot off the crossbar and then Alnefelt made a cruel save in the final minutes of halftime.

But it started well anyway.

Initially, the Nordic quarterfinals were more about tactical dealings than individual skill and solving situations as they arrived on the ice.

In the first period, Sweden won by knockout.

It is true that almost ten minutes passed before the first Swedish shot came, but it was controlled and structured.

The west coast became the best coast

Sweden’s most skilled players shone.

The west coast proved to be at its best.

The west coast became the best coast. Gothenburg has raised both Elmer Söderblom and Lucas Raymond.

Raymond’s good look before 1-0 was magical.

Clinically completed.

And then Elmer Söderblom after that.

Or Mailman, as his family baptized him when he was young because he always gave birth.

Now Hovås-Elmer repeated his magic goal in the opening match against the Czech Republic.

When team management has been seriously weakened, the Junior Crowns have had the luxury of having two video coaches in place. Todd Woodcroft and Jason Pietrzykowski, as well as regular Adam Almqvist Andersson at home.

They had certainly worked before the quarterfinals.

Out in the quarterfinals for the second time in three years

The junior crowns knew how Finland wants to play boxplay, powerplay, and how they want to go on their plays (Sweden effectively blocked their left side).

It was a completely perfect period from a tactical point of view; Furthermore, there was a class difference both individually and as a team.

Still, the Junior Crowns let this get out of hand and it’s what hurts the most.

The dividend that Finland did not receive in the interim period occurred instead in the third period.

It was really waiting for the draw and even in the final stage it was Finland who dared the most and then the winning goal came.

Now the tournament is over and for the second time in three years, the Junior Crowns are already in the quarterfinals. Once again, we have witnessed a tournament in which Sweden is slightly behind the best nations in the world.

Published: January 03, 2021 at 00.11

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