The Swedish World Junior Championship team has been hit hard by the coronavirus, and two positive tests by members of their front office mean that the Swedish team, in quarantine in Edmonton, presently, won’t be able to get in an exhibition game until December 24th.
As the Swedes await the “OK” from the IIHF health authorities, Red Wings prospect Lucas Raymond spoke with Aftonbladet’s Emilie Fredriksson regarding his situation. What follows is roughly translated from Swedish:
“I would be lying if I said it doesn’t affect us”
The Swedish World Junior Championship star longs for [an end to] his isolation
The star Lucas Raymond was the highest-drafted Swede at the NHL draft, and he will take a leading role at the WJC.
How has a week locked up in a hotel room in Edmonton affected him?
“The craving is huge. I haven’t been away from hockey for so long,” says the 18-year-old.
Lucas Raymond, together with Alexander Holtz and William Eklund, were an obvious [first] line for the Tomas Monten’s WJC team.
Eklund (and Monten) have both dropped out due to the coronavirus, but the other two have been sitting in their hotel rooms in Edmonton for a week.
Raymond, drafted 4th overall by Detroit, says he is hungry to get started.
“Not used to sitting inside”
“Almost everyone is not used to sitting in one and the same room for so long, but somehow it’s still worked. We’ve been able to talk, it’s been a lot of Playstation and meetings as well to keep the team together, so we don’t lose what we’re actually here for. Since then, we’ve also been able to have physique and mobility sessions and so on. We’re busy all day. We run everything possible via the computer.”
The team has run two training sessions per day throughout the week, and connects via the computer or phone so everyone can see each other–and the coach.
One workout focuses on strength/fitness and one more on stability and motivation has not been difficult to find in solo training.
“No, because we have each other on the screen, and everyone sees each other. We run a lot of competitions and different exercises on time. So you almost push yourself even harder.”
“Would lie…”
Seven players were released from quarantine on Friday, but otherwise it’s a week out that applies to the others. Raymond clearly believes that the change will affect the team.
“I would be lying if I said that it does not affect us. Of course it affects us in some way. But I think it’s both positive and negative. Many people aren’t used to being away from hockey as long as we’ve been. So I think many will come back with a higher craving and be even hungrier. Now that we’ve made it through this and come together as a team, we’ve got a little us against the world feeling.”
How is your own hunger?
“The craving is huge. I haven’t been away from hockey for so long. It’s the summers…But not even then are you gone for so long, almost.”
The desire for revenge after bronze
Lucas Raymond was already on the last World Junior Champiopnship team, when the team took bronze after losing in the semifinals in overtime. If the craving for ice is great, the craving for gold is even greater.
“I’m really hungry for revenge. Winning the WJC has been a dream since I was little. Now we have the chance with a good team and a good group. Even if conditions are not 100%, it’s the same for everyone else. It will be great fun when the games start,” says Raymond.
As one of the big key players, he wants to take big responsibility on the ice, and just hopes to get better and better during the championship.
“I will take on a leadership role and play as best as I can and contribute in large numbers. I will try to lead with my game both on and off the ice, and hopefully develop as a player, line, and even team.”
But he does not put much pressure on himself, even if all eyes are on him, and the stars of the future during the championship and big games can pay off [for him].
“I don’t think so much about performing for people around me. Our and my only focus is to win the WJC, then if I play good or bad doesn’t matter much. Of course, it’s more fun when I play well. But my only focus is on winning, how it goes, it doesn’t really matter all that much.”
