The World Juniors are less than a week out, and the excitement is already building as two Vancouver Canucks prospects, Sawyer Mynio and Tom Willander, prepare to face off in a much-anticipated Canada vs. Sweden pre-tournament matchup.

This game isn’t just about fine-tuning lineups and systems; it carries a little extra spice.

The last time these two nations met, tensions ran high after a Swedish forward taunted the Canadian bench following a shootout goal at the World Junior Summer Showcase.

Canadian forward Tanner Howe addressed the lingering animosity earlier today, downplaying any plans for revenge but acknowledging that the incident is still fresh in players’ minds:

“It’s definitely on guys minds. We’re looking to get a little revenge, but we’re not going into the game with that mindset.”

Both Mynio and Willander are entering the tournament as key players for their respective teams, though their roles differ significantly.

Selected 11th overall by the Canucks in 2023, Tom Willander is expected to play a prominent role for Team Sweden. The smooth-skating defender is a returning player, having helped his team to a silver medal at last year’s tournament.

Willander’s ability to dominate defensively while contributing offensively makes him a key piece on the blue line. He’s slated for heavy minutes in all situations and will likely serve as the team’s shutdown presence against Canada’s potent forward group.

Saturday’s game will mark Willander’s first competitive outing with Sweden since joining their camp, and all eyes will be on him to see how he handles the high-pressure test. He’s expected to slot in on the team’s second pair.

For Sawyer Mynio, this year’s tournament is a new chapter. The Canucks’ 2023 third-round pick earned his first Team Canada selection following an impressive post-draft WHL career with the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds, where he has since been named captain.

Mynio made his pre-tournament debut in Canada’s dominant 7-1 win over Switzerland, but he skated on the fourth pairing during Friday’s practice. Canada has been rotating its defensive lineup, so it looks like he may slide out of the lineup for Saturday’s match,

Both teams are still experimenting with lineups, but this game will provide an early look at how the two nations stack up against elite competition.

The game starts at 4:00 PM Pacific Time and will be broadcast live on TSN.