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World Juniors: Sweden outlasts Canucks’ Sansonnens and Switzerland
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Photo credit: Steven Ellis/The Nation Network
Dave Hall
Dec 29, 2025, 09:00 ESTUpdated: Dec 29, 2025, 01:45 EST
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The 2026 World Junior Championship has been a mixed bag from a Vancouver Canucks perspective.
Despite dressing in two games, Braeden Cootes has seen minimal usage for Team Canada. Meanwhile, Sweden’s Wilson Björck has yet to make his tournament debut, remaining the odd man out on Sunday and through their first pair of games.
The bright spot continues to be Basile Sansonnens. The Swiss defender followed up a strong tournament opener by remaining a fixture on Switzerland’s second pairing in Sunday’s game against Sweden.

Sweden 4, Switzerland 2

It didn’t take long for the favourites to open the scoring. Off a strong zone entry from Leo Sahlin Wallenius, the puck found its way to Eric Nilsson, who slipped behind coverage (behind Sansonnens) and finished with a clever move off the post and in.
Switzerland responded later in the period, capitalizing on a fourth-line shift. Beni Waidacher collected the puck in the circle and snapped an unexpected shot that beat the Swedish netminder cleanly to even the score.
That 1–1 tie held until late in the middle frame, when the Swiss stunned Sweden with a go-ahead goal. Draft-eligible forward Lars Steiner picked up the puck at the top of the circles and unloaded a pinpoint shot under the bar. The shot was so perfect that it required a lengthy review before officials confirmed the puck had tucked under the bar.
The lead, however, was short-lived.
Just 53 seconds into the third period, Sweden capitalized on the power play. Viggo Björck cut into the middle and wired a shot past the goaltender to tie the game, scoring his first goal of the tournament.
Sweden regained the lead just before the midway point of the period after a costly Swiss turnover in the slot. Lucas Pettersson found the loose puck and beat the goaltender far side to make it 3–2.
Pettersson sealed the result late, depositing an empty-net goal to secure a 4–2 victory.
With the win, Sweden improved to 2–0–0–0 and pulled even with the United States atop Group A with six points. Switzerland, now winless through two games, sits near the bottom of the group standings.

What’s next

Sweden returns to action Monday morning with an early matchup against Germany at 10:00 a.m. PT.
Switzerland will enjoy a day off before facing Germany on Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. PT.
Canada also gets back to work Monday evening, taking on Denmark at 5:30 p.m. PT.
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