In the IIHF World Junior Championship, Sweden’s survival was guaranteed when Axel Sandin Pellikka, a prospect for the Detroit Red Wings, made a point shot that damaged the Swiss net’s twine.
Sandin Pellikka was wondering a few moments later if he would live to breathe again. I was ecstatic. Sandin Pellikka expressed his want to yell and embrace the boys to the Swedish publication Expressen.se.
Exercise caution when making wishes. Shortly after netting Sweden’s overtime winner in Tuesday’s 3-2 WJC quarterfinal triumph against Switzerland, Sandin Pellikka unexpectedly found himself at the bottom of a heap of Three Crowns teammates wearing yellow and blue uniforms.
“It went from pure panic to joy,” Sandin Pellikka remarked. I told the boys to get off since I was having trouble breathing. But fear not—I made it through.
Thursday in Gothenburg will see Sweden play Czechia in the semifinals. Since 2012, the Swedes are vying for their first global junior championship. The other semifinal match is Finland against the USA, which includes Red Wings prospect Trey Augustine (41st overall, 2023 NHL entry draft).
Hockey fans attending the event are giving Sandin Pellikka high marks for his overall effort at the tournament, even though his 1-2-3 statistics through six WJC games don’t particularly stand out. It’s an extension of the defenseman’s breakout season, which is underway after Detroit selected him 17th overall in the 2023 NHL entry selection.
Sandin Pellikka, 18, of Skelleftea, leads the league in goals scored by a defenseman with nine. More than any other defender in the league, he has at least three goals to his credit.
The other Red Wings prospect guarding the rearguard for the Swedes is providing a physical presence for the team, even though Sandin Pellikka is recognized for his offensive touch. In the competition, Anton Johansson (105th, 2022) has delivered several brutal strikes. Johansson and the Canadian bench got into a verbal altercation after one of his hard bodychecks during Sweden’s 2-0 victory over Canada.
