Sweden defeated Canada in the gold medal game of the 2017 IIHF World Hockey Championship
The season may have ended in disappointment for the Carolina Hurricanes, but four Canes players are feeling a bit better going into this summer. Elias Lindholm, Victor Rask, Joakim Nordstrom, and Eddie Lack helped Team Sweden win gold at the 2017 World Championship. The Swedes beat the Canadians in the shootout.
Sweden came flying out of the gate in this year’s tournament thanks in large part to the player of Lindholm and Rask. The two played on a line centered by Colorado’s Gabriel Landeskog and were dynamite in the group stage. Lindholm even turned into a potent goalscorer for a few games despite having a tough year shooting the puck for Carolina.
Lindholm finished second on the team in scoring with 5 goals, trailing only William Nylander. While Lindholm played finisher, Rask was the supplier, racking up 5 assists and 7 points in 10 games during the tournament.
Carolina Hurricanes
Eddie Lack, who had never played competitive hockey for his country before, played in only one game for Sweden, a group stage game against Latvia. In that contest, Lack shut the door and recorded a shutout. Finally, Joakim Nordstrom was also a key contributor in the bottom 6, scoring a goal and getting two assists in 9 games.
There was another Hurricane on the ice playing for gold. Jeff Skinner was on team Canada and nearly scored a decisive goal, wringing a slapshot off the goal post in the 2nd period. The Canes goalscorer was scorching hot early in the tournament, but cooled off by its end. He ended up with 9 points from 10 games, 4 of which were goals.
Two more Carolina players participated in the tournament as well. Sebastian Aho and his Finland team made it to the medal rounds, but lost the bronze medal to the Russians. Aho was by far Finland’s best player in the tournament, racking up 11 points from 10 games.
Lastly, Noah Hanifin represented the Canes on a incredibly young American team. He, much like the rest of the squad, was inconsistent all tournament. The 20 year old ended his World Championship with only 2 assists, but was a plus 4.
Congratulations to Carolina’s Swedish contingent for bringing back some hardware. Also, a special shout out to goalie Eddie Lack for getting the opportunity to represent his country.
Next: Choosing Between Cam Ward and Eddie Lack
With the tournament’s end, that officially ends the hockey season for all of Carolina’s players. Up next for the Hurricanes is the expansion draft, the entry draft, and free agency. Keep it locked here for more coverage this summer.