The World Junior Championships are officially underway, with Sweden and Slovakia kicking off the action this afternoon.
A matchup that many expected to be dominated by a loaded Swedish roster was anything but.
A highly competitive and physical game, the Slovaks refused to back down to the Swedes, with NY Islanders prospect and 16th overall pick from this past summer's draft, Victor Eklund, playing a significant role in the Swedes coming out on top.
Eklund excels in first game of WJC
Early in the first period, Eklund sprung his national team and SHL teammate with Djurgården, Anton Frondell (Chicago Blackhawks), on a breakaway, but as Frondell beat the goaltender, the puck rang off the pipe.