Axel Jonsson-Fjällby, the Washington Capitals’ 147th overall pick in the 2016 NHL draft, made Sweden’s U-20 2017 World Junior Championship team. He is one of two Caps prospects this year to receive the honor – Tobias Geisser of Switzerland is the other.
Tuesday, Fjällby played in the team’s first game of the tournament – a dominant 6-1 over Belarus.
In 12:48 of ice time, the Caps prospect led Sweden in shots (5), but it was Fjällby’s big hit on Belarus defenseman Vladislav Martynyuk that got him on the highlight reel.
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Fjällby nailed the five-foot ten-inch Martynyuk in the chest as the defenseman tried to control a dump-in. The bodycheck occurred four minutes and thirty-six seconds into the game.
The crowd can be heard letting out a collective OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH immediately after the hit was delivered.
Belarus only managed to get nine shots on goal during the 60 minutes of game play – five of which were from Yegor Sharangovich. Sharangovich scored Belarus’s lone goal.
This year, Sweden is seeking a medal after three straight fourth-place finishes.
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Photos: Andrea Cardin/HHOF-IIHF Images
