When it comes to Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championships, anything less than a gold medal is seen as a disappointment.

There may be some pretty high expectations, but Canada does not have the market in a corner of “win or bust” mentality on worlds.

Barrie Colts forward Oskar Olausson is well aware of that press.

The focus will also be entirely on winning gold for him and his Swedish teammates when the tournament opens on the second day of Christmas in Edmonton and Red Deer.

– Hockey is big in Canada, but here the world juniors are also a big thing, said the 19-year-old, who represented Sweden at last year’s championship. “Everything but gold is unacceptable here. It is the same in Sweden.”

And then Olausson laughs out loud.

“Every year,” he said

In recent times, however, Sweden has not come close to matching those expectations back home. The traditional hockey powerhouse has not won a gold medal since 2012.

They won bronze at the 2020 championships and a silver medal in 2018, but it has been a decade since they were at the top of the junior hockey world.

Olausson knows for the Swedes to have a chance to win the tournament veterans as he himself must play key roles.

The 6-foot, 180-pound winger wants a bigger impact than his first taste of worlds last year when he lost points in four tournament matches.

Olausson, who was a first-round pick (28 in total) in the Colorado Avalanche in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, wants to be someone that Sweden will be able to trust to score goals.

“I hope so,” said Olausson, who turned his head when he scored three goals for Avalanche in the NHL preseason game. “I want to help the team more than I did last year.

“Help them in any way I can on and off the ice. I look forward to it.”

Olausson continued his hot scoring pace with the Colts after being sent off by Avalanche. The talented forward scored seven goals in his first six OHL games.

Although he has cooled somewhat recently with just one goal in his last six games with the Colts before heading to the worlds, Olausson is pleased with his decision to come to Barrie.

It has helped him adapt to the North American style of play.

“It has been good to work hard and play on the small ice,” said the Stockholmer, who has 12 goals and 13 assists for 25 points in 22 games with Barrie. “It’s different hockey on the little ice, so this is new to me, but it has helped my game.”

Olausson admits that he is a little nervous on the way out into the worlds, but says that he is mostly elated. Like most Canadians, he grew up watching the tournament and dreamed of representing his homeland.

“It’s great to play for Sweden,” said Olausson, whose family will be watching him in Sweden. “It’s my homeland and it’s going to be fun.”

“It’s a great atmosphere and I’m looking forward to it,” he added.

Olausson has not forgotten the experience he had in the camp with Avalanche and is still determined to take the step to the NHL.

His ability to walk around or through defenders makes him hard to stop, but it is bringing that consistent night in and out that will take him to the next level.

He grew up admiring the Swede and former NHL star Peter Forsberg and wants to emulate his ability to play with gravel and not be afraid to go somewhere on the ice to get the puck.

“I want to get better that way,” Olausson said of Forsberg’s game. “He’s tough and he’s a guy who can score, so yeah, I try to be like that every day.”

It has been a good year for Olausson. He is drafted into the NHL, shines in camp with Avalanche and has become a key player in a Colts team that wants to survive.

A gold medal with Sweden would put a nice bow on it.

“I’m so grateful to just play hockey and things that have happened, but you always want more,” he said. “I just want to play and have fun out there.” Olausson and Sweden open foreplay against Russia on the second day of Christmas (26 Dec).