Canucks keeping their eyes on world junior tourney as finals approach

It’s that time of year again.
The world junior hockey finals are approaching, and some Vancouver Canuck players are getting into betting mode.
“There’s been a few (bets) back and forth,” said Daniel Sedin after the Canucks held an optional morning skate Saturday before their game against the Detroit Red Wings at Rogers Arena.
“But we’ll see. If Sweden ends up playing Canada, it’ll be a lot of fun.”
In other words, the betting action in the Canucks dressing room will pick up considerably if Canada beats the Slovaks in a semifinal Sunday and the Swedes prevail over Russia. Captain Henrik Sedin is known for being quite active on the betting front whenever his native Sweden has a chance to go for junior gold.
“It’s a little bit more for dinners and stuff like that,” said Daniel Sedin of the stakes. “So it’s smaller things.”
But the wagers still hold considerable meaning for some Canucks, especially those, like the Sedins, who have played in past world junior tournaments. Some of the younger players, like rookie centre Bo Horvat, who played for Canada last year, are not up to speed on the traditional wagering.
But Horvat, a close friend of Team Canada winger Max Domi, is actively engaged in the tournament being held in Montreal and Toronto.
“Any time you can represent your country, it’s special and these guys are making Canada really proud right now,” said Horvat, 19.
The Rodney, Ont., native was not granted permission from the Canucks to play in the tournament, because management felt he was needed more with the NHL club, particularly in the face-off circle. Instead, he will have a chance to get in on the betting action in the Vancouver dressing room.
One Canuck has already been stung by his bets against the Canadian squad. Winger Jannik Hansen bet on his homeland of Denmark, which was trounced 8-0 by Canada in a quarter-final game Friday.
“It was pretty funny coming in this morning when (Hansen) was pretty upset, but I was happy for Canada,” said Horvat.
So far, Horvat has stayed on the sidelines, but it sounded like he will soon enter the action.
“I haven’t been a part of any, but I’m sure there are going to be a couple bets going around, especially with finals and semis and stuff like that,” he said.
Backup goaltender Eddie Lack hasn’t entered the fray yet, either, but he is already scouting for opponents.
“If Sweden and Canada go to the finals, I’m sure I’ll get a couple bets going,” said Lack, a 26-year-old Swede. “Zack Kassian is a big bettor, so I’m probably going to go to him. Now that Tommy (Sestito) has gone (to the minors) and U.S.A. is out, I don’t know who else (to bet).”
Horvat perhaps?
“I don’t know. He looks like kind of a cheap guy, so I don’t know if he wants to,” said Lack with a wry grin.
And what will Lack bet?
“I don’t know if I want to put that on the (Internet),” he said, chuckling. “It’ll probably be something fun, like a dinner on the road or something like that.”
Whatever the wager, Lack is looking forward to betting against his Canuck teammates. Bragging rights, in the event of a Swedish victory in the final, hold considerable meaning – along with the potential prize.
“It’s kind of weird, because I never got to play (in the world juniors), myself, but just being in Canada and seeing all the news and watching every day, it’s pretty exciting,” he said. “Obviously, you get dragged into it a little bit, too. It’s a really fun tournament and it’s a lot of fun to watch.”