Canada expects tough quarterfinal following Swiss coach remarks

Canada knows its quarterfinal against Switzerland won't be a walk in the park.

But that's certainly not the consensus, and Swiss coach Christian Wohlwend can be counted among those who foresee a lopsided score in Tuesday's affair.

"They are faster, they are bigger, they are stronger, they can shoot better, they can pass better," Wohlwend said Sunday. "What do you want me to say? How many first-rounders do they have? ... We have one in the fourth round. One. And the rest are not drafted."

While it may seem like a weird way for Wohlwend to inspire his group, his comments were just as dumbfounding to the opposing Canadian squad.

"I didn't know what to think of it at the start," said Team Canada captain Dillon Dube, as per The Canadian Press. "I watched it a couple of times, laughing a little bit. To be honest, I think everybody did ... I think that might have been some reverse psychology or something like that."

Sam Steel, an Anaheim Ducks prospect, echoed the captain's comments.

"I don’t know if he's trying to play mind games or something," Steel said. "It's funny, but we have to go in there with the same attitude we would with any other team."

Canada and Switzerland did not face off in round-robin action, but the two sides connected in a pre-tournament game where Canada won 8-1, all while outpacing Switzerland 61-7 on the shot clock.

Switzerland has lost all 21 of its previous matchups against Canada at the world juniors.