D-Camp Notebook: Jansson ready to keep building after big World Juniors

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. - Ludvig Jansson views his past season in two segments.

The split between the two came right around the time the calendar flipped from 2022 to 2023 when he was suiting up for Sweden at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship in Nova Scotia.

Prior to the tournament, Jansson, a fourth-round pick of the Panthers in 2022, felt he'd fallen into sort of a rut while manning the blue line for Södertälje SK in HockeyAllsvenskan. But from the moment he arrived in Canada, he seemed to find a new gear and his game really took off.

Helping Sweden reach the bronze-medal game, Jansson finished tied for first among defensemen in scoring at the World Juniors with 10 points (four goals, six assists).

Earning a spot on the tournament's All-Star Team, his best game came when he scored twice -- including the deciding strike in overtime -- in a 3-2 win over Czechia in the preliminary round.

"I wouldn't say hard times, but I had a little dip in my season before that," Jansson said of his breakout performance on the big stage. "It came at the right time. I gained a lot of confidence from that, to show everyone that I can really play my hockey at the highest level and perform."

That confidence has been evident during this week's development camp as well.

Back for his second summer in South Florida, Jansson said he's feeling far more comfortable than his first go around after being drafted. He knows the facilities, the coaches and many of his fellow prospects. During drills, he's a player that other defenseman can look to for some help.

"I couldn't think of a better place than Florida," the 19-year-old said of camp.

Looking ahead to the 2023-24 season, Jansson will transition back from teacher to student when he makes the jump to Sweden's top league, the SHL. After playing three seasons in HockeyAllsvenskan, he'll be lacing up his skates with and against grown men in Luleå HF.

Ready to take the next step, he's looking forward to the challenge.

"I have the belief that I can play my own style and get into playing with the big guys now," Jansson said. "Just a lot of fun. I'm going to do my own thing and learn from everyone on the team. We've got a pretty stacked team. Going to enjoy the time there and we'll see what happens."

Jansson is also eligible to play for Sweden again at the 2024 World Juniors.

VILMANIS MAKES STRIDES

Sandis Vilmanis said he felt like a star at times this past season in the WHL.

"They know you on the streets even if you're just a junior player," he smiled. "It's crazy."

After several seasons in Sweden, the 19-year-old Latvian entered this week's camp on the heels of a very successful first season in North America playing for the Sarnia Sting. Ranking fourth on the team in goals (20) and sixth in points (45), he also notched seven points in the playoffs.

"The rink is smaller," Vilmanis said when asked about adjusting to a new style of game. "It's a little bit tougher in the small-area plays and with the stick plays. It's a more physical game."

Like Jansson, he also had a strong showing at the 2023 World Juniors.

Recording a goal and an assist in six games at the tournament, Vilmanis helped Latvia stave off relegation by defeating Austria in a best-of-three relegation series. In the series-clinching game, he found the back of the net when he finished off a sweet give-and-go to put Latvia on top 4-0.

"We expected more, but still we didn't get relegated," Vilmanis said. "That's a good thing. We're just going to take the good things from the last tournament into the next one, not the mistakes."

With Latvia taking home bronze at the 2023 IIHF World Championship in May -- the first-ever IIHF medial for the small country -- Vilmanis is proud to be part of a hockey nation on the rise.

"It's obviously growing," Vilmanis said. "We're doing better with every year."

In addition to being eligible to compete for Latvia again at the 2024 World Juniors, Vilmanis said he'd love to play for the team at the next World Championship as well. Also set for his second stint in Sarnia, he's more focused on helping the Sting win games than anything else.

"Just work hard and try to help my team to win," Vilmanis said of his goals for 2023-24.