The Swedish Under 18 Ice Hockey team ended the World Championships at home in style – by beating Russia to take gold in front of over 5,600 spectators in the Fjällräven Center in Örnsköldsvik.
The match, which was watched by hundreds of thousands more viewers on TV, gave viewers a glimpse of players which could form the backbone of the Swedish Ice Hockey team to play in the Winter Olympics in 2026.
After the victory, the team was praised by, among others, Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Löfven who congratulated the gold-winning heroes both on the ice - where he distributed the medals - and down in the dressing room afterwards.
The team consists of players born between 2001 and 2002, who are currently 16 to 18 years old. By the team the 2026 Olympic Games come around they’ll be in the peak of their careers – and hopefully playing on the world’s biggest stage in front of a home crowd at Stockholm Åre 2026.
The game itself, which finished 4-3 in Sweden’s favour, was a thrilling encounter settled by star Lucas Raymond’s third goal of the evening.
It was a historic gold for Sweden, a nation that had never before won a World Cup gold with an U18 national team. Perhaps it was the beginning of an exciting journey for Sweden’s stars of the future who are dreaming of experience an Olympics at home in Stockholm Åre 2026.
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