Roster
Forwards: Josefin Bouveng, Nicole Hall, Mira Hallin, Ebba Hedqvist, Sara Hjalmarsson, Lisa Johansson, Thea Johansson, Lina Ljungblom, Michelle Löwenhielm, Sofie Lundin, Wilma Sundin, Tilde Sundnäs Grillfors, Hilda Svensson, Hanna Thuvik
Defenders: Lova Blom, Josefine Holmgren, Mira Jungåker, Ida Karlsson, Anna Kjellbin, Maja Nylén Persson, Jenna Raunio
Goaltenders: Ida Boman, Emma Söderberg, Ebba Svensson Träff
Immediate analysis
Six names that weren’t on the 2026 Olympic roster are on their way to Worlds. 2022 Olympian Boman took advantage of an injury to up-and-comer Felicia Frank and the struggles of incumbent Tindra Holm to reclaim her spot in Sweden’s crease. Holmgren, meanwhile, was previously a mainstay on the blue line dating all the way back to the Sochi Games, but had been absent from international play since the 2023 World Championships. She’s back in the fold after a strong season-plus with SDE HF, but she isn’t the only former national team staple rejoining the team. Löwenhielm returns for her first major tournament with the national team since the Beijing Games, where she donned the ‘C’ for Damkronorna.
“[Löwenhielm’s] a great teammate and brings a lot of energy to the room,” current Sweden captain Anna Kjellbin told The Ice Garden. “She’s great both on and off the ice, so I’m excited to play another World Championships together with her.”
Joining the above are three players from the SDHL’s top team, Brynäs IF. Sundnäs Grillfors is the youngest player on the roster, having just turned 18 in July, but she’s been filling up her resume at a breakneck pace. The Ohio State commit led Sweden in scoring at the U18s, scored in Brynäs’ championship clincher, and dropped a hat trick in her senior team debut in Lahti last month. Blom carves out a spot on defense on the back of an electric start in Gävle, while Sundin returns following a heartbreaking leg injury that held her off the Olympic team. She hasn’t missed a beat in her comeback, notching 5 goals in her first nine games this season.
Maintaining momentum
As heartbreaking as the Swedes’ bronze-medal loss in Milan was, it was incredible progress for a once-tumultuous national program that hadn’t seen a result like it in over a decade. They’ve got momentum on their side heading into November’s tournament, and they’re staring at an incredible opportunity to build upon it. Not only are a number of Sweden’s most important pieces at the top of their game right now, their closest competition can’t exactly say the same. Switzerland’s roster is in relative shambles, while Czechia’s offense has mightily struggled to begin the Brian Idalski era. Finland, as always, will prove a formidable foe, but this is Sweden’s clearest path to the podium in a long, long time, and they proved it by shutting out all three other nations during last week’s Euro Hockey Tour set in Södertälje.
Player to watch
On the subject of players at the top of their game: Mira Hallin. The 20-year-old forward for MoDo Hockey leads the SDHL in goals and led in points until Noora Tulus overtook her on the last day before the international break. She’s also the clear-cut MVP frontrunner, as with linemates Viivi Vainikka and Sara Stewart off to PWHL training camps, Hallin accounts for 45% of the total points on the post-WWC MoDo roster and 54% of the total goals. The confidence Hallin is playing with alone will give a shot in the arm to whichever line she’s on, whether it be her typical third-line role with the national team or something higher.
Group stage schedule
- Nov. 6 vs. Canada, 3 PM local (9 AM EST)
- Nov. 8 vs. Finland, 7 PM local (1 PM EST)
- Nov. 10 vs. Denmark, 7 PM local (1 PM EST)
- Nov. 11 vs. Japan, 7 PM local (1 PM EST)
Full schedule available at IIHF.com.
