International Ice Hockey Federation

Sweden’s women’s team

Sweden’s women’s team

Olympic team chock full of experience

Published 15.08.2018 16:17 GMT+11 | Author Andrew Podnieks
Sweden’s women’s team
Pernilla Winberg (right, during a face-off against Switzerland’s Anja Stiefel) will play her fourth Olympic Winter Games. Photo: Matt Zambonin / HHOF-IIHF Images
The Swedish Ice Hockey Association has announced its list of 23 players who will represent Sweden in women’s ice hockey at the Olympics next month.

It is a roster heavy on experience. Indeed, only two skaters and one goalie did not play at the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship in Plymouth, United States.

Coach Leif Boork will be behind the bench for his fourth major event. He took over in 2015 and PyeongChang will complete his Olympic cycle. All players are playing in the Swedish league this year.

MODO Ornskoldsvik and AIK Stockholm lead the way, providing the team with five players each. Brynas and Lulea have three each, while Linkoping, Djurgarden Stockholm, and Leksand all have two. One player comes from HV71.

The roster has many new faces from the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, but one binding affiliation is that most of these women played at their 2008 and/or 2009 Women’s U18 event. In other words, their roots in the Swedish program run deep.

In goal, the number-one slot will go to Sara Grahn. The 29-year-old is in her third Olympics and has also played in nine Women’s Worlds. She has been the heir to Kim Martin. Behind her will be Sarah Berglind, the third goalie last year, and Minatsu Murase, who played at the 2013 WW18 and not since in IIHF play.

On defence, Boork made just one change. Out is Anna Kjellbin and in is Emmy Alasalmi. The 24-year-old Alasalmi has only one WW on her resume, that back in 2015. The coach will rely most heavily on 29-year-old Emilia Ramboldt, who has been with the national team since 2007 and is in her third Olympics.

Johanna Fallman, who has played in six WW events but is making her Olympics debut. Annie Svedin also is an Olympics rookie after five WW appearances. Johanna Olofsson is making her second Olympics appearance.

Then there are the younger players. Elin Lundberg has only the 2016 Women’s Worlds to her international credit and Maja Nylen-Persson, born in 2000, is only 17.

Up front, there is also but one change. Michelle Lowenhielm of the University of Minnesota-Duluth is on the outside while Rebecca Stenberg, who hasn’t played since the 2012 Women’s Worlds, is in.

Pernilla Winberg is the most experienced player. She has appeared in every women’s tournament since 2004 and is still only 28 years old.

Right behind her is Erica Uden Johansson, the 28-year-old who has played at the last two Olympics as well as five Women’s Worlds. Emma Nordin is also in this class, a player in her mid-twenties with plenty of international experience.

Sara Hjalmarsson is part of the young guard with some experience. After playing in three WW18 events, she made her senor debut last year and will turn 20 just before the start of the games.

Sabina Kuller, who played as Lambetz-Kuller the last three WW’s, is also at 23 a veteran.

Lisa Johansson, Erika Grahm, and Fanny Rask are three players from the 2008-09 group of U18 players on the team as is Anna Borgqvist.

Maria Lindh and Fanny Rask are two of the few players from the 2014 Olympic team.

At 19, Hanna Olsson is the baby of the forwards, but she has tons of experience, including a record four WW18’s and three senior Women’s Worlds. A great skater with offensive skills, she will be a key member of the team’s success up front.

Twenty-two-year-old Olivia Carlsson is a rare success story who went right from WW18 to WW. She rounds out what Boork hopes will be a medal-quality roster.

Swedish women’s national team

Goaltenders
Sarah Berglind, MODO Ornskoldsvik
Sara Grahn, Brynas Gavle
Minatsu Murase, AIK Stockholm

Defence
Emmy Alasalmi, AIK Stockholm
Johanna Fallman, Lulea HF
Elin Lundberg, Leksands IF
Maja Nylen-Persson, Leksands IF
Johanna Olofsson, MODO Ornskoldsvik
Emilia Ramboldt, Linkoping HC
Annie Svedin, MODO Ornskoldsvik

Forward
Anna Borgqvist, Brynas Gavle
Olivia Carlsson, MODO Ornskoldsvik
Erika Grahm, MODO Ornskoldsvik
Sara Hjalmarsson, AIK Stockholm
Lisa Johansson, AIK Stockholm
Sabina Kuller, AIK Stockholm
Maria Lindh, Djurgarden Stockholm
Emma Nordin, Lulea HF
Hanna Olsson, Djurgarden Stockholm
Fanny Rask, HV71 Jonkoping
Rebecca Stenberg, Lulea HF
Erica Uden Johansson, Brynas Gavle
Pernilla Winberg, Linkoping HC

Head Coach:
Leif Boork

 

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