Sweden Dominates Women’s Ice Hockey at Milan Cortina Games
At the Milan Cortina Games on Sunday, Sweden continued to dominate in women’s ice hockey, securing a decisive 4-0 victory over France. This win places Sweden one step closer to claiming the top spot in Group B of the Olympic tournament.
Standout Performers
The standout performer was Thea Johansson, who netted her fourth goal of the tournament, leading all players in scoring. Joining her on the score sheet were teammates Sara Hjalmarsson, Hanna Thuvik, and Lisa Johansson.
Emma Soderberg made her Olympic debut in goal and turned away 14 shots, achieving her first shutout across six Olympic appearances. Following this win, Sweden remains undefeated with a record of three victories, setting their sights on securing a first-place finish and a favorable matchup in the quarterfinals against the third-ranked team from Group A, contingent on Japan’s results.
France’s Struggles
In contrast, France’s Olympic debut has been challenging, as they fell to 0-3 and face the risk of missing out on the quarterfinals, with only the best three out of five teams in Group B advancing. The Swedes overwhelmed France in shots on goal, with a remarkable 49-14 advantage, while French goalie Alice Philbert made an impressive 45 saves.
Rivalry and Young Talent
Additionally, the day’s other action saw a rivalry rekindled in the Group A contest between Finland and Czechia.
Sweden’s squad features a promising mix of youth and experience, highlighted by eight players aged 22 and under. Among them is Hilda Svensson from Ohio State, who has shown impressive form, ranking seventh nationally with 44 points (15 goals, 29 assists) through 26 games. Svensson added two assists against France, accumulating four total points in the tournament.
Historical Context and Future Aspirations
Historically, Sweden’s women’s hockey team has had high aspirations, particularly after their silver medal achievement in the 2006 Turin Olympics, marking the only other success besides Canada and the U.S. in Olympic medal history. Following a disappointing stretch where they have not finished better than seventh in the last two Olympic competitions, Coach Ulf Lundberg expressed optimism about the team’s growth and future potential.
“It’s time for us now. I think we are in a good place and we have been developing these past six years,”
he remarked, looking forward to building on their current success.
