The fact that the Tre Kronor men's and women's teams play at the same venue is unusual and usually only happens during the Olympics.
Now it is happening on Swedish soil.
The women's national team plays the home tournament Lidl Hockey Games in Ängelholm while the men's national team plays its first match in the Finland Hockey Games (formerly the Karjala Tournament) in the northwestern Skåne city.
It is even more unusual for siblings to play for the national team at the same time. The most famous sibling pair in recent years is when Tina Enström, Modo, and Tobias Enström, then in Atlanta, each played for their Tre Kronor team in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
“Something you've dreamed of”
The Hedqvist siblings come from Örnsköldsvik, but Isac Hedqvist, who is making his debut in Tre Kronor, plays in Luleå where he broke through last season when the Norrbottenslaget won the Swedish Championship gold medal.
It's going to be really fun. Something you've dreamed about since you were little, says Isac Hedqvist.
Ebba Hedqvist may be the little sister, but Modocentern made her debut in 2023 and has played in three World Cup tournaments. In the World Cup in the Czech Republic this spring, she was the top Swedish scorer with five goals and came second in the scoring league in the entire tournament.
So what is the tip for Isac before his debut?
Just play his game. I think he's done well in the SHL lately and should just continue with what he's done well and not do anything different. Then he should start shooting more, says Ebba and gives a wink as Isac stands next to him.
The family on site
Describe each other as hockey players!
He is very good at winning close games at the rim, comes out with the puck almost every time, and he is very smart in his game and a good skater, says Ebba Hedqvist.
"She's insanely smart, makes the right decisions and is strong in her game. Good at holding the puck and a good scorer too," says Isac Hedqvist about his sister.
With two Hedqvist players in the national team, the rest of the family will come to Ängelholm on Wednesday, father Ola, mother Nina and brother Robin.
When the two national teams are unusually in the same place, there will be joint activities with a team dinner together on Tuesday evening. During the day, a team photo was also taken with the two national teams together.
The fact that the national ice hockey teams officially changed their names to Tre Kronor men's and Tre Kronor women's in August makes the gathering in Ängelholm even more fitting.
"We usually emphasize that the clubs should work across borders and now we get to do it. We want to live as we teach. The players get to meet, there is a little closeness in the hockey family and that you build a tight group," says national team manager Anders Lundberg.
Goran Sundberg/TT
Facts: Tre Kronor's program
TT
Tre Kronor Women plays the home tournament Lidl Hockey Games in Ängelholm while the men play the Finland Hockey Games, where the first match is played in Ängelholm.
Wednesday: Tre Kronor Women–Czech Republic (Ängelholm, 7:00 PM).
Thursday: Tre Kronor Men–Czech Republic (Ängelholm, 7:00 p.m.).
Friday: Tre Kronor Women–Switzerland (Ängelholm, 6:00 PM).
Saturday: Tre Kronor Men–Switzerland (Tampere, 12:00).
Tre Kronor Women–Finland (Ängelholm, 4:00 p.m.).
Sunday: Tre Kronor Men–Finland (Tampere, 4:00 PM).
All matches are shown on SVT.
