It was an injury-hit Tre Kronor that Sam Hallam took over just under four years ago after three Swedish championship gold medals with Växjö from 2015 - 2021.
Sweden had not won a championship title since Rikard Grönborg led the national team to a second consecutive World Cup gold in 2018.
Under Johan Garpenlöv's time, Tre Kronor was only one penalty win away from playing in the 2022 Olympic final (losing in the semifinals to Russia), but the former great player and NHL star never got to experience a medal as the main manager. The year before, Tre Kronor had finished outside the top eight at the World Cup for the first time since 1937 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1985.
Fell towards Norway
If Tre Kronor's World Cup journey had ended on Tuesday in Fribourg, Sam Hallam would have both repeated and worsened that playoff miss and placement, but the victory against Slovakia took Sweden to a quarter-final in Zurich.
The national team found themselves in a precarious position after the historic and disastrous loss to Norway (2 - 3). Fourth place in the group meant the toughest possible opposition in the quarter-finals - the undefeated host nation that has created ice hockey fever throughout Switzerland. The task was overwhelming and the exit was a fact.
It's the second time in a few months that Tre Kronor have struggled in the group stage. In the NHL star-studded Olympic tournament in Milan in February, Sweden missed out on winning the group and a direct place in the quarterfinals due to a goal conceded in a 5-3 win over Slovakia. The goal came with 39 seconds left to play in a numerical deficit after an unnecessary penalty.
Two World Cup bronze medals
Third place meant a round of 16 against Latvia and the next day the Olympic journey was over - the eventual champion USA won the quarter-finals in extra time.
There were two World Cup bronze medals for Tre Kronor under Hallam (2024 and 2025), but it was never really close to a final. Both bronze years were clear losses in the semifinals.
Next season, double World Cup gold medalist coach Rikard Grönborg will be back in the Tre Kronor booth. Hallam will return to the Alpine country - he will now take over the Swiss team Genève-Servette.
Results in the World Cup, Olympics and major national team tournaments for Tre Kronor's five most recent national team captains:
+ Bengt-Åke Gustafsson 2005 - 2010
World Championships 2005: 4th. Olympics 2006: Gold. World Championships 2006: Gold. World Championships 2007: 4th. World Championships 2008: 4th. World Championships 2009: Bronze. Olympics 2010: 5th. World Championships 2010: Bronze.
+ Pär Mårts 2010 - 2016
World Cup 2011: Silver. World Cup 2012: 6th. World Cup 2013: Gold. Olympics 2014: Silver. World Cup 2014: Bronze. World Cup 2015: 5th. World Cup 2016: 3rd. World Cup 2016: 5th.
+ Rikard Grönborg 2016 - 2019
WC 2017: Gold. Olympics 2018: 5. WC 2018: Gold. WC 2019: 5.
+ Johan Garpenlöv 2019 - 2022
WC 2021: 9. Olympics 2022: 4. WC 2022: 6.
+ Sam Hallam 2022 - 2026
WC 2023: 6. WC 2024: Bronze. Four Nations 2025: 3. WC 2025: Bronze. Olympics 2026: 7. WC 2026: 7.
