Experienced Olsson, Frölunda's 27-year-old forward, felt at home on the ice.
"It's a special sound and feeling, a bit tinny. It feels like you're at home on the ice in the harbor on Hälsö," she says about the vibes from her home island in the Gothenburg archipelago.
But she was taken by the atmosphere.
"Ten thousand crazy Italians screaming for the puck every time Italy gets it. An awesome experience. It's not often you get to play in front of this many people. Anna Kjellbin (the team captain) said it well in the last power break, that we should play the whole game, but take the opportunity to enjoy the end and take in the atmosphere," says Hanna Olsson, who scored the first Olympic goal of her career and an assist.
The first line delivered
Thea Johansson accounted for two goals and one assist.
Hilda Svensson contributed an assist. So three goals and six points were the result for the first line.
Italy offered good resistance for almost half the match – but then the Swedes pulled away to their second straight victory.
Six points and ten goals in the first two matches. A good start for the Damkronorna in their pursuit of group victory.
"It's great fun, many different scorers too, so it's great fun," says Thea Johansson.
Like a construction site
A total of eleven players scored against Italy, and Thea Johansson is the top Swedish scorer so far with three goals.
"I'm in the right place at the right time. My teammates make it really easy for me to put the puck in the goal. I'm working extra hard on my goal-scoring so it's great when it comes out," says the forward who is currently at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
The construction of the main stadium, Santagiulia Arena, was severely delayed and was only ready for games a few weeks ago. But it is an arena that in many respects is not yet complete.
"When you look around, there are construction sites in some places, but they have the important things in order. It's new and fresh," says Hanna Olsson.
Sweden plays its next match on Sunday, against France.
Sweden's group stage matches in the women's Olympic ice hockey tournament:
5/2: Sweden–Germany 4–1.
7/2: Sweden–Italy 6–1.
8/2: France–Sweden (4:40 p.m.).
10/2: Japan–Sweden (12:10).
