The schedule for the men's Olympic Games ice hockey is not yet released, but the SOK (Swedish Olympic Committee) has been informed that Tre Kronor's first match will be played on February 11.
All countries' participating NHL players will fly from North America on February 7 and are expected to land in Milan the day after.
"Very tight"
This gives three days of preparation on site before the first match.
It's very tight when it comes to how we will prepare the team, notes Lundberg, national team manager at the Swedish Ice Hockey Association.
Sweden will play in a group against Finland, Slovakia, and the host nation Italy.
Tre Kronor's national team captain Sam Hallam presented six selected players on Monday, the remaining players in the squad will be announced preliminary in January next year.
Fewer leaders
Another problem that the national team management does not control themselves is how many leaders can be brought to Milan, where Sweden has also qualified for the women's hockey tournament.
Tre Kronor had 19 leaders in the squad during the home World Championship in Globen.
We will not have as large a staff as at a World Championship. The number of leaders is based on the number of active players in the entire Swedish Olympic team, not just hockey, and it is completely outside our influence. So we have to look at which key functions we must have with us, says Lundberg.
Tre Kronor has had four coaches, including national team captain Sam Hallam, in the booth during the last two World Championship tournaments.
I cannot answer how many we will have at the Olympic Games. It's about doing the best with the conditions we get, he says.
