Tre Kronor's meeting with the Czech Republic on Thursday in the home tournament Beijer Hockey Games will be the first hockey match in the newly renovated arena, still commonly referred to as Globen, but officially known as Avicii Arena.
Over the past year, the arena has been renovated on the inside, at a cost of over 800 million kronor, with features such as new stands and seats all the way down to the boards, black chairs to make the arena warmer, and a new inner roof.
"Out of this world good"
Axel Sandin Pellikka has never played in Globen before.
I've been there and watched a Global Series match (NHL) a few years ago. That's the little I've seen. It's going to be awesome, it's a big arena where a lot of people can fit, he says.
Nervous?
I've played hockey on big arenas before, so it's just going to be fun. I have relatives and friends in the stands, so it's just a matter of going out and playing my game and not holding back anything, says the defenseman who is still a junior.
In Stockholm and Globen, the World Championship will also be played in May.
He's of course happy to be there – but is keeping a low profile in the conversation.
It's clear you'd want to play, but a lot has to happen, it's NHL guys who are going to be there. You have to do something out of this world good to get in there, says the Norrbottnian (born in Gällivare) Skellefteå defenseman.
He has already signed a contract with Detroit in the NHL and is expected to leave Sweden after this season.
First since Fetisov
Junior national team coach Magnus Hävelid is leading Tre Kronor in the home tournament as regular national team coach Sam Hallam travels to Montreal on Friday for the Four Nations tournament where a Swedish NHL team will play.
Hävelid on the question of whether he can see Sandin Pellikka in a Swedish World Championship team in May:
There will be many NHL pros who want to be there. But if you had asked me last year about (Felix) Unger Sörum, I might have said "no, it's going to be tough" and then he's there... So the path is open anyway.
Axel Sandin Pellikka has already taken big steps and is one of the SHL's best defensemen.
He is only one goal away from equaling the defenseman record on the junior side in the SHL at 11 goals. The record holders are Tomas Jonsson (1977-78) and Nils Lundkvist (2019-20).
When he was named best defenseman at the JVM in Ottawa for the second year in a row, he became the first in almost 50 years after Soviet great defenseman Vyacheslav Fetisov (1977 and 78).
Thursday: Czech Republic–Sweden (19.00), Switzerland–Finland (20.45, Langnau, Switzerland).
Saturday: Finland–Czech Republic (12.00), Sweden–Switzerland (16.00).
Sunday: Switzerland–Czech Republic (12.00), Sweden–Finland (16.00).
All matches will be broadcast on TV6/Viaplay.
