14 years without gold is now over. Sweden is the junior world champion in ice hockey.
For two periods and a quarter, the Czech Republic had no chance. Sweden was superior in both shooting statistics and overall play.
"It feels so damn good, it feels absolutely crazy. These are the kind of matches you dream about," said Ivar Stenberg.
“Enjoyed every second”
Sweden went through the tournament cleanly, the closest the team came to a loss was the penalty shootout against Finland in the final.
"It's been absolutely magical, it's been really fun. I've enjoyed every second," says Stenberg about the junior team's magical result.
We won gold, there's nothing more to ask for.
The Swedish goal came a quarter of an hour into the match, on the power play. In a Swedish counterattack, team captain Jack Berglund drew a penalty before rounding the net and finding Casper Juustovaara Karlsson, who sent in 1–0.
The same Berglund was also there at 2–0 when he passed to Victor Eklund, who poked the puck in from close range.
Sweden also made it 3–0 early in the third period through Sascha Boumedienne after a fine pass by Ivar Stenberg.
The Czech Republic woke up
But, we've heard it before: hockey moves fast. With 2:24 left, the cold shower came. Two Czech goals in as many minutes followed. Was it going to be a Swedish collapse? There were no nerves on the Swedish bench.
"Not at all. I just wanted to go in and shut it down, put it in place," said Victor Eklund, who had a goal and an assist in the match.
The clock was ticking, and Ivar Stenberg was on Sweden's side. With eight seconds left, the 18-year-old put the puck in the net for 4–2, assisted by Eklund himself, and saved Swedish ice hockey fans from a collective heart attack.
"It was a fucking relief, an incredible joy," he said of the goal.
The last time Sweden won World Junior Championship gold was in 2012 in Calgary, Canada; since then there have been four silvers and two bronzes.
With a voice that testifies to many loud shouts of joy, Victor Eklund says exactly what World Junior Championship gold tastes like.
It tastes like magic!
2026: Sweden
2025: United States
2024: United States
2023: Canada
2022: Canada
2021: United States
2020: Canada
2019: Finland
2026: gold
2025: 4th
2024: silver
2023: 4th
2022: bronze
2021: 5th
2020: bronze
2019: 5th
2018: silver
