Jack Berglund was forced to drop out of the previous Junior World Championship at the last moment due to a hand injury.
But at this championship, the Färjestad forward got a new chance - as team captain, too.
"I had been looking forward to this tournament for a year after the injury. So to go in and then win the whole thing was beyond expectations," says the 19-year-old.
It was better revenge than anyone could have imagined.
Sweden went undefeated through the Junior World Championship in Minnesota, where they ultimately beat the Czech Republic 4–2 in the final, winning Sweden's first gold in the tournament since 2012.
In the midst of the celebration, however, news came that the return trip home had been postponed due to snow chaos across Europe. It ended up being only an extra day in the U.S. In the morning, Jack Berglund and some of his teammates landed at Landvetter outside Gothenburg.
The response to the Swedish gold has been hard to take in, he notes.
"You understand now how many people are watching this tournament," says the Färjestad forward.
"The mobile phone has blown up"
Frölunda prospect Ivar Stenberg agrees.
"It's absolutely crazy," he says.
"My phone has kind of exploded, but I haven't really had time to reflect on all the reactions and all the love," he says.
However, one message brought extra joy. During the stopover in Frankfurt, Ivar Stenberg learned that his older brother Otto had scored his first NHL goal that night.
"Yes, it was incredibly fun. Now he's scored a goal in the NHL, that's very cool," he says.
"He was drafted by St. Louis at the same time we arrived in North America. It's amazing to see your big brother playing in the best league in the world," he says.
Unclear return
After returning from the Junior World Championship, the everyday grind awaits again. However, exactly when he will return to the SHL remains to be seen, according to Jack Berglund.
Maybe by the weekend though?
"Well, it probably takes a day or so to get back into it. But then it goes pretty quickly, I think," he says.
"I'm ready when they want me. It'll be fun to help out at Färjestad again," he says.
The rest of the Swedish squad will land later on Thursday, most at Arlanda and some at Kastrup.
