The perhaps biggest surprise in the squad going to the U18 World Championship, which is the junior World Championship on the women's side, is 15-year-old Ebba Hesselvall. Despite her young age, national team captain Andreas Karlsson praises her.
We chose to test Ebba during the season, to let her play with and against the girls at the U18 level. I wanted to get an answer to how she would handle it. She showed with her skill and smartness in the game that she can handle it. I think she is well-deserved to play in the World Championship, says Karlsson.
The Junior World Championship is played in Vanda, outside Helsinki, January 4-12. Sweden plays in the same group as the host nation Finland, reigning champion USA, and Japan. In the other group are Canada, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, and Slovakia.
In the quarterfinal, the ones meet the fours and the twos meet the threes.
Of course, we're going there with high expectations. Since everyone advances to the quarterfinal, it's about creating as good a position as possible for the quarterfinal, says Karlsson.
Defender Nellie Svensson becomes captain during the championship.
Now it's just to hope that she doesn't get sick or injured. Nellie has been captain all season, she puts in the hard work first and shows on the ice that she is a leader. But she also takes a lot of responsibility off the ice, and gets along with the other players. She as a person means a lot to the team in that way.
Sweden finished fifth in the Junior World Championship at the beginning of 2024. The year before, they came second on home soil in Östersund.
Goalkeepers: Maja Helge, Frölunda, Jorinde Heller, Linköping, Meja Engelin, Frölunda.
Defenders: Nellie Svensson, Frölunda, Wilma Georgny, Djurgården, Elsa Åberg, Modo, Malva Lindgren, HV71, Ebba Westerlind, Frölunda, Meja Andersson, Troja-Ljungby, Tillie Ytfeldt, Leksand.
Forwards: Edit Danielsson, Frölunda, Evelina Arvidsson, Skellefteå, Moa Johannesson, Modo, Lovisa Engström, Frölunda, Tilde Grillfors, Brynäs, Matilda Österman, do, Elsa Pallin, Modo, Linn Mattsson, Djurgården, Miranda Lindström, Modo, Ida Melin, Brynäs, Tilda Edsman, AIK, Inez Nygren, Luleå, Ebba Hesselvall, Södertälje.
