The two pieces of the puzzle that have the national team management talking about medals are the return of PWHL stars defenseman Maja Nylén Persson of New York and forward Lina Ljungblom of Montreal.
Lina Ljungblom suffered glandular fever after the home tournament in Ängelholm in November and made a comeback as recently as a week ago.
"It wasn't certain that she would be able to participate. It will take a while before she is back, considering how long she was away. But we and Montreal's medical team have made the assessment that she should be in very good condition in Milan," said national team captain Ulf Lundberg at Monday's squad presentation.
“Our quarterback”
Maja Nylén Persson has not played for the national team since the Olympic qualifiers in Gävle almost a year ago. A shoulder injury meant she missed the World Cup this spring and the three national team tournaments played so far this season.
"We had a dialogue with the New York management before the tournament in Lahti (in December) and then there were three games in three days. At that time, the assessment was made that it was a risk. She is one hundred percent. She is our "quarterback"," said Lundberg.
The Tre Kronor women have not won a championship medal since the World Cup bronze in 2007. At the Olympic level, the last medal came in 2006, the silver medal in Turin in 2006 after a semifinal win over the USA.
Stopped in the quarterfinals
Since the Tre Kronor women returned to the A-level, they have reached the quarterfinals of four World Cup tournaments and one Olympic tournament.
So what indicates they will take the next step?
"Number one is our performance and the way we have behaved as a team; number two is the players' experience and that we have taken another step," said Ulf Lundberg, who is making his last championship in Milan before former Olympic hero Erika Holst (from 2006) takes over.
Sweden won the last tournament before the Olympics, the Euro Hockey Tour tournament in Finland in December.
The women's Olympic tournament starts the day before the Olympic opening ceremony and runs from February 5-19.
Goran Sundberg/TT
Facts: The Women's Olympic Team
TT
Goalkeepers: Ebba Svensson Träff, Linköping, Emma Söderberg, SDE, Tindra Holm, Modo.
Backs: Linnea Andersson, Modo, Jessica Adolfsson, SDE, Mira Jungåker, Ohio State University, Maja Nylén-Persson, New York Sirens, Ida Karlsson, University of Minnesota-Duluth, Jenna Raunio, Ohio State University, Anna Kjellbin, Toronto Sceptres.
Forwards: Hilda Svensson, Ohio State University, Josefin Bouveng, University of Minnesota, Lisa Johansson, SDE, Sofie Lundin, Frölunda, Sara Hjalmarsson, Toronto Sceptres, Hanna Thuvik, Brynäs, Thea Johansson, University of Minnesota-Duluth, Ebba Hedqvist, Modo, Lina Ljungblom, Montreal, Hanna Olsson, Frölunda, Felizia Wikner-Zienkiewicz, Frölunda, Mira Hallin, Modo, Nicole Hall, Penn State University.
5/2: Sweden–Germany (12:10).
7/2: Sweden–Italy (2:40 p.m.).
8/2: France–Sweden (4:40 p.m.).
10/2: Japan–Sweden (12:10).
Quarterfinals will be played on 13 and 14/2, semifinals on 16/2 and medal matches on 19/2.
