Thirteen years have passed since Sweden last won gold in the Junior World Championships, when Mika Zibanejad - now a star in the NHL team NY Rangers - won the final against Russia in Calgary, Canada.
Now the Junior Crowns are in Minnesota to chase new gold.
Blue and yellow also got off to a good start at the championship in the USA.
Frondell scored the first goal
But it took playing with numerical superiority to break through Slovakia's goalkeeper Alan Lendak, and it was only in the second period that the scoring began.
Anton Frondell headed straight for Alfons Freijs' pass and scored Sweden's first goal in the JVM. By then, 9.05 minutes had passed in the period. Just over three minutes later, more goal celebrations followed for Blågult. Victor Eklund was not as distinctive with the shot but got the puck in via his skate to make it 2 - 0.
Then things got tough in the NHL arena.
It was unnecessarily nervous. We are a better team and should be able to close the match earlier, says Ivar Stenberg to SVT.
We had some pucks that didn't go in. We started stealing a little in the attacking zone and lost easy pucks.
Stenberg decided
Tomas Pobezal reduced the deficit and Viggo Björck had his 3-1 goal disallowed at the end of the period. In the third, Tobias Tomik equalized and Slovakia pressured Sweden.
Then Stenberg stepped forward and decided for Sweden.
It was nice that we got a puck in and were able to win, he says.
I got a good pass from Eddie (Genborg) and tried to put the puck between my legs. Luckily it went in this time.
The next match is on Sunday, against Switzerland. On Monday, Blågult will face Germany and the group stage will conclude against the USA on New Year's Eve.
Quarterfinals will be played on January 2-3, semifinals on January 4-5, bronze medal match on January 5 and final on January 6.
