Swedish ice hockey goalkeepers. The strongest World Cup team is Sweden, not Canada. Russia is fourth and behind the United States. Awards and achievements
Sweden. Photo "SE"
Goalkeepers: Philip Gustavsson (Belleville, AHL), Magnus Hellberg (Kunlun), Anders Nilsson (Vancouver);
Defenders: Adam Ahlqvist (Frelunda), Mikael Wikstrand (Farjestad), Eric Gustafsson (Chicago), Jon Klingberg (Dallas), Adam Larsson (Edmonton), Humpus Lindholm (Anaheim), Lawrence Pyulot (XB-71), Oliver Ekman-Larsson (Arizona) );
Forwards: Lias Andersson, Mika Zibanejad (both Rangers), Mikael Backlund (Calgary), Jacob de la Rose (Montreal), Adrian Kempe (LA), Karl Klingberg (Zug), Johan Larsson (Buffalo), Jon Norman (Jokerit) , Gustav Nykvist (Detroit), Magnus Paajärvi (Ottawa), Elias Pettersson (Vexche), Rikard Raquell (Anaheim), Dennis Everberg (Neftekhimik), Matthias Janmark (Dallas).
Probably, the Swedes sold part of their souls to the devil, getting in return the opportunity to grow cool defenders in such quantities, as if we were talking about a banal radish in a country cottage. Two pairs of "Tre Krunur" against the background of other competitors combined look monumental: Klingberg, Ekman-Larsson, Lindholm And Larsson. A year ago, the Scandinavians were helped to take the title not only by the same star defense, but also by the goalkeeper Lundqvist. Now King Henrik will not be in Denmark due to health problems.
Hand on heart, even in his absence, the goalkeeping line of the defending champions is no worse than that of any other medal contender. Probably, there are not enough stars in the attack, comparable to the leaders of the Canadian and US teams. Although Raquel, Backlund, Zibanejad in their clubs are key figures. Youth led by rising world hockey star, 19 Petersson has a lot of motivation. These guys have not yet snickered, they have something to prove at the international level. For head coach Ricard Grenberg the situation is favorable in almost every respect, especially since his players have gone through the same system, are loyal to him and are controlled like few others. It is hard to imagine that the combination of all these factors left the Swedish team without reaching the final.
Canada. Photo "SE"
Goalkeepers: Michael DiPietro (Windsor, OHL), Darcy Kemper (Arizona), Curtis McIlenny (Toronto);
Defenders: Colton Paraco, Joel Edmundson (both St. Louis), Ryan Murray (Columbus), Darnell Nurse (Edmonton), Ryan Pulok (Islanders), Thomas Chabot (Ottawa), Aaron Ekblad (Florida);
Forwards: Matthew Barzal, Anthony Beauvillier, Josh Bailey, Jordan Eberle (all Islanders), Tyson Jost (Colorado), Pierre-Luc Dubois (Columbus), Connor McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (both Edmonton), Ryan O'Reilly (Buffalo ), Jean-Gabriel Pagejot (Ottawa), Beau Horvath (Vancouver), Jayden Schwartz, Braden Schenn (both St. Louis).
Tournament number one favorite doesn't look like a "killing machine" on closer inspection. Yes, the roster includes superstar and NHL top scorer McDavid. Yes, in five minutes the winner of the prize for the best newcomer Barzel with his speed on large venues will be even more dangerous. Yes, the depth in the offensive line as a whole - Vancouver's leading center forward Horvath cements the fourth link - is impressive. But no matter what they say about the experience of the head coach Bill Peters, who won the World Cup two years ago, he has more problems now. The defense team includes young and promising players aged 21 to 24, of which only Ekblad seen as an accomplished master.
Two years ago, the defense was also not perfect, but there was an excellent goalkeeper at that time Talbot. Now for the position of the first number at the gate, the second is always competing McIlenny, who is already 34 years old, and Kemper, who also has not risen above the role of understudy in the NHL so far. You can make a strong team out of this material. But in any case, it will have enough vulnerabilities in it - you should not hang gold medals around the neck of Canadians in advance.
USA. Photo "SE"
Goalkeepers: Scott Darling (Carolina), Keith Kincaid (New Jersey), Charlie Lindgren (Montreal);
Defenders: Will Butcher (NJ), Nick Jensen (Detroit), Alec Martinez (Los Angeles), Connor Murphy, Jordan Osterle (both Chicago), Neil Pionk (Rangers), Quinn Hughes (University of Michigan);
Forwards: Cam Atkinson, Sonny Milano (both Columbus), Brian Gibbons, Blake Coleman (both New Jersey), Johnny Gaudreau (Calgary), Alex Debrinkat, Patrick Kane (both Chicago), Chris Crider (Rangers), Dylan Larkin ( Detroit), Anders Lee (Islanders), Derek Ryan (Carolina), Tage Thompson (St. Louis), Colin White (Ottawa).
God only knows what the head coach of the Americans can do at the tournament Jeff Blashill. In Detroit, he doesn’t have close to such a selection of strong players in the attack line, as now in the national team. Kane And Gaudreau- real NHL stars. Only McDavid of those who will definitely reach Denmark can be put higher.
The rest of the American forwards are good in their own way: there are snipers, and hard workers, and security officials, and fast kraks. Takes envy. Goalkeepers and defense, if you evaluate them together, are not seriously inferior to any other team. Taking into account the fact that many of the strongest did not reach the competitors from Europe, then there is a real candidate for champions. An inner voice suggests two options regarding the US team. It will either pleasantly surprise the whole world, or fail with a deafening crash.
Russia. Photo "SE"
Goalkeepers: Vasily Koshechkin (Metallurg Mg), Ilya Sorokin (CSKA), Igor Shesterkin (SKA);
Defenders: Alexey Bereglazov (Metallurg Mg), Vladislav Gavrikov, Dinar Khafizullin, Yegor Yakovlev (all - SKA), Nikita Zaitsev (Toronto), Bogdan Kiselevich, Nikita Nesterov (both - CSKA), Nikita Tryamkin (Avtomobilist);
Forwards: Sergei Andronov, Mikhail Grigorenko, Kirill Kaprizov, Maxim Shalunov (all - CSKA), Artem Anisimov (Chicago), Alexander Barabanov, Alexei Byvaltsev Pavel Datsyuk, Nikita Gusev, Ilya Kablukov (all - SKA), Pavel Buchnevich (Rangers), Maxim Mamin (Florida), Ilya Mikheev (Vanguard), Nikita Soshnikov (Vanguard).
A realistic forecast regarding the performance of the Russian team at the present moment does not imply thoughts of gold. For the first time in many years, the chances of at least three teams before the start of the tournament seem to be higher than those of our team. The performance at the Swedish stage of the Eurotour only added to the pessimism. At the same time, there are questions about the game, about the actions of goalkeepers and defense, the effectiveness of the attack and coaching decisions!
The disease of the most dangerous forward in this squad Gusev- another argument in favor of the fact that it will be extremely difficult for the Russians to aim for a medal. Compared to the main contenders for medals, ours has the only advantage - the experience of winning the Olympics, no matter how ridiculous it may sound. A dozen and a half champions of Pyeongchang went through a more difficult psychological test a few months ago. Now no one expects mandatory gold from them, so somewhere the Russians will have an easier time without such pressure. Only here is the trouble with purely gaming trump cards. Until the decisive matches Elijah Vorobiev there will be enough time to bring the team to the peak of condition. This is what remains to be hoped for.
Finland. Photo "SE"
Goalkeepers: Ero Kilpelainen (Örebro), Harri Syateri (Florida), Ville Husso (San Antonio, AHL);
Defenders: Tommy Kiviste (Jokerit), Miika Koivisto (Carpet), Niko Mikkola (Tappara), Markus Nutivaara (Columbus), Ville Pokka (Belleville, AHL), Juuso Riikola (KalPa), Miro Heiskanen (HIFK), Julius Honka (Dallas);
Forwards: Sebastian Aho, Teuvo Teräväinen (both Carolina), Marco Anttila, Pekka Jormakka, Mika Niemi, Olli Palola (all Jokerit), Mikael Granlund (Minnesota), Kasperi Kapanen (Toronto), Sakari Manninen (Örebro), Saku Mäenalainen (Carpet) ), Janne Pesonen (Vekshe), Mikko Rantanen (Colorado), Veli-Matti Savinainen (Yugra), Antti Suomela (Jyväskylä).
At the last moment, several young Finnish stars from the NHL decided to go to Denmark. For head coach Lauri Maryamäki This is a real help in a hungry year. Too many failures were a little earlier. This is no coincidence, because the specialist, who will head Jokerit next season, has big problems with building the right communication with his players. However, the appearance Granlund, Aho and the companies don't make Finland an iron medal candidate. In the defense and in the goal there is no figure to which you can substitute the prefix "super". With the third goaltender of “Florida” Syateri as the first number and the best defender in the form of Nutivaara from the third pair of “Columbus” it is problematic even to cook porridge.
Talking about a system implemented at the subconscious level in any player is wonderful. But now is not the case. marjamäki in two years of work in the national team, he achieved only that he claims to be the informal title of the worst head coach in the history of Finnish hockey. All of his teams looked disassembled and stunningly unstable. The Finnish national team is able to give out one or two cool matches even now. It's just not enough to solve big problems.
Czech Republic. Photo "SE"
Goalkeepers: Dominik Grakhovina (Tappara), David Rittikh (Calgary), Pavel Francouz (Tractor);
Defenders: Radko Gudas (Philadelphia), Michal Jordan (Amur), Michal Moravcik, David Sklenicka (both Pilsen), David Musil (Trshinec), Filip Pirohta (Liberec), Adam Polasek (Sochi), Filip Chronek (Grand Rapids, AHL), Libor Shulak (Pelicans);
Forwards: Robin Ganzl, Andrej Nestrashil (both Neftekhimik), Tomasz Gyka (Vegas), Martin Kaut (Pardubice), Robert Kousal (Davos), Dominik Kubalik (Ambry-Piotta), Martin Necas (Comet), Tomasz Plekanec (Toronto), Michal Rzepik (Sparta), Radek Faxa (Dallas), Roman Horak (Vityaz), Filip Chytil (Rangers), Roman Cervenka (Friborg), David Stastny (Zlin), Dmitry Yashkin (St. Louis).
Before his last tournament as head coach of the national team Josef Jandach dabbled in experimentation. Such a number of young people through the national team in Czech hockey have not been allowed for a long time. There is a certain sense in this move. Players born in 1999 and younger are very talented. One of the contenders for a high number in the next NHL draft, Zadin, was unhooked. But the very fact that even without him three 18-year-olds will reach Denmark speaks volumes. First of all, about the minimum claims of the Czech team.
Help from the NHL is very modest, and regarding the tough Philadelphia defender Gudas questions remain - his style of play is dangerous not only for foreign attackers, but also for his own goal. Goalkeeper Frenchman looked like a star in the KHL and the Olympics. At the World Championships, even more will be required of him if the Czechs hope for a medal. On paper, the ceiling for them looks like reaching the quarterfinals. This does not change the fact that the game Yandache the team is very likeable, doesn't hesitate to act aggressively and doesn't lock themselves in their zone all the time. The level of personnel available to him, however, is far inferior to the main candidates for medals.
Yellow, blue
Story
For the first time the hockey team of Sweden could be seen in the match against Belgium. This was the first match for the Swedes, which took place on April 23, 1920. The Scandinavians kept a landslide victory - 8:0. Eight years later, the Swedish team won its first medal at the world championship. Let's remember exactly those world championships that were victorious for Swedish hockey players.
Sweden took its first gold in 1953, at the World Championships, which took place in Switzerland. The 20th championship was held in Zurich and Basel. Two tournaments were held: group "A" - for the strongest teams, group "B" - for teams of the second division. Group A included only four teams: Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia. The tournament was held in the group stage format. Each team had to play two matches with each opponent. Since the Czechoslovak hockey players left the championship ahead of schedule (due to the death of the President of Czechoslovakia - Gottwald), all their results were invalidated. In the absence of a strong opponent, the Swedish team easily won gold, winning all matches. Germany came second and Switzerland third.
In 1957, in Moscow, Swedish hockey players became the victors of the world championship for the second time. The teams of Sweden, the USSR, Finland, Japan, Poland, East Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia took part in the tournament. All teams played each other in one match. As a result, the Swedish national team with an asset of 13 points took first place, winning 6 out of 7 matches (draw 4:4 with the USSR national team). The national team of the Soviet Union took silver, because it still had a draw with Czechoslovakia (2:2). Czechoslovakian hockey players tried on bronze. Sven Tumba-Johansson was recognized as the best striker of the World Cup.
Five years later, in the USA, the team of Arne Strömberg and Per Bergsström submitted the third hockey world championship. The participants of the championship included: Sweden, Finland, Canada, USA, Norway, Great Britain, Germany and Switzerland. As in Moscow, each team played seven matches. Sweden became better, which won against all its rivals, including Canada and the USA (5:3 and 2:1, respectively). The fate of the second and third places was played out in the match between Canada and the USA. The Canadians won 6-1. Swede Nils Nilsson was the top scorer with 12 goals. The symbolic team included goalkeeper Lennart Höggrot, as well as forwards Ulf Sterner and Nils Nilsson. Lennart Höggrot was also recognized as the best goalkeeper of the world championship, and Sven Tumba-Johansson - the best striker.
The next triumph at the World Cup, the Swedes had to wait for 25 years. For a quarter of a century, the Swedish national team could not win gold, while gaining an impressive amount of silver and bronze. But in 1987, in Vienna (Austria), the "curse" was overcome. The scheme of the tournament was already different. Eight teams (USSR, Czechoslovakia, Sweden, Canada, Germany, USA, Finland and Switzerland) played one match each at the preliminary stage, and the four best teams had to compete for championship awards in the group stage. The top four included Canada, the USSR, Sweden and Czechoslovakia. Since previous victories were not considered, the Swedish team, having played twice in a draw with Czechoslovakia (3:3) and the USSR (2:2), and also defeated Canada (9:0), became the world champion. The Soviet Union, losing to the Swedes only on the difference between goals scored and conceded, became the second. The third place was taken by another Europeans - the Czechoslovaks. Despite the victory, none of the Swedish hockey players were awarded.
In 1991 and 1992, the Swedish ice hockey team dominated the World Championships. First, in Finland (the scheme of the tournament is the same as in 1987), ahead of Canada and the USSR in the group tournament, one gold medal was won, and then, in Czechoslovakia, another gold medal, which was the sixth for the Swedes in the history of hockey championships. At the world championship in Czechoslovakia, for the first time, knockout matches were held. The Swedes, who at the preliminary stage were in the same group with Finland, Germany, the USA, Italy and Poland, took the last passing place there - 4th. But already at the playoff stage, we saw a completely different Sweden. Having defeated Russia (2:0) in the quarterfinals of the "debutants" of the world championships, the Swedish hockey players, in the semifinals, did not experience any special problems with the Swiss (4:1). In the final, the Swedes were joined by Finnish hockey players. The match turned out to be one-sided, and Sweden won with a score of 5:2. In the match for third place, hockey players from Czechoslovakia won.
1998 Switzerland is hosting the 62nd Ice Hockey World Championship, where the Swedish national team becomes the seven-time world champion. Having won without any problems all the matches in the group, which, apart from the Swedes, included the national teams of Switzerland (4:2), the USA (6:1) and France (6:1), in the second group round, the Swedes defeated Finland in turn (1:0 ), Belarus (2:1) and Canada (7:1). It was clear that no one could stop Sweden that year. With the same mood in the semi-finals in two matches, the hockey players of the Swedish national team defeated the Swiss national team (4:1 and 7:2). In the final two-match confrontation, the Finnish team was defeated with great difficulty (1:0 and 0:0), while in six periods the audience saw only one goal.
At the 2006 World Championship in Riga (Latvia), Swedish hockey players won their eighth and so far the last World Championship victory. As always, the Swedes started their campaign for gold from the group stage. Sweden's rivals in the group were Ukraine, Italy and Switzerland. In the first two matches, the Swedes defeated the Ukrainians (4:2) and the Italians (4:0). In the last round, Sweden and Switzerland played a fighting draw (4:4). Then, in the matches of the qualifying stage, the Swedish team was able to defeat Belarus (4:1), played a draw with Russia (3:3) and lost to the Slovak hockey players (2:5). As a result of these matches, the Swedes took second place in Group E and in the quarterfinals they had to play with the US team. This match was a cakewalk for the Tre Krunur players, and the end result was 6:0. In the semifinal match, another North American team, Canada, was waiting for Sweden. A super-interesting and productive match ended with a score of 5:4 in favor of the Scandinavians. Having gained confidence after two playoff matches, the Swedes left no chance for the Czech national team in the final. The match was won after two periods, during which they were able to throw four goals to the Czechs. The last period was goalless. The final siren fixed the score 4:0. Thus, Sweden became an eight-time world champion. At the World Cup in 2011, the Swedish team reached the final and was considered there as a clear favorite in the match against Finland, but to everyone's surprise, Tre Krunur lost with a bang to Suomi with a score of 6:1. Actually, these two teams will host the upcoming world championship, and their confrontation will be especially interesting.
The 2012 World Championship was held in two countries at once: Sweden and Finland. Traditionally, something special is expected from the hosts of the championship, and this time the Finns and Swedes approached the tournament in such a way that they could well count on winning. This group round was almost painless for the Swedes. “Tre Krunur” suffered only one defeat, though from the Russian team, though with a score of 7-3. However, this guaranteed Per Morts' team a place in the quarter-finals, where the Czech Republic, which did not shine during the qualifying round, became its rival. Almost no one doubted that Sweden would pass the Czech Republic, but in fact the hosts lost the championship, and they lost insultingly, having missed the decisive goal twenty-nine seconds before the end of the period.
As for the Olympic history, here the Swedes can boast of two gold medals, which they won in Lillehammer and Turin. took place in Sweden and Finland, and where, if not at home, can the Swedes demonstrate the championship game, and even on the eve of the Olympic Games in Sochi? “Tre Krunur” tuned in to the home world championship beyond praise and managed to win a brilliant victory on it! In the decisive match, Sweden defeated the Swiss national team with a score of 5: 1.
After a confidently held Olympics, the Swedes also performed well at. In the group stage, the wards of Per Morts shared the first place with the Canadians, but remained in the second place only by the results of the face-to-face meeting, in which the Scandinavians lost to the opponent in overtime. In the quarter-finals, the Swedes barely outplayed the hosts of the tournament - the team of Belarus, but in the semi-finals they ran into the Russian team that demolished everyone and everything. That fight will be remembered for a long time by the “thumbs to the throat” gesture of the head coach of the Russians Oleg Znarka to one of the colleagues in the opposite team. After that, the coach of the Russian national team was disqualified, but the Swedes lost the semifinal match. But the Scandinavians managed to get together and beat the Czechs without any problems in the match for third place.
Per Morts again took the Swedish national team to the Czech Republic, and his team again took second place in the group, losing only to the excellent Canadian team, which brought one of the strongest teams to that tournament in recent years. In the quarter-finals, Morts' wards got a great opportunity to take revenge on the Russians for the defeat in last year's semi-finals, but the Scandinavians did not take advantage of this chance, losing with a score of 3:5.
Per Morts continued to coach the Swedish national team and it is he who will bring the team to the 2016 Ice Hockey World Championship, which will be held in Russia. However, shortly before the tournament, it became known that at the end of the tournament, the Swedes' mentor would leave his post and either coach the Kontinental Hockey League club or end his career. There will simply be no “tre krunur” in Russia, but the Swedish team is traditionally one of the contenders for the highest places. The Swedes will play in Moscow, and the teams of Russia, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Latvia, Norway, Denmark, and Kazakhstan will oppose the squad of 63-year-old Morts.
Awards and achievements
World Champion (9): 1953, 1957, 1962, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1998, 2006, 2013
World Cup silver medals (17): 1947, 1951, 1963, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1977, 1981, 1986, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2003, 2004, 2011
World Championship bronze medals (16): 1954, 1958, 1965, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1994, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010, 2014
Olympic champion (2): 1994, 2006
Silver Olympic medal (3): 1928, 1964, 2014
Bronze medal of the Olympics (4): 1952, 1980, 1984, 1988
Goalkeepers: Eddie Luck (Carolina), Victor Fast (CSKA), Niklas Svedberg (Salavat Yulaev).
Defenders: John Klingberg (Dallas), Anton Strolman (Tampa Bay), Henrik Tömmernes (Frölunda), Kalle Rosen (Vexjö), Oliver Ekman-Larsson (Arizona), Philip Holm (Vexjö) , Eric Martinsson ("Veksjo"), ("Tampa Bay"), Alexander Edler ("Vancouver"), Jonas Brodin ("Minnesota").
Forwards: Markus Krueger (Chicago), Rikard Junge (Neftekhimik), Per Lindholm (Skellefteo), Dennis Everberg (Vexjö), Joel Lundqvist (Frölunda), Elias Lindholm (Carolina), Carl Söderberg (Colorado), Joakim Nordström (Carolina), Karl Klingberg (Zug), Viktor Rask (Carolina), Linus Omark (Salavat Yulaev), Mario Kempe (Vityaz), William Karlsson ( Columbus), Gabriel Landeskog (Colorado), Joel Eck (Minnesota), William Nylander (Toronto).
At the moment, it is known about 16 players from the NHL in the Swedish national team - the overseas landing will be two and a half times more than a year ago. Eddie Luck in goal, Brodin, Strolman, Ekman-Larson, Hedman, Klingberg and Edler in defense, Karlsson, Lindholm, Kruger, Söderberg, Nordström, Nylander, Rask, Ek and Landeskog in attack are a very serious help for Grönborg. Perhaps in recent years it will be the strongest squad of the Swedes at the world championships - although there is no official application yet.
“We can say that the Swedes have now assembled the strongest team since 2013, they have a lot of players from the NHL,” the coach of the Russian national team Harijs Vitolins paid tribute to the opponent before the match of the Czech Games. At the same time, the composition of the Swedes at the Eurotour was not yet optimal.
As for the players from the KHL, the World Cup is worth waiting for Linus Omark, and Ricarda Junge and Mario Kempe. Varnish changers should be Victor Fast and Niklas Svedberg.
Who didn't come
Despite the positive trend with the arrival of Enkhaelites to the World Cup, Sweden has a lot of “refuseniks”. This is the defender of "Chicago" Niklas Hjalmarsson, and the Swedish diaspora of "Detroit" Kronwall - Nyqvist - Zetterberg, and the Sedin brothers from Vancouver.
The Swedes did not receive a response from some players, and another group of potential collections was injured. This is including Dalbek from Carolina, Larsson from Detroit, Markstrom from Vancouver.
At the moment, it is known about 13 players from the NHL in the Swedish national team - the overseas landing turned out to be twice as many as a year ago.
Star.
One of the main stars of the tournament is able to become a Tampa Bay Lightning player. In recent years, this attacking defender has only progressed. Last summer, Hedman received an 8-year contract with the club for $ 63 million. This spurred the Swede to issue the best scoring season in his career: in the 2016/17 regular season, Hedman scored 72 (16 + 56) points, improving his previous achievement by 17 points. He also played at the World Cup, where he also did not leave the tournament without a goal.
Last summer, Hedman received an 8-year, $63 million contract with the club. This spurred the Swede to give the best scorer season in his career.
10 NHL Stars Who Never Played in a World Championship
It turns out that there is such a player even in the Russian national team.
Veteran. Joel Lundqvist (age 35)
The most experienced Joel Lundqvist will be the captain of the Swedes at the upcoming tournament for a reason. In the NHL, he spent only three seasons, devoting most of his career to Frölund. He is a big-court master and a true leader, having been the captain of Frölund for nine seasons. In addition, Lundqvist has a rich experience of playing at the World Championships, where he will play for the 7th time.
Young player. Joel Ericsson Ek (age 20)
Another Joel - but 15 years younger than his namesake Lundqvist. Despite his age, Ek is not the kind of player who is taken to the national team to gain experience. He is already capable of being one of the leaders of the "Tre konur". In the 2016/17 season, he made his debut in the NHL and played in the strongest league in the world in 15 games in the regular season and three in the playoffs. A smart central striker, able to create chances in attack and work out in defense - this is how Ek is characterized overseas. As for international experience, he played for the Swedish national team at the youth world championship, and played for the adult team in the Eurotour.
Trainer.
He began his coaching career in the minor leagues of North America. And then the specialist worked for a long time in the system of the national teams of Sweden, managed to be the head coach of the junior, youth team and assistant to Per Morts. It was he who in 2014 was addressed to the famous gesture of Oleg Znark in the semi-finals of the world championship. However, now the conflict is over, and experts are ready to prove their case to each other only in the language of hockey. At the World Cup - the first serious tournament for Grönborg - the Swedes reached the semi-finals, where they lost to the European team in overtime.
Unlike last year, when there was no talk of a championship for the Swedes, this year it is worth considering Tre Kunuur as one of the main contenders for the title.
Forecast
Unlike last year, when there was no talk of a championship for the Swedes, this year it is worth considering Tre Kunuur as one of the main contenders for the title. The question is whether Grönborg has enough experience and skill to deal with the North American Starship Troopers. On paper, Sweden is able to reach the final and fight for gold.
On May 4, the World Championship starts in Denmark. We continue the cycle of materials in which we talk about all the participants of the tournament. Today we will talk about the Swedish team.
Performance history
The Swedish national team is the reigning world champion, who defeated seemingly invincible Canadians in the final of the tournament in Cologne. "Tre Krunur" always claim the medals of the highest value, possessing a scattering of technical attackers and a school that year after year gives the world the strongest defenders.
The Swedes made their debut at the world championship in 1931, and won their first medals at the first post-war tournament in 1947. In the twentieth century, the Swedes were inferior in class first to the founders of hockey, and then to the USSR, and won gold only when one of the main rivals missed the tournament. So three victories were obtained in the period from 1953 to 1962. At the same time, Sweden almost always remained in the medals, and from 1967 to 1977, it never finished the World Cup below third place.
Finnish team at the 2018 World Cup: Russia's awkward opponent craves the title
The Suomi team will fight for the third world championship gold medals in its history. She has a lot of help from the NHL.
In 1987, Tre Kronur regained the title after 15 years without gold, and in 1991 and 92 they did it twice more. The 2017 gold medal was the 10th for the Swedes in history, the team finished the tournament in second place 19 times.
The Swedes often confidently hold the group stages, after which they fail in the playoffs, but if the strongest players come to the national team in batches, as was the case last year, it is not easy to beat this team.
Kane strengthened the USA, McDavid strengthened Canada. And Radulov is ready to play for Russia!
Current line-ups of the leading teams for the World Cup and lists of refuseniks.
Head coach.
The Swedish national team will defend the title under the leadership of the 49-year-old Ricard Grönborg. The Swedish coach's playing career ended without really starting when he was 25 years old. He immediately switched to coaching - first he was an assistant coach in the US student league, then he led the junior team of one of the minor leagues.
Since 2006, the specialist returned to his homeland and began to work in the Swedish national teams. First as a scout, then led the junior team, was a member of the coaching staff of the youth team, and since 2012 became an assistant Pera Morts in the national team. During this time, he helped the Swedes win the 2012 World Cup, 2013 World Cup and the silver of the Sochi Olympics.
Grönborg became widely known to the Russian public in 2014, when Oleg Znarok showed him his famous gesture in the semi-finals of the World Cup, swiping his finger across his throat.
Grönborg replaced Morts as head coach in 2016, and at the first serious tournament - the World Cup - he brought the Swedish team to the semi-finals, where they lost to the European team in overtime. In 2017, the Swedish team won the world championship, however, it was not possible to consolidate success at the Olympics - the Swedes sensationally flew out in the quarterfinals, losing to Germany. 2018 may be his last at the helm of the national team - Grönborg dreams of working in the NHL.
Why the Russians from the NHL do not go to the Russian team. Isn't it just trauma?
Injuries were always there, and mass refusals from the World Cup came only after the unexpected and not very beautiful resignation of Znark.
Compound. Monsters in defense and debutants in attack
With the advent of Grönborg, NHL players became more willing to go to the national team. Last year, 19 representatives of this league played at the world championship, now 14 players have arrived, and the coaching staff will keep several places in the application until the end of the second round of the NHL playoffs.
The goalkeeper line has weakened compared to last year - Henrik Lundqvist after much deliberation, I decided not to go to Denmark, for various reasons, several more goalkeepers refused. Obviously, the main goalkeeper will be Magnus Hellberg- in the last stages of the Eurotour, he played three matches out of five.
The defensive line will be one of the strongest - , , John Klingberg, are the leading players of their clubs who are equally effective on both sides of the court. Coming from Chicago Erik Gustafsson while thinking Robert Hegg, whose Philadelphia has already been eliminated from the playoffs.
The captain should be the oldest and most experienced of all. Among the attackers will be several world championship debutants. this year he became the second scorer of the Rangers, scoring 47 points, but has not yet played a single match for the adult team. The same can be said for Anaheim's top scorer. Ricarda Rackel, forward "Dallas" Matthias Janmark Forward, Los Angeles Adriana Kempe. And that's just for those over 20.
Of the young hockey players, it is worth paying attention to Lias Andersson. The silver medalist and captain of the Swedes at the 2018 MFM this year managed to make his debut in the NHL for the Rangers and scored in the first game. His partner in the youth team has not yet reached the NHL, but at the age of 19 he became the top scorer and sniper of the Swedish League, playoff MVP and champion with Växjö. Places in the composition are not yet guaranteed, but it would be interesting to look at young talents.
In addition, they go to Denmark Magnus Pääjärvi, Johan Larsson, Jacob de la Rose. Not world-class stars, but strong hockey players. During the tournament, the national team can be strengthened Niklas Backström, Philip Forsberg And Viktor Arvidsson.
Tournament ambitions: title defense
In Sweden, no doubt, aimed at repeating last year's triumph. Staying on top is always harder than climbing it, especially since the team has been greatly updated and has not become stronger. But this team must fight for the medals.
In the group stage, the main competitors of the Swedes will be the teams of Russia and the Czech Republic, and in the current state of affairs, the Grönborg team has a good chance to reach the quarterfinals from the first place. In this case, the semi-final is almost guaranteed. From second or third place, you can get to Canada, the USA or Finland - the North Americans are bringing strong teams to Denmark, the Swedes obviously do not want to meet with them in the early stages.
