The Swedes enter as one of the tournament favourites, having captured gold in 2022 and 2019. Sweden got oh so close to winning back-to-back golds at last year’s event, losing the final game in heartbreaking fashion, 3-2 in overtime to the United States.
Sweden has earned a medal at the past five U18 Worlds (2023 silver, 2022 gold, 2021 bronze, 2019 gold, 2018 bronze).
Good or bad (take your pick), no player on this year’s team competed at the 2023 U18 Worlds so that bitter taste of defeat may not linger if you’re looking at this team with a half-glass full outlook.
This Sweden squad should be able to put the puck in the net, led by centreman Lucas Pettersson, who had a great season with Modo J20, putting up 57 points, including 27 goals, in 44 games. Pettersson had a goal and three assists in Sweden’s 8-5 pre-tournament loss to the United States on 20 April.
