Damkronorna Lose Narrowly to Finland in Pre-Olympic Match Ahead of Milan-Cortina Games

The Swedish women's national ice hockey team, Damkronorna, suffered a close 3-2 defeat against Finland in a pre-Olympic Euro Hockey Tour match. Despite the setback, Sweden showed competitive play with goals from Josefin Bouveng and Thea Johansson. Head coach Ulf Lundberg expressed his displeasure post-match, criticizing the recurring recognition of opposing goalkeepers as best players, stating, "I am sur and grumpy, of course. I think we did a lot of good things. But I am tired of the opposing goalkeeper being awarded the best player of the match every time. We can't have that."

Looking ahead, Damkronorna have two more national team games before the Winter Olympics in February 2026, facing Switzerland and the Czech Republic. The Olympic ice hockey competition begins with Sweden playing Germany on February 5. This pre-Olympic period is crucial as the team refines tactics and forms final rosters for the games in Milan and Cortina.

While the handball news involving Dutch advancement in the World Championship under Swedish coach Henrik Signell is notable, the main Swedish winter sports focus remains on Damkronorna's preparation for the upcoming Olympics. These matches provide valuable competitive exposure as the team aims to improve on their performance and achieve success at the Winter Games.