Sweden's Juniorkronorna Gear Up for Gold at 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship in Minnesota

The 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship (JVM) is set to commence on December 26 in Minnesota, USA, bringing together the world’s elite under-20 ice hockey talent. Sweden’s Juniorkronorna are entering the competition with high hopes, aiming to capture the gold medal after last year’s heart-breaking loss to the USA in the final.

Head coach Magnus Hävelid leads the 25-player Swedish squad, including standout talents like Anton Frondell and Love Härenstam. One promising young star is 18-year-old Ivar Stenberg, who has shown impressive goal-scoring prowess with his club Frölunda. Additionally, brothers Viggo and Wilson Björck will both represent Sweden; 17-year-old Viggo is noted as the youngest player on the team and is tipped to be a first-round NHL draft pick following his strong performances in the SHL for Djurgården.

Sweden’s group stage schedule places them in Group A alongside Slovakia, Switzerland, Germany, and their rival the USA. The matches are slated mostly for evening Swedish time, with the crucial final group game versus the USA scheduled at midnight New Year's Eve. Four teams from each group will advance to the knockout rounds starting January 2.

The team has been training in the USA since mid-December to acclimatize and sharpen their game, including a practice match against Switzerland on Christmas Eve. Charlotte Perrelli, uncle to the Björck brothers, has been an enthusiastic supporter, underscoring the team's strong family and community backing.

Broadcast coverage of all JVM matches will be provided by SVT, with games airing on SVT2 and streaming available via SVT Play.

Coach Hävelid expresses cautious optimism about Sweden’s chances: "I think there is a chance." Given the strong contenders like the USA and Canada, achieving gold will require solid performance and improvement in every game. Still, the team’s combination of young talent, family support, and dedicated preparation signals a spirited quest for the title.

As the tournament unfolds from December 26 to January 6, all eyes will be on Juniorkronorna’s pursuit to end a 13-year gold drought and bring home the championship trophy once again.