Hilda Svensson is one of Swedish ice hockey's most exciting talents. Before the departure for the USA and the WC in Utica, VMhockey.se got an interview with the star where she talked about the future in college and the WC chances.
– I think there is a great chance for a medal, she says.

Last night the Women's Crowns landed in the USA and Utica for the 2024 Women's Hockey World Cup on American soil. One of Sweden's key players is 17-year-old Hilda Svensson, who gets to make her second WC. Before the departure, the national team gathered at Arlanda, where VMhockey.se had a chat with the super talent.

– It is of course a great feeling to meet everyone in the team and to start the journey towards a WC, it feels great.

As a 17-year-old, getting to play his second World Cup is somewhat unique. And to be one of the top players of the Women's Crowns in advance is also unique. Getting to play her second major championship at such a young age was not something that Hilda Svensson could have dreamed of when her hockey journey started.

– No, I didn't really think so. Then it has always been the goal, of course, to play in the WC and so on. It's always been in the back of my mind, but I guess it wasn't really expected that it would happen so quickly, as it were, she says.

Sweden's national team year has pointed upwards. Even if you step into the lowest-ranked Group B, you have had a season where you have played against nations in Group A (mainly Finland, the Czech Republic, Switzerland) with good results.

– I think it (the national team season) has been good. It has always been fun to come to the gatherings and you are happy to meet everyone, and you feel safe here. So you dare to try out on the field and you dare to make mistakes, you know that no one cares but everyone really encourages each other.

What is the team's goal in the WC?

– You obviously think one step at a time, match by match and so on. But I would still say that a medal is the goal, says Hilda and continues:

– And I think we can achieve that. Considering how we have played against the teams that are perhaps “there” as well, I think there is a great chance for a medal.

The tournament begins in Group B on April 3, where Sweden are favorites to win the group ahead of Germany, Japan, China and Denmark, even if the opposition will be tough. To be able to reach a medal, a group victory can be extremely important.

– Well, I would still say that there are teams that I personally think we can beat. All the teams. So it is of course a goal to win the group first and foremost, and then we have to take it on from there, says Hilda.

At home in the club team HV71, it has been a difficult season. In Hilda's second full SDHL season, there were 23 points in 32 games, but the team was forced into a qualifying game, a qualification they managed against Södertälje SK.

– The season has been a bit back and forth. It has not been very good either for the team (HV71) or for me as we had to qualify. But I take with me a lot of experience and lessons from it, to be able to take the responsibility that I have had to do, as well. So I try to bring it in here to just keep going, she says.

In the national team, Hilda is a key in the offensive. Her sense of play and passing skills earned her eleven points in last year's world championships and in the national team she has delivered since Ulf Lundberg gave her the chance last year. Above all, it is the collaboration with MoDo's Lina Ljungblom that stands out, but the question is what the collaboration entails.

– It's just that I suit her and she shoots the puck into the goal, says Hilda Svensson with a laugh.

– She has a really good shot, so if I get through with the pass, there is a good chance that it will be a goal because she creates opportunities when she gets them.

The duo will possibly bring Hanna Olsson as a third link in their chain, something that worked very well last year. Not least in the power play, the trio, together with other players, have made it work.

– It is what can decide matches if it stands and weighs, so it is very important that it fits and that you have a few variations to go with, says Hilda Svensson

In December, it became clear that Hilda Svensson is moving from Sweden to the USA and Ohio State University for the 2025/26 season. A big step in her career, where she hopes to learn a lot in the coming season in the SDHL (2024/25) before she moves on.

– I want to prepare as much as possible for it. I know that it can be a different culture there with the coaching and so on, so I have to prepare for that. I know it will be tough so I want to get there and feel that I can handle it, she says.

With her to Ohio, she gets current teammates Jenna Raunio and Mira Jungåker. The latter is taking his degree already this summer and leaves over a year earlier than the 6-year-olds Raunio and Svensson.

– Of course it's great to have them with you. It is a great security to have with you people you know, who speak the same language and such. Most of it is still new so it feels great and like a great security, says Hilda.

Can Mira pull the big load? Because she leaves a year in advance.

– Yes, but it's usually she who has to take the responsibility otherwise too (laughs), so it's nice to have her.

A year older and a year wiser?

– Yes, but exactly.

What do you know about the school and the organization?

– We were there last summer and visited and everything looks great. They have incredible conditions and facilities so it feels great.

After playing in college, the dream is to reach the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) which started this season. The North American pro league has been a huge success in the US and Canada so far with its six teams, and hopes to expand. That's where Hilda Svensson hopes to reach one day.

– Yes, it is clear that you want to go there. After college, that's what I want to achieve, to be able to play there (in the PWHL) and live off my hockey. So it's really interesting and great fun that they've started the league and that it's going so well. I really hope it lasts in the future, concludes Hilda Svensson to VMhockey.se.

Quick questions with Hilda Svensson

How far do the Women's crowns go in the WC?
– Medal

Who will win the WC gold then?
– It feels a bit strange to say other teams so I don't know… Sweden maybe.

Do you have a role model?
– Hmm.. not really. I've looked at a lot of players when I've looked at the NHL and so on, but I don't have a real role model that I've looked up to in that way. But when I was younger, I had (Alexander) Ovechkin as my favorite player.

He's right-wing.
– Haha yes, exactly. I don't have a similar playing style to him at all but I liked him.

Do you have a hidden talent?
– No… no one! At least not any that I've found yet.

Who in the team wins the internal points league during the WC this year?
– Lina Ljungblom.

What advice do you have for young girls who dream of playing at the WC with the Women's Crowns in the future?
– I think it has helped me a lot that I got to play with guys for quite a long time, I think. So to do it as long as you can, and then move on to a good women's team that invests.

Updated March 28, 2024