Tre Kronor’s veterans missed their last chance to win the Olympics

The disappointment was unmistakable after Sweden’s bitter overtime defeat against the USA.

When Quinn Hughes made it 2-1 with a perfect finish in the third against three, it was as if Tre Kronor’s players had run out of steam and found it difficult to describe what they had just been through.

“It’s hard to analyze and say something positive when you’ve lost a quarter-final,” said Mika Zibanejad, who kept Sweden in the game with a late equalizer to make it 1-1.

The hardest thing was maybe for Victor Hedman. Something happened to the 35-year-old during the warm-up that meant he was unable to play in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. Union captain Sam Hallam admits a big breakthrough.

– It’s incredibly hard. I can’t say much, but something happened at the end of the warm-up. “I found out about 11-12 minutes before the game started,” said the national team captain.

Mika Zibanejad:

– Sad, of course. It’s a leader and an incredibly important player. I still think we reacted well and he was with us the whole time. But it was really sad for him. A break.

Hedman chose to stay on the bench in order to support the team in the best possible way, for which he is praised by his teammates.

– It means as much as you want. He sits there, cheers and talks. Also between seasons and during games. He pushes the boys. He is cruel, says goalkeeper Jacob Markström and adds:

– I had a feeling that this was not our last game together at the Olympics, but no. It sucks.

Another who suffers with his good friend is fellow back Erik Karlsson.

– Of course very boring. At the same time, it was very important for him to step aside himself. It shows what a big heart he has. I know how much he wanted to be out there with us. “It was a shame we couldn’t give him another game,” he says.

Hedman has before said he most likely won’t be there in four years when the next Winter Olympics are held in the French Alps. The 36-year-old Markström makes it clear that he is probably not relevant either.

– I’ll be sitting in the rocking chair when the next Olympic Games take place. This was probably the last time – and it sucks.

However, Erik Karlsson, 35, leaves a door open and says that he is not yet thinking about shortening the next four-year period.

– They (the thoughts) haven’t come yet, and I hope they won’t come either. It’s not something I’ve focused on or thought about.

Karlsson continues:

– I hope so (that he still plays). It’s a long way to get there. If you’re still at the same level, you just have to believe in it. You have to take it day by day and try to keep going with it first.

Victor Hedman was not available for interviews after the quarterfinal against the USA.

Read more:

The Olympics are over for Three Crowns – the result against the USA

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