Ice Hockey. fifth, fifth seventh.
The last three World Cup tournaments have not been a major success for the women’s team. But when the World Cup is held in Malmö about one month, the trend reversed.
– Fourth place in the Olympics was a step in the right direction, says head coach Leif Boork.
Swedish women’s ice hockey has brought the doldrums after the sensational Olympic silver in Turin in 2006; tournament as the Swedish TV viewers for the first time got up interest in Damkronorna.
But as in so many other cases, the interest associated with international success, then these failed to materialize in more or less every championship since Turin has also damhockeyn lost attractiveness. In the media and among spectators.
– Now we will reverse the trend, hitting Leif Boork stuck with equally straightforward attitude and authoritative voice as usual.
Hockey Legendary Boork was himself an unplayed rookie in terms damhockey when he got in 2013 the question of becoming a part of National Team.
– I knew almost nothing about damhockey. Sure it was known back in a couple of names that appeared part in television, but more was not.
– Why it has been a very positive surprise to see how pr ofessional and targeted these hockey girls are said Boork, determined on that the sport will have a renaissance.
When World Championships in Malmö, March 28-April 4 played the matches in the newly renovated barns Rosengårds Ice rink and Malmö Ice Stadium.
Eight teams participate and are divided into two groups.
In Group A (Canada, USA, Finland and Russia) is the winner and runner-up directly to the semi-finals, third and fourth to the quarterfinals.
In group B (Sweden, Switzerland, Japan and Germany) is the winner and runner-up to the quarter-finals, third and fourth may qualify to stay in the big leagues.
– It is a system that arose a few years ago when it was extremely large class difference between the teams.
– And although it still differs widely among the best it has become tighter. US and Canada have faced each other in the World Cup final since 1990 …
The goal?
– To win a medal. We have now released a large squad of 39 players to 16 March will be slimmed down to 23 pieces.
&# 8211; And even if there is a question mark on some key players, such as goalkeeper and legend Kim Martin Hansson and team captain Jenni Asserholt it’s a squad with many interesting names, says Boork.
He points out that the youngest is 16-year-old Hannah Smith, “one of the best we have produced in Swedish hockey.”
A Scanian name is: Limhamn product Pernilla Winberg, experienced few others with 233 internationals in the back .
Meanwhile, the World Cup both an integration project and a marketing tool for Swedish damhockey. Sweden’s matches will be played in Malmo Ice Stadium, and the goal is to chop more than 3000 spectators at every game, using a variety of fringe events, and a temporary 200-seat lug.
The new Rosengårds Ice rink, which is newly initiated and refurbished, it goes into 470 persons and here’s hoping they also stocked stands, even without damkronornas participation,
– Swedish damhockey have a high threshold we have to get over and to showcase the sport for people who have never been on a pair of skates before is a part of it, says Mikael Haglund, general secretary of the World Cup tournament.
– We want people who live in Rosengård be able to come here and experience the sport up close and are currently looking for a partner who can help with entrance solutions and more. It would have been fun if for example a housing company wanted to work with us.
– In addition, we hope to bring in interpreters from different countries explaining what actually happens on the ice.
The premiere played in Malmo Ice Stadium on March 28 where Sweden meets Japan.
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