Tre Kronor started the tournament with losses against Denmark and Belarus. Canada lost three straight games, one against Latvia and one against Germany.
Kazakhstan won against Finland and Slovakia beat the Russian national team while Belarus forced the Czech Republic to an extension.
The riots have taken turns in the Latvian capital Riga during the start of the Ice Hockey World Cup. In advance, few had predicted that several of the results would look like they did. But one who is not very surprised is Tre Kronor’s national team captain Johan Garpenlöv.
– With prevailing circumstances, what the team looks like and that there is not much difference between the countries, I think we all understood that there would be many bangs and tight matches. I’m not surprised, says Garpenlöv.
Isac Lundeström, center in the Swedish team, is on the same track.
– It is close matches and big ice, which is also new to many. It is no wonder that there are tight matches in the beginning. It’s no shock, he says.
One who had full control of the World Cup matches is SVT’s expert Kim Martin Hasson. On her merit list, she herself has Olympic silver, Olympic bronze, double World Cup bronze and Swedish Championship gold.
– Kim Martin Hasson has done for many years at the elite level as a player and leader in Sweden, Russia and the USA.
Photo: Jesper Zerman / Bildbyrån
From SVT’s studio in Stockholm, she has acquired her image of what was behind the more unexpected results.
– If you generally look at the team that barked, they have had a good defensive. There are many of them who have had a frame and who can train a lot together. If you take Kazakhstan, most come from the same club team, then it will be easier to play together, she tells DN.
When Germany beat Canada on Monday, the team covered a lot of shots. That, as part of the defensive game, was a key to that victory. Martin Hasson highlights just such pieces.
– You have seen a completely different attitude from the team that has barked, but above all a good defensive game. Most have stars who are good and are leaders in the offensive game, but a lot lies in winning close matches and covering shots.
Johan Garpenlöv mentioned the other day that the Swedish team may not have really got the group together. One factor that some other teams have brought with them the results, Kim Martin Hasson explains, is that they had time to prepare their teams with the players who play the World Cup.
– At the beginning of the tournament, maybe the teams have an advantage and are playing together. Then maybe there will be a difference later in the tournament, but above all you notice this in the beginning.
– Tre Kronor started the tournament with two unexpected losses against Denmark and Belarus.
Photo: Simon Hastegård / Bildbyrån
So there is a risk that those teams will lose momentum?
– I think that in some cases it will be so. Some teams that are more cohesive now may not be enough in the end when the other teams have had to play together a little more. There will probably be some change, that the bigger nations win more of the last group games. But then maybe it’s too late.
Many also talk about the fact that the distance between the top nations and the smaller ice hockey nations has decreased in recent years.
– You can see that on the women’s side as well, hockey is growing and becoming smoother. I think it’s fun to see it now at the World Cup, because Canada does not beat Italy 10-0. All matches have actually been even and it will be exciting to follow. It is not known who will win, says Martin Hasson and continues:
– Without NHL players, it is the case that many teams have players from good leagues in Europe. Sure, the players in Canada come from the NHL but they are not top players in the NHL. So there is no huge difference against the SHL, KHL or the Swiss league.
35-year-old Martin Hasson made his first World Cup as a 15-year-old and has played numerous World Cup and Olympic tournaments. She knows what it’s like to enter a tournament in a team that is seen as an underdog.
– It’s a slightly nicer feeling, you have nothing to lose. A team that is favorites has a little more pressure. Then it becomes more of a must to win than to want to win, that feeling can be difficult and puts a huge pressure on the players. It’s hard to be favorites, she concludes.
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