Tre Kronor finish 45 Year Draught

 ITA vs SWE

CAVALESE/CANAZEI/PERGINE – Today, 13 December, the hockey teams hit the ice for their third day of competitions in the WU tournament.

In Canazei, host Italy faced-off against Sweden, which after a blanked loss against USA where looking for their first goal of the tournament. Hardly two minutes in the second period, they managed to find the opponents net via Jens Ljunggren, tying the game 1-1. Team Sweden then got the lead on Italy and never looked back pocketing their first victory beating the Azzurre 4-2.

Swedish Captain Joachim ThomsonOddly, Sweden, although a big ice hockey nation, hasn’t been present many times at the Winter Universiade ice hockey tournament. After only two appearances in the past with a bronze medal in the 2^nd WU in Villars in 1962 and a fifth place in the 5^th WU in Innsbruck in 1968, the Tre Kronor team is making a comeback in Universiade ice hockey. And they finally succeeded in their second game beating host Italy 4-2.

Jens Ljunggren scored the first goal for Sweden after 45 years: “I was shocked at first that it was me scoring that goal ending the 45 year draught. After USA beat us scoreless we really needed this goal to get going and it worked. I’m quite happy with that.”

The comeback of the Tre Kronor is due to the fact that three years ago the Swedish NUSF started a genuine National University Ice Hockey League with currently five university clubs competing Stockholm, Gottenburg Malmö, Linköping and Lund. “I hope we continue to grow during the tournament”, commented Team Captain and founder of the League Joachim Thomson commented. “We will continue to develop our league and be back in Granada in 2015.” Interesting detail, all players are engineering students.”

Tanaka (CAN) scores against Ukraine

The second game Canazei, USA vs LAT, once again went into overtime with USA winning the game 3-2. In Cavalese, Canada blanked Ukraine 11-0.

In Women’s hockey, Canada blanked Great Britain 13-0; Spain lost from Russia 1-15 while Japan blanked USA 2-0.

C. Pierre, FISU Press Officer