Sweden women’s hockey coach Ulf Lundberg poked the bear before playing Team USA in the Women’s Hockey Semifinal on Monday for the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics.
Following a 2-0 win over Czechia in the quarterfinal on Friday, Lundberg told the Associated Press that he didn’t think Team USA wanted to play Sweden in the semifinal.
“(The Americans) are just human beings,” Lundberg said. “It’s a fantastic challenge. And I don’t really think that the U.S. team wants to meet us right now.”
The lineup for Team USA’s Women’s Ice Hockey didn’t seem overwhelmed by Sweden at the start, dominating the semifinal 5-0 at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. It was the fifth consecutive shutout for Team USA.
Lundberg changed his tune on Team USA after the thrashing, saying the roster was loaded with talent.
“I’ve been working for a long time on the men’s side, and if you want to compare them, it’s first-rounders,” Lundberg said, via Matt Porter of the Boston Globe. “All of them. All 23.”
He praised Team USA’s dynamic offense for causing a goalie change when Sweden was down 4-0.
“Today maybe we needed plexiglass in front of the net,” Lundberg said.
Team USA has scored 31 goals and given up just one (to Czechia 5-1 in its first preliminary round contest) through its first six games.
Team USA will face Canada on Thursday for gold. Team USA defeated Canada 5-0 on Tuesday in the preliminary round.
But Canada will be hyped for a chance to beat its rival in the Women’s Gold Medal Game. It will be the seventh time Canada has played Team USA for gold since women’s hockey began at the 1998 Winter Games.
Team USA has won gold twice (1998, 2018). Canada has won gold five times (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2022).
Team USA beat Canada 3-2 for gold in the 2018 Winter Games. Canada defeated Team USA 3-2 to win gold for the 2022 Winter Olympics.
For more on the Olympics, head to Newsweek Sports.
Read the full article here
