Astrid Lindeberg and Mira Markstrom are among the returning players at the 2023 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women’s World Championship on home ice in Ostersund.
photo: Chris Tanouye / IIHF
It may be difficult to consider a 17-year-old player as a veteran, especially in a top league, but that’s what happens when you get off to an early start, like Swedish defender Astrid Lindeberg, who made her debut in the top Swedish women’s league SDHL at 14.
Add to that the fact that she’s one of about ten returning players from last year’s IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women’s World Championship and it’s easy to see why she’ll be one of the leaders on the Swedish team that begins their hunt for a medal on home ice in Ostersund on Sunday.
“It’s exciting to play the tournament on home ice. Very special,” Lindeberg told IIHF.com before heading over to Sundsvall for Sweden’s pre-tournament camp.
Having played in the tournament in Wisconsin last year will certainly help this year, Lindeberg said.
“I now have a better idea of how things are done and the demands of the tournament. Even though the other teams will have new players, it’s good to have that experience under our belts so that we know what it takes to play, and beat, them,” she says.
Last June, Sweden finished fourth, after a 3-0 loss to their archrival, Finland, in the bronze medal game.
“I think we can win a medal this time,” Lindeberg said.
“However, it’s not easy to know exactly where we stand since we haven’t played against the tough teams since the tournament,” she added.
Lindeberg made her Swedish women’s league debut with her hometown team, SDE, in Stockholm in 2019, but moved to Lulea Hockey last season when she started her hockey high school there. Lulea has won the Swedish title five times in the last seven years, and is now going for a three-peat.
In Lulea, Lindeberg is surrounded by world-class defenders. Jenni Hiirikoski has been named Best Defender in seven Worlds and two Olympics, Daniela Pejsova got the honour in the 2022 Women’s Worlds, Johanna Fallman has played in seven Worlds and two Olympics for Sweden, Anna Kjellbin has represented Sweden in three Worlds and one Olympic tournament, Ronja Savolainen has played for Finland in six Worlds and two Olympics.
And then there’s Lindeberg, 17.
“Just being around those great players has helped me and the other young players on the team tremendously. We see up close how the experienced, great players approach games and practices, it’s helped me both on and off the ice,” she said.
“I feel I’ve taken a couple of strides in my development in Lulea and it’s been nice to hear it from coaches, too,” she added.
With almost 120 games in the top Swedish league that has around 50 Olympians, it’s no surprise that Lindeberg is expected to carry a big load in Sweden’s defence in the under-18 tournament.
It’s a challenge she’s looking forward to.
“I’ve felt this season that I can take on a little more responsibility in the SDHL, and do things I haven’t done before, but I feel that even more going into this tournament, since I have a little prominent role, also owing to the fact that for some of our players, this will be their first Worlds,” she said.
But in a short tournament, it’s also important for the team to quickly get on the same page.
“It’ll take some time to learn the new subtleties in the system,” she says.
One big difference between the SDHL and the Worlds is that all the players on the Swedish U18 women’s national team are teenagers like Lindeberg.
“I’m looking forward to that, to be honest. I miss sharing the locker room with players that are my age,” she said with a laugh.
Lindeberg goes from being the kid on her club team to being a veteran for Sweden. Now she’s the one who can share some words of wisdom to the younger players.
“I’d just say that one shouldn’t think about the tournament’s importance too much, and get all worked up about it. We’ll go on and have fun. We have a great team, lots of great players, and now we’ll just have to prove it.
“Practice, play the games, have fun, that’s it.”
Call that Lindeberg’s recipe for success.
Add to that the fact that she’s one of about ten returning players from last year’s IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women’s World Championship and it’s easy to see why she’ll be one of the leaders on the Swedish team that begins their hunt for a medal on home ice in Ostersund on Sunday.
“It’s exciting to play the tournament on home ice. Very special,” Lindeberg told IIHF.com before heading over to Sundsvall for Sweden’s pre-tournament camp.
Having played in the tournament in Wisconsin last year will certainly help this year, Lindeberg said.
“I now have a better idea of how things are done and the demands of the tournament. Even though the other teams will have new players, it’s good to have that experience under our belts so that we know what it takes to play, and beat, them,” she says.
Last June, Sweden finished fourth, after a 3-0 loss to their archrival, Finland, in the bronze medal game.
“I think we can win a medal this time,” Lindeberg said.
“However, it’s not easy to know exactly where we stand since we haven’t played against the tough teams since the tournament,” she added.
Lindeberg made her Swedish women’s league debut with her hometown team, SDE, in Stockholm in 2019, but moved to Lulea Hockey last season when she started her hockey high school there. Lulea has won the Swedish title five times in the last seven years, and is now going for a three-peat.
In Lulea, Lindeberg is surrounded by world-class defenders. Jenni Hiirikoski has been named Best Defender in seven Worlds and two Olympics, Daniela Pejsova got the honour in the 2022 Women’s Worlds, Johanna Fallman has played in seven Worlds and two Olympics for Sweden, Anna Kjellbin has represented Sweden in three Worlds and one Olympic tournament, Ronja Savolainen has played for Finland in six Worlds and two Olympics.
And then there’s Lindeberg, 17.
“Just being around those great players has helped me and the other young players on the team tremendously. We see up close how the experienced, great players approach games and practices, it’s helped me both on and off the ice,” she said.
“I feel I’ve taken a couple of strides in my development in Lulea and it’s been nice to hear it from coaches, too,” she added.
With almost 120 games in the top Swedish league that has around 50 Olympians, it’s no surprise that Lindeberg is expected to carry a big load in Sweden’s defence in the under-18 tournament.
It’s a challenge she’s looking forward to.
“I’ve felt this season that I can take on a little more responsibility in the SDHL, and do things I haven’t done before, but I feel that even more going into this tournament, since I have a little prominent role, also owing to the fact that for some of our players, this will be their first Worlds,” she said.
But in a short tournament, it’s also important for the team to quickly get on the same page.
“It’ll take some time to learn the new subtleties in the system,” she says.
One big difference between the SDHL and the Worlds is that all the players on the Swedish U18 women’s national team are teenagers like Lindeberg.
“I’m looking forward to that, to be honest. I miss sharing the locker room with players that are my age,” she said with a laugh.
Lindeberg goes from being the kid on her club team to being a veteran for Sweden. Now she’s the one who can share some words of wisdom to the younger players.
“I’d just say that one shouldn’t think about the tournament’s importance too much, and get all worked up about it. We’ll go on and have fun. We have a great team, lots of great players, and now we’ll just have to prove it.
“Practice, play the games, have fun, that’s it.”
Call that Lindeberg’s recipe for success.