Sweden's Olympic hockey dream ends in heartbreaking overtime loss to US
Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell represented Sweden at this year's Winter Olympics, marking Rakell's first appearance at the Games. Both players described the experience as special, though their tournament ended in disappointment after a narrow loss to the United States.
Sweden entered the competition with a strong squad of 25 players, including standouts like Lucas Raymond, William Nylander, and goaltender Jacob Markström. The team secured two wins in the Preliminary Round, advancing to face Latvia before meeting the US in the Quarterfinals.
Karlsson played a key role, recording four assists and logging over 21 minutes of ice time per game. Rakell, meanwhile, shared a room with Hampus Lindholm, his former teammate from Anaheim, while Karlsson roomed with Victor Hedman. Off the ice, the players had little time to explore Italy due to their packed schedule. Instead, they cherished moments with their families. Their tournament run ended abruptly when Quinn Hughes scored in overtime, sealing a 2-1 victory for the US. Both Karlsson and Rakell expressed frustration with the result, calling the quarterfinal exit a tough way to finish what had been a meaningful experience representing their country.
Sweden's Olympic campaign concluded with a 2-1 overtime loss to the United States. Despite the disappointment, Karlsson and Rakell reflected on the pride of playing together for their national team. Their performance, alongside other key players, highlighted Sweden's competitive spirit in Milano Cortina.
