Changes in Tre Kronor’s coaching staff for February tournaments

21 Sep 2024Henrik Lundqvist»

February 2025 will be a crucial month for Swedish hockey, with the national team participating in both the Beijer Hockey Games in Stockholm and the NHL 4 Nations Face-off. As part of the preparations, the Swedish Ice Hockey Association has announced significant coaching changes for the two tournaments.

Beijer Hockey Games – New Leadership

Tre Kronor will see a temporary change in leadership for the Beijer Hockey Games, which will take place at the Avicii Arena from February 6 to 9, 2025. Magnus Hävelid, the head coach of Sweden's junior national team, will step in as head coach for Tre Kronor during the tournament. Hävelid will be supported by assistant coaches Gereon Dahlgren and Niclas Grossmann, with Viktor Alm serving as goaltending coach.

“I feel very confident in this setup,” said Anders Lundberg, national team director for the Swedish Ice Hockey Association. He further explained that the decision was made to avoid overburdening the regular coaching staff, given the tight schedule in February.

Sam Hallam Leads at 4 Nations Face-off

Tre Kronor's regular head coach, Sam Hallam, will be leading the team during the NHL 4 Nations Face-off, held in Boston and Montreal from February 12 to 20, 2025. Hallam will be accompanied by his usual assistants Stefan Klockare and Nicklas Rahm, as well as goaltending coach Anthon Hansson.

According to Lundberg, the overlapping nature of the two tournaments made it impractical for the same staff to oversee both events. "We've discussed how to handle February, which will be an intense month for us. It didn’t seem optimal for the regular coaching staff to manage both the Beijer Hockey Games and the NHL 4 Nations Face-off, considering the tournaments follow each other so closely," Lundberg said in a statement.

Continuity and Confidence in Internal Promotions

Lundberg emphasized the importance of promoting from within the organization, highlighting the close-knit relationships among the coaching staff. "It's great that we can lift from our own organization. With such a tight coaching group that works closely together, I feel very secure in this lineup," he added.

The Beijer Hockey Games and the NHL 4 Nations Face-off are major opportunities for Tre Kronor to compete against top international talent, and these temporary adjustments ensure that the team is well-prepared to perform at its best in both competitions .