There were two really bitter losses: In overtime against Finland in the semi-finals and after the 28th penalty against the Czech Republic in the bronze medal match.
– I had hoped that we would have had the hockey gods on our side when there were 14, 15 rounds of penalties. It would have been good for Marcus, but now it didn’t turn out like that, says national team captain Magnus Hävelid to SVT Sport and thinks of the goalkeeper Marcus Gidlöf, who had to stand for the first time in the tournament after the management chose to have Melker Thelin as the first goalkeeper.
The usual setup is to have two goalkeepers start, but now Thelin had to stand the first six games before he was pushed to the bronze medal game.
– Before the last group stage match against the Czech Republic, we played in the coach’s room and then we chose Melker, who I think played a very good match. Then it became natural that he was in the quarter-finals against Latvia. Then we won it and then you face Finland as well, explains Hävelid.
If Sweden had won against Finland in the semis, Thelin would also have been in what would then have been a final.
– You don’t change a winning team, but I think Marcus played a good match.
“Refreshing that there are opinions”
How do you see the criticism that has come?
– When you have the role that I have and we lose, you have to be aware that there are opinions, which I think is also refreshing. We went hard on some players and have to be sensitive to how they feel, says Hävelid from inside the mighty Canadian Tire Center, home of the Ottawa Senators.
How should you analyze?
– We look at whether we selected the right players, which we think we did, look at our precamp and you can do something else in the training plan. We also look at psychologists and the diet. I will also look at the coaching. I have probably not done everything right, but we have done what we believe in, says Hävelid.
There were strongly affected players after the loss against Finland, something that had to be processed before the bronze match.
– Immediately after the loss against Finland, it was empty with sadness and disappointment, but we had a chat at the hotel and let the emotions settle and everyone got to speak and we decided to make a good bronze match.