MILAN (AP) — Coach Ulf Lundberg declared “the time is now” for Sweden before the women's hockey tournament opened at the Milan Cortina Games. A little over a week and five wins later, his young, talented and fearless team has delivered.

Friday will mark the first-ever meeting between the Czechs and Swedes at the Winter Games. The last time these two met in a major international competition came during the group stage of the 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championship, which saw Czechia win 3-0 on its way to the bronze medal.