Hanna Olsson had a season ending injury, but it didn't end her postseason or her World Championships. While she'll be back with Frolunda this year, she has interest in the PWHL in the future.
Hanna Olsson had a season ending injury, but it didn't end her postseason or her World Championships. While she'll be back with Frolunda this year, she has interest in the PWHL in the future.
Hanna Olsson has been one of Sweden's top offensive performers in recent seasons. Internationally, Olsson was Sweden's leading scorer at the 2022 World Championships, and tied Hilda Svensson for the team lead in 2023 with 11 points in seven games.
When she was injured in late October, deemed out for the season, it was a crushing blow to her club team Frolunda, where she served as captain, and to Sweden's hopes for international play. The year prior, Olsson helped Frolunda alongside Finland's Michelle Karvinen, earn promotion to the SDHL scoring 106 points in 19 games. She was off to a strong start this season with six goals and seven points in her first six games before a dangerous hit by Petra Nieminen ended her year. It's been a long road back for Olsson to be ready for Worlds, but she's here now and determined to make an impact for Sweden.
"I had good doctors and a good medical team by my side all the way, I'm really happy to be here and enjoy every moment," Olsson said.
"It's different than what I used to do before the worlds, but it keeps getting better and better and I just keep building from that, I have good players around me who help me a lot," continued Olsson.
Olsson has seen the growth of Sweden's national program, which she called "inspiring" watching Sweden's young stars step up. One of those players, Lina Ljungblom is likely headed to North American next season to the PWHL. Olsson is excited about the launch of the PWHL, and said she's interested in joining the world's top league in the future, but remains focused on playing in Frolunda next season as she's under contract for one more year.
"I think it's really good," she said of the PWHL. I think it's very good for women's hocey and for our league as well...of course I'm interested in that for the future, but for now I focus on Frolunda of course."