Sweden is an international power on the rise in women's hockey, and will return to the U-18 World Championships this season looking to repeat as silver medalists.

Last year Sweden won silver at the U-18 World Championships on home soil, a result they'll look to repeat in Zug, Switzerland.

"This feels like a very exciting squad: stable goalkeepers, back side that has grown during the season and a forward set that contains all the pieces of the puzzle," said Andreas Karlsson, head coach of Sweden's U-18 team in a translated interview. "These are solid and skilled players." 

Sweden has shown significant growth in international competition, taking Canada to overtime in the World Championship quarterfinals last year at the senior national level, and winning silver at the U-18 World Championships. This season, Sweden recently finished atop a Five Nations Cup at the senior national level, and the U-18 team went undefeated at a Four Nations Tournament beating Czechia, Finland, and Slovakia.

While Canada will enter as the heavy favorites at this year's World Championship, Sweden expects to be in the mix for a medal again.

"We only see opportunities. We will compete for medals," said Karlsson. "What we were involved in last year shows that we can be up there."

The biggest losses to Sweden's roster from last year is blueliner Mira Jungaker and forward Mira Markstrom who retired from hockey to pursue a floorball career.

From last season's silver medal team, 11 players are eligible to return, including leading scorer and senior national team standout Hilda Svensson. Other standouts who are expected to contribute this year include Ebba Hedqvist, Mira Hallin, Isabelle Leijonhielm, Elsa Åberg, Linnea Natt och Dag, Jenna Raunio, Edit Danielsson, Wilma Georgny.

At the senior national level, there's excitement with the growth of the SDHL, and the emergence of stars like Emma Soderberg, Lina Ljungblom, Hanna Olsson, Sara Hjalmarsson, and Maja Nylén Persson.