Hilda Svensson, at only 16 years old, was Sweden's leader, and is giving Swedish hockey fans for international success in the future.

With 10 seconds remaining, trailing by a goal against the back-to-back reigning World Champions, a team Sweden had not scored against in almost two decades, 16-year-old Hilda Svensson recorded the goal of her life.

That was the moment Svensson scored the game tying goal in her first World Championship representing Sweden against Team Canada. It was her tournament leading 11th point. 

Strangely enough, Svensson also scored 10 seconds into her first ever game with Sweden's senior national team. She wasn't done either, she scored five goals in five games.

“She’s an amazing player, I don’t doubt her, she’s really good,” said young Swedish teammate Mira Jungaker following Svensson’s debut. 

Svensson entered the tournament without placing expectations on herself. As a 16-year-old rookie, perhaps it was that lack of self-imposed pressure that enabled her to thrive.

“I just thought it would be fun to play with the older players," Svensson told The Hockey News. "I didn’t have many expectations.”

At the U-18 World Championships, Svensson was the top scorer for Sweden, who won a historic silver medal falling to Canada in the gold medal game after ousting USA in the semifinals.

“I really think my confidence has been better because of that,” Svensson said of her U-18 success. “It was really fun, I think we had a great tournament.”

In league play this season, Svensson made the jump to the SDHL playing amongst some of the best European players in the world. She was the top scoring junior player in the league this season scoring 22 points in 32 games for HV71, whom she'll return to play with next season. HV71 rostered a young group which also included Swedish national teammate Mira Jungaker, and Finnish national team member Anna Keisala.

Alongside Svensson on Sweden's Swedish national team at 17-year-old Jungaker, and 16-year-old Ebba Hedqvist. Soon they'll be joined by U-18 standouts like Mira Markstrom and Jenna Raunio forming a core that will help guide Sweden to annual medal contention.