Hilda Svensson has arrived on the world stage for Sweden, stepping up as one of the top teenage players on the planet.

Among 2006 born players, Hilda Svensson is perhaps one of the best known in the world. She's been a key contributor for Sweden's U-18 and senior national teams.

At her first World Championship in April, it only took Svensson 10 seconds to score. She announced her entrance not only as a player to watch at the U-18 level, but on the senior stage as well. Svensson wasn’t done either, scoring Sweden’s second goal in what would turn out to be a 6-2 loss to open the 2023 IIHF women’s World Championships.

Later in the tournament, with Sweden trailing Canada 2-1 late in the quarterfinal, Svensson scored with ten seconds left to tie the game, sending Canada and Sweden to an unprecedented overtime. In terms of big game moments, Svensson has proven to have ice in her veins.

“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's dying seconds goal against Canada highlighted many of the traits that make her an elite player to watch. She carried the puck from the corner using her edgework to protect the puck before finding an open teammate, then she went to the net. Here, Svensson was knocked down, but immediately got up before dropping to knee to gain leverage and bury her shot.

Svensson finished the tournament with 11 points in seven games as a 16-year-old playing against older competition, some more than twice her age. Since the U-18 World Championships where Svensson scored six points in six games helping Sweden win a historic silver medal, upsetting USA in the process, Svensson's game has been boosted not only by her skill, but by new found confidence.

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

Her hands, vision, and on ice IQ are already among the best in the world, and as Svensson gains strength and experience, she'll become more dominant. 

Svensson has certainly been fielding offers from top NCAA programs, but next season will return to the SDHL where she'll play her second full season for HV71 before deciding to come to North America or stay in Europe.