Sweden national hockey team Rikard Grönborg debut win over Czech Republic, Digi Mart USA News (Prague): Sweden defeated the Czech Republic 3–2 after a shootout in Rikard Grönborg’s first match as national team head coach. The win came in the NOCCO Hockey Games in Prague.
The national team coach credited Färjestad for the preparation that led to the result. Jack Berglund and Melker Thelin were the heroes of the match, according to the publisher’s report.
Berglund equalized to 2–2 deep in the third period and also scored the decisive penalty in the shootout. Thelin saved four of five Czech attempts in the shootout.
It was a match of contrasting halves. Sweden started better and took the lead in the first period through Filip Roos, before the home team turned the game around in the intermission after taking control of the tempo.
The one blemish for Sweden was that Luleå forward Isac Hedqvist had to leave the game in the second period after being struck in the head by a shot. He did not return to the match.
