By NHL Public Relations
February 15, 2025
Finland is facing Sweden in the latest chapter of a long-standing hockey rivalry between the countries, who share over 500 kilometers of border separated mostly by water.
The hockey rivalry dates back almost a century – Finland’s first international match is reported to be against Sweden on Jan. 29, 1928, and their first-ever appearance in the Winter Olympic Games was against Sweden in 1952 in Oslo, Norway (Sweden won 9-2).
Sweden and Finland 411
- Sweden and Finland have met in one Olympic gold medal game, with Sweden defeating Finland 3-2 at the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy. Teemu Selanne (FIN) and Daniel Alfredsson (SWE), two of the legends who took part in the 4 Nations Face-Off opening ceremony, participated in that contest.
- The two countries have also played for gold four times at the World Championship, each winning twice (Finland: 2011 & 1995; Sweden: 1998 & 1992).
- This will mark the eighth meeting between Finland and Sweden at an NHL International Tournament, all in the round robin. Five of the previous seven contests have been decided by a margin of two or fewer goals.
Source: nhl.com