The TV-pucken finalspel reached its third day with decisive semifinal outcomes for both boys and girls divisions. Dalarna and Värmland advanced to the girls' final, while Skåne and Småland secured spots in the boys' showdown set for Sunday. NHL legend Mats Sundin praised the tournament's tradition but criticized early player selections.
The TV-pucken, Sweden's premier youth hockey tournament for 15-year-olds, is nearing its climax with finals scheduled for Sunday. In the girls' semifinals, Dalarna defeated Stockholm 5-2, pulling ahead in the second period, while Värmland earned a convincing 4-0 shutout victory over Ångermanland. The final pits Dalarna against Värmland, teams that previously met in group play where Värmland prevailed 1-0. Key players to watch include Tilda Wigg and Molly Myhr for Dalarna, and Molly Pihlström and Lili Labraaten for Värmland.
The boys' semifinals delivered high drama. Skåne edged Stockholm Nord 1-0, with Simon Wilsell scoring the lone goal at 4:17 of the first period. In the other matchup, Stockholm Syd and Småland traded leads, ending regulation tied before a scoreless overtime led to a shootout. Isak Alvudd netted the decisive penalty for Småland, sending them to the final against Skåne—a rematch of their group-stage clash won by Småland 4-1.
Placement matches added to the action. Småland claimed fifth place with a 3-1 win over Skåne, while Östergötland/Gotland suffered losses of 1-7 to Småland and 1-4 to Skåne. Värmland finished sixth after falling in their fifth-place game.
Amid the competition, stories of young talents emerged. Twins Greta and Irma Junzell, representing Värmland, shared their journey from Åmåls SK, where they play with boys. "It feels very special... not many get to do this as twins," said Greta. They aim to win TV-pucken and advance to SDHL or PWHL. Värmland captain Philip Tollefsen, son of former Färjestad player Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, highlighted the team's progress: "It was a long time since Värmland was this good."
Mats Sundin, who won TV-pucken with Stockholm in 1986, lauded the event's format but voiced concerns over early cuts. "Selections happening far before TV-pucken are not good," he told Expressen. He noted stars like Daniel Alfredsson succeeded without participating and advocated for multi-sport involvement in youth: "Early selections take away the joy." Scouting presence was notable at venues like Hatstore Arena, adding pressure to the proceedings.