Denmark's Olympic adventure ended in the round of 16 against Czech Republic with a 2–3 loss. Former Malmö defender Malte Setkov, who was part of the squad, expresses frustration over the outcome. Despite the defeat, he has showcased himself on a major stage.
Malte Setkov, a towering defender who played for Malmö Redhawks from 2014 to 2021, has had an unexpected journey to the Olympics. After a season in Sweden's Allsvenskan with AIK, he returned to Denmark and has spent the last two seasons with Rødovre in the Danish league. The step up to a tournament filled with NHL players was significant, but Setkov earned his spot in the Danish squad by impressing at a preparatory camp.
"I waited for my chance and it came now," he says. The match against Czech Republic was tense from start to finish. Alexander True and Nick Olesen scored Denmark's goals, but it wasn't enough for victory.
After the 2–3 loss, Setkov lets out a deep sigh: "It's frustrating. Heavy." He adds: "We played quite well for large parts of the match and gave ourselves a chance in the end but we didn't succeed, unfortunately."
Despite the disappointment, Setkov looks ahead. He plays for his home club in Denmark and has ambitions there, but will reflect on his future over the summer. Regarding a possible return to Sweden, he is uncertain: "Don't know. It depends on many things. It depends on where it is. You know how it is when choosing a team, many factors come into play. A girlfriend who has to move and all that." Setkov has undoubtedly positioned himself well after the tournament.
