Astana 2025 Team Preview: Get to know Sweden

The 2025 World Para Ice Hockey Championships B-Pool will take place from 6-11 September in Astana, Kazakhstan, with six national teams competing in 15 games over six days. Hosted by the Kazakhstan Para Hockey Federation at the Tarlan Arena, participating nations will include Italy, Japan, Sweden, Kazakhstan, France and Finland. 

The top two finishers from the round-robin tournament event will earn promotion to the A-Pool for the 2027 season and spots at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games. The bottom finisher will be released to the C-Pool for next season.

The vibrant host city, Astana, is the capital of Kazakhstan and is the country’s second-largest city with over one million residents. It is home to several professional ice hockey teams, including Barys Astana, which forms the core of the Kazakh national squad competing at the 2025 IIHF World Championship. This will be the 11th edition of B-Pool Worlds and the fourth time it is held in Asia. 

Here’s a look at Team Sweden.

Background    

Third-ranked Sweden Para ice hockey legacy runs deep — this is where the sport was born in the early 1960s at a Stockholm rehabilitation centre, and Sweden went on to capture Paralympic gold in 1994 and numerous world championship medals in the A‑Pool during the sport’s early years. 

Now, the team – featuring a mix of seasoned veterans and emerging talents – has claimed bronze at the last three consecutive editions of the B-Pool event. Sweden enters the tournament with eyes set on promotion to the A‑Pool and spot for the Milano‑Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Qualification Tournament and is ready to rekindle its historic prominence on the international stage.

World Championships History 

2024: Bronze (B-Pool)
2023: Bronze (B-Pool)
2021: Bronze (B-Pool)
2019: 7th place (A-Pool)
2017: 6th place (A-Pool)
2015: Silver (B-Pool)
2013: 8th place (A-Pool)
2012: Silver (B-Pool)
2009: Silver (B-Pool)
2004: Bronze (A-Pool)
2000: Bronze (A-Pool)
1996: Gold (A-Pool)

Roster 

Forwards: Caroline Persson, Per Kasperi, Markus Lopez, Magnus Eklund, Elliot Szeplaky, Robin Dahlstedt, Robin Meng
Defenders: Hugo Liljebaek, Peter Nilsson, Peter Ojala
Goaltenders: Dennis Jansson, Ulf Nilsson
Head Coach:

Athlete to Watch 

Among Sweden’s roster heading into the World Para Ice Hockey Championships B‑Pool, Per stands out as a prime athlete to watch given his experience at the Paralympic level. A seasoned forward born in 1993, he brings immense international experience, having represented Sweden at the 2010, 2014, and 2018 Winter Paralympics, alongside his club play for Nacka HI and personal journey with spina bifida. 

Kasperi’s career reflects resilience, longevity, and high-level performance, making him a likely offensive leader and motivating presence in Sweden’s push for promotion and a renewed Paralympic push.

Game Schedule 

Saturday, 6 September 
19:00 — Sweden vs. Kazakhstan

Sunday, 7 September 
12:00 — Sweden vs. Finland

Monday, 8 September 
15:30— Japan vs. Sweden

Wednesday, 10 September 
15:30 — Italy vs. Sweden

Thursday, 11 September 
12:00 — Sweden vs. France