Sharks Center Seeks Olympic Gold 20 Years After Witnessing Iconic Swedish Victory

Alex Wennberg hopes to emulate the heroics of his childhood idols at the upcoming Winter Games.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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San Jose Sharks center Alex Wennberg vividly remembers watching Sweden's iconic Olympic hockey victory 20 years ago, when legends Nicklas Lidstrom, Peter Forsberg, and Mats Sundin connected on a memorable goal. Now, Wennberg aims to create his own lasting Olympic memory by leading Sweden to gold at the upcoming Winter Games.

Why it matters

Wennberg's personal connection to Sweden's past Olympic hockey success adds an emotional layer to his quest for gold. As one of his country's top players, his performance could inspire the next generation of Swedish hockey stars.

The details

Wennberg, now 30 years old, was a young hockey fan when he witnessed Sweden's 2006 Olympic triumph. The goal scored by Nicklas Lidstrom, with assists from Peter Forsberg and Mats Sundin, left a lasting impression on Wennberg, who idolized those Swedish hockey icons. Two decades later, Wennberg hopes to emulate their heroics and lead Sweden to gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

  • Sweden won gold at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.
  • The 2026 Winter Olympics will take place in an undetermined location.

The players

Alex Wennberg

A 30-year-old center for the San Jose Sharks who is aiming to lead Sweden to Olympic gold, just as his childhood idols did 20 years ago.

Nicklas Lidstrom

A legendary Swedish hockey player who scored the iconic goal that Wennberg remembers from the 2006 Olympics.

Peter Forsberg

A former Swedish hockey star who assisted on the goal that Wennberg witnessed at the 2006 Olympics.

Mats Sundin

Another Swedish hockey icon who also assisted on the goal that left a lasting impression on Wennberg during the 2006 Olympics.

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What they’re saying

“The goal (Nicklas) Lindstrom scores with the drop passes from (Peter) Forsberg and (Mats) Sundin, that's three of the biggest icons we have in Sweden who connect on a goal.”

— Alex Wennberg (East Bay Times)

The takeaway

Wennberg's personal connection to Sweden's past Olympic hockey success adds an emotional element to his quest for gold at the 2026 Winter Games. As one of his country's top players, his performance could inspire the next generation of Swedish hockey stars to follow in the footsteps of their legendary predecessors.