Danijela Rundqvist, a mainstay on the Swedish women’s national hockey team for over a decade, has decided to hang up her skates following a solid career with the Damkronorna, retiring with a handful of international medals in-hand.
Rundqvist began her pro career nearly six years after her international career began, joining AIK of the Swedish league after her youth team stint with Kälvesta was complete. After three years with AIK, Rundqvist jumped to North America to join the upstart CWHL, spending the 2011 season with the Burlington Barracudas before returning to Europe, spending time with both Tornado Moscow and HC Lugano in Switzerland before returning home. Rundqvist spent a season each with SDE and Djurgårdens, helping the latter gain promotion to the top tier of Swedish women’s hockey.
Internationally, Rundqvist first joined the Damkronorna at the 2002 Winter Olympics, capturing Bronze from Finland, a medal she would improve upon four years later, as part of Sweden’s remarkable Silver medal finish at the 2006 Turin Olympics. Rundqvist also played in seven World Championships and the 2010 Olympics, capturing a pair of Bronze medals in 2004 and 2007.
As for the IHLC, Rundqvist was part of Sweden’s inaugural IHLC-winning team, capturing the title from the Americans in that pivotal 2006 Olympic Semifinal win, also starting in Sweden’s second-ever IHLC reign, as part of their historic victory over Canada at the 2008 Four Nations Cup. We wish Danijela and her family the very best for her retirement and the things to come!
Photo Credit: The Greatest – IIHF – HHOF – IOC
