Already an internationally seasoned player before she ever set foot in Columbus, Hilda Svensson came into the NCAA with high expectations and met them with aplomb.
Starting with the Swedish national team at just 16, Svensson also spent parts of five seasons in the SDHL (women’s professional league in Sweden) where she was named Rookie of the Year in 2023.
In her first weekend as a Buckeye, Svensson had two goals and two assists and by the fifth game she had unleashed ten shots on Minnesota, scoring once. There was no transition time needed for the smooth-skating forward. Her years in the SDHL, which allows for some body contact, made her solid in her skates and difficult to separate from the puck. Svensson has a great shot, particularly her wrister and seems to have the ability to pick her spot at will. Particularly good at moving the puck and finding lanes, she seems to have a knack for finding the open path to walk in on net and flick the puck past the goalie. She displays a patience and understanding of how the play might develop that not only puts her in the right places at the right times, but sets up her teammates to do the same.
At 5’7″ Svensson isn’t particularly big, but she plays bigger when she plants herself in front of the goalie or even further up in the slot where she’s very good at not just blocking the view, but getting her stick on long distance shots to redirect them and find the back of the net. She’s not afraid to get scrappy and has the strength to hold her position or fight for and come away with the puck.
Svensson led the Buckeyes in points despite missing eight games while playing with Team Sweden in the Milan Olympics. She tallied 52 points on 18 goals and 34 assists in 33 games played and leads rookies nationally with 1.53 points per game and 1.03 assists per game. The 52 points tied with Sara Manness for most among rookies. The pair were named 2026 Julia Chu Co-Rookies of the Year by the Hockey Commissioners Association.
She also led Sweden with seven points in the tournament, helping her country to their first Olympic semifinals in 12 years.
The Oskarshamn, Sweden native was also named the WCHA Rookie of the Year and selected to the All-WCHA Third Team and WCHA All-Rookie Teams. Svensson tallied a point in all but five games she played in this season, including notching assists in each of the Buckeyes’ Frozen Four games.
Not just a force at even-strength, the freshman was trusted on Ohio State’s special teams, where she excelled, leading the team with 14 points on the power play. She also scored OSU’s only short-handed goal this year and was the player entrusted with penalty shots, scoring both of her opportunities this season. She also took just one penalty.
Already a force to reckon with at 19 and at the start of her collegiate career, Svensson showed how mature, how versatile and how much of a threat she is. She’s only going to get better with more experience and we’re just lucky we’ll get to watch her week in and week out.
For her speed and ability to carry the puck right past defenders. For her talent at screening and redirecting shots. For her patience and accurate on shots and passes. For her effortless-looking wrist shot. For all those reasons and more, Ohio State’s Hilda Svensson is the 2026 USCHO Rookie of the Year.