When Swedish women's hockey's highest series today had a recording session to talk up the season, there were plenty of players and leaders in place. The union captain Ylva Martinensen was also there, and a lot of representatives from the media.

But some who were not present were the Swedish Ice Hockey Association chairman Anders Larsson, general secretary Tommy Boustedt and national team and competition manager Olof Östblom.

"How much do they care?"

This despite the fact that the lack of respect and attention from the federation is one of the main reasons why the national team has gone on strike.

- The union's top management is never at our tournaments. How much do they care, for example, Erika Grahm asked a few weeks ago.

Grahm not surprised

But despite the union's promise of improvement, and at the moment negotiating with the players' union Sico for a new national team agreement, none of the Swedish ice hockey association's absolute heights appeared at today's preliminary meeting in central Stockholm. Something that attracted some attention from the players on site.

- It would have been good if they had shown their face here today, for example, says Linköping's national team veteran Pernilla Winberg.

Brynäs star Erika Grahm, is the team captain in the Women's Crowns and one of the toughest in her criticism of the federal leadership. And she was not surprised by the absence of covenant peaks.

- I haven't seen them here before, so I didn't expect to see them here today either, she says.

Wouldn't it have been a good time for them to show that they have changed and care about you?

- It must stand for them. But we are here today and there are an incredible amount of people here and there are many who care about Swedish women's hockey and we see that today.