Norway, Ducks Prospect Stian Solberg Fail to Qualify for Olympics

Norway's Men's ice hockey team participated in a three-game round-robin tournament between Aug. 29 and Sept. 1, the winner of which would punch their ticket to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy Feb. 6 through Feb. 22, 2026.

Ducks select Stian Solberg with 23rd overall pick

Ducks 2024 23rd overall draft pick Stian Solberg represented Norway during the tournament playing a middle-pair role on the team's blueline, was a member of the team's top power play unit and was a fixture on the penalty kill.

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After defeating Japan 4-2 and Great Britain 6-2, Norway was set to take on former Duck and current Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Anderssen's Denmark team in a winner-take-all matchup to determine who would head to Milan in Feb. 2026.

Denmark emerged victorious by a score of 4-1 after Anderssen stopped 30 of 31 shots in the decisive game.

In Norway's three games, Solberg (18) displayed his trademark brand of physical hockey while tallying two assists, four penalty minutes, and 11 shots.

Upper Deck 2024 Draft Spotlight: What Stian Solberg Brings to the Ducks Organization

He was one of six NHL players and prospects on Norway's roster alongside Minnesota Wild Mats Zuccarello, Dallas Stars prospect Mathias Emilio Pettersen, Tampa Bay Lightning prospects Emil Lilleberg and Noah Steen, and Detroit Red Wings 2024 15th overall pick Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, who is the highest drafted Norwegian player in history.

Solberg's next stop will be to join fellow Ducks prospect Damian Clara and Färjestad BK of the SHL. In 2023-24, Solberg played for Vålerenga of Eliteserien, Norway's top professional league, scoring 15 points in 42 regular season games and nine points in 17 playoff games.

Looking ahead to the 2026 Winter Olympics, it's unlikely many current Anaheim Ducks will represent their countries.

Leo Carlsson has been projected to represent Sweden at 2025's "NHL 4 Nations Face-Off," a likely indication of his position on Sweden's men's national team. Urho Vaakanainen is one of 11 current Finnish defensemen in the NHL, so he has a reasonable shot to represent his country as well. Radko Gudas and Lukas Dostal won the 2024 IIHF World Championship gold medal for their home nation of Czechia, so their spots seem secure of now.

Lukas Dostal: 2024 IIHF Male Player of the Year Award Finalist

Carlsson Projected to Represent Sweden in NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off