Monday, December 5, 2011

Sweden’s World Junior roster

Press Release

STOCKHOLM – Sweden’s U20 national team coach Roger Rönnberg played it safe. His 23-man roster for the 36th IIHF World Junior Championship in Canada holds no surprises. Rönnberg has six returnees from the 2011 event.

Coach Roger Rönnberg, whose team finished a disappointing 4th in Buffalo one year ago despite defeating Canada in the preliminary round, selected 17 domestic players, four who play in the Canadian Hockey League and one from the Finnish SM-liiga. Scroll down for the full roster.

The returning players are defenceman John Klingberg (Jokerit Helsinki, Finland) and Patrik Nemeth (AIK Stockholm), and forwards Johan Larsson (Brynäs Gävle), Max Friberg (Timrå), Rickard Rackell (Plymouth, OHL) and Johan Sundström (Frölunda Gothenburg).

The other three players from the CHL are: Goaltender Johan Mattsson (Sudbury, OHL), Victor Rask (Calgary, WHL) and Ludvig Rensfelt (Sarnia, OHL).

The roster includes two highly touted 17-year-olds: Filip Forsberg (Leksand) and Sebastian Collberg (Frölunda), both eligible for the IIHF World U18 Championship and also for the upcoming NHL draft.

The team includes four players who were selected in the first round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft: forwards Mika Zibanejad, Djurgården (the sixth overall pick who played nine games with the NHL Ottawa Senators this season), Rickard Rakell and Färjestad’s defensive pairing Jonas Brodin / Oscar Klefbom.

Brodin was selected 10th by Minnesota while Klefbom was picked 19th by Edmonton. Rackell was the last first-round selection, by Anaheim.

The roster includes 16 players who are playing in the Sweden’s top pro league, Elitserien.

Goaltenders:
Anton Forsberg, Modo
Johan Mattsson, Sudbury
Johan Gustafsson, Luleå

Defencemen:
Mattias Bäckman, Linköping
Jonas Brodin, Färjestad
Fredrik Claesson, Djurgården
Oscar Klefbom, Färjestad
Petter Granberg, Skellefteå
John Klingberg, Jokerit
Patrik Nemeth, AIK

Forwards:
Sebastian Collberg, Frölunda
Johan Larsson, Brynäs
Johan Sundström, Frölunda
Max Friberg, Timrå
Filip Forsberg, Leksand
William Karlsson, Västerås
Victor Rask, Calgary
Joakim Nordström, AIK
Mika Zibanejad, Djurgården
Ludvig Rensfelt, Sarnia
Rickard Rakell, Plymouth
Pontus Åberg, Djurgården
Erik Thorell, Färjestad

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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