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jtam · 04-03-2021, 01:09 AM

[Ready to be Graded - 3700 words]
Thank you everyone gathering virtually to Team Sweden’s IIHF World Championship Roster Announcement. We are very fortunate to be able to bring you this squad to perform in the S58 IIHF World Championships. Each player has been under strict COVID protocols and has been following the guidelines laid out by the IIHF, as well as government officials. We are very privileged to continue pursuing the sport that we love and we would like to extend out our deepest gratitude and well wishes to all the front line workers and staff that have worked tirelessly in this unprecedented pandemic. Our deepest hope is that as a Hockey Federation, we will be able to provide you a brand of entertaining hockey as we all work towards one day being able to play in front of all our amazing fans.

Last season, the Tre Kronor fielded a roster full of promising up and coming talent, led by veteran Swedish National Team mainstays. With the competition continuing to become fiercer each season, last season’s roster did not achieve what they set out to do, which was to better their 3rd place finish the year before. With another season under their belt, the youth movement continues in full swing, alongside the steady veteran hands of the fantastic ambassadors of Swedish hockey, we are once again aiming for a medal finish against the best of the best. Without further ado, please welcome the players that will be representing Sweden at the S58 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships.

Forwards

Ola Wagstrom (S44) – Manhattan Rage Rage

The offensive dynamo returns once again to lead the attack for Team Sweden. There is no stopping Ola Wagstrom as he continues to tear through defenses en route to setting the opponent’s net on fire. One of the eldest players on Team Sweden, his offensive contributions have not slowed down or deteriorated, and some may even say that he has continued to get better with age. With opponents game planning around him and his lethal shot, Wagstrom has been able to make his linemates better with his sharp playmaking skills. Manning the right wing for club and country, Wagstrom led the Rage in points with 68 (24 goals 44 assists) last season, and scored 14 points (9 goals 5 assists) for Team Sweden at the last World Championship.

Gunnar Soderberg (S47) – Chicago Syndicate

Named Captain of Team Sweden for S58, Soderberg’s leadership in motivating the team has become a mainstay in the locker rooms for both club and country. Armed with a shot that is difficult to handle for most goaltenders, Soderberg has been the model of consistency, earning him 52 points (27 goals 25 assists) over the season for the Chicago Syndicate. While his goal totals have dipped slightly from his lofty highs the previous season where he scored 35 goals along with 19 assists for 54 points, Soderberg has added an extra playmaking dimension to his game, enhancing the players around him. Providing a lethal one-two punch alongside Wagstrom, the Tre Kronor will look for Soderberg to continue his scoring ways, adding to his 8 point (5 goals 3 assists) performance during last year’s tournament.

Henrik Lekberg Osterman (S50) – San Francisco Pride pride

Offensive dynamo Henrik Lekberg Osterman returns looking to continue to improve on his last international outing last season. Now Assistant Captain for the Swedish National Team, Osterman has taken a big step forward in his offensive capabilities this year in the SHL scoring 66 points (20 goals 46 assists), an increase of 26 points from his previous SHL campaign. Team Sweden will look to Osterman to lead the primary attack on the first line centeringOla Wagstrom and Gunnar Soderberg. His sound defensive play and ability to block shots and stifle passing lanes will be relied upon for the Tre Kronor and will be looked upon to improve on his 12 point (4 goals 8 assists) tally for the Tre Kronor last season.

Karl Krashwagen (S50) – Baltimore Platoon Platoon

Karl Krashwagen returns crashing back into duty with his trademark strong play on the puck and aggressive forecheck. While known for his defensive capabilities and being a force to be reckoned with for opposition players with the puck, Krashwagen exploded this season offensively just like how he explodes into any opponent on the ice. Krashwagen doubled his point totals from 34 points in S57 (12 goals 22 assists) to a monstrous 71 point season (42 goals 29 assists), leading the SHL in goals. A cornerstone for Team Sweden, Krashwagen will be counted on to replicate his banner season in the SHL and better last tournament’s point totals for the Tre Kronor of 5 points (3 goals 2 assists).

First-Name Last-Name (S50) – Toronto North Stars Stars

Another returnee from the previous season’s national team, First-Name Last-Name brings his all-round game to the Tre Kronor. Looking to continue improving on his two-way game, Mr. Default Name will be tasked with providing secondary scoring as well as sound defensive positioning in the 2nd line center position in a match-up role. No stranger to being relied upon in such a pivotal role as he is deployed similarly in his club team, First-Name Last-Name put up very decent numbers for a Toronto North Stars side that catapulted themselves into championship contention this season, putting up 46 points (16 goals 30 assists) and will look to improve on his 9 point (2 goals 7 assists) outing from last season’s World Championships.

Reid Sutherland (S53) – Seattle Argonauts

Starting the list of S53 Swedish players is Reid Sutherland from the Seattle Argonauts. While Sutherland is a natural center, he will be asked to play on the wing for the Swedish National Team, likely alongside First-Name Last-Name and Karl Krashwagen. Sutherland’s all round game will compliment the line that will be utilized in a match up role against the best of the best. Sutherland will be tasked to chip in offensively as well as continuing to be defensively sound in his own zone. Sutherland will look to better his campaign totals from last tournament in which he chipped in 6 points (1 goal 5 assists.) Sutherland anchored the second line for the Argonauts with a 37 point season (18 goals 19 assists).

Sven Svenson (S53) – San Francisco Pride pride

Joining his teammate Henrik Lekberg Osterman on Team Sweden is Sven Svenson, where he will bring his strong north south game to represent the Tre Kronor. With great offensive instincts and vision, Svenson will be tasked with breaking the puck out of the defensive end and utilizing his great puck handling skills to carry the puck up ice where he can fully utilize his offensive arsenal. A smooth skating hitter, he separates his opponents from the puck and brings it up ice in one smooth motion. Sven Svenson was very good for the San Francisco Pride last season, putting up 49 points (17 goals 32 assists) and had a decent showing last year with 7 points (3 goals 4 assists) for the Tre Kronor.

Rikard Hammarberg (S53) – Hamilton Steelhawks

Rikard Hammarberg returns to the national team, like many others from last season’s team, looking for a chance to redeem himself. Coming off a down year in which his offensive production plummeted from 52 points (21 goals 31 assists) to 39 points (17 goals 22 assists) in a match up role, Hammarberg will look to reconnect with his offensive side on the 3rd line for the Tre Kronor and improve on his 5 point (1 goal 4 assists) performance from last season’s IIHF World Championships. While his offensive numbers have cratered, Hammarberg has steadily improved the defensive side of his game. Often a liability on the defensive end in seasons past, Hammarberg held his own in a defensive role against the league’s best and put together a defensively sound campaign for the Steelhawks.

Taylor Johansson (S53) – Toronto North Stars Stars

Playmaking forward Taylor Johansson returns to the Tre Kronor taking a large step in his offensive game this season for the Toronto North Stars. A speedy forward with great two way instincts, Johansson improved his point totals from 30 points (8 goals 22 assists) from S57 to 50 points (20 goals 30 assists) in S58. His offensive explosion was a big part of pushing the North Stars into the playoffs over last season’s champions, the Chicago Syndicate. Johansson, along with the rest of the veterans on the team, will be relied upon to provide a steadying presence and leadership for the rookies that will be joining the Tre Kronor National Team. With his trademark transition game strengthened, Johansson will look to add to his 4 point performance from last season (2 goals 2 assists)

Jöörgüštrâäd DuBølk (S55) – Tampa Bay Barracuda

Playing in his second World Championships, Tampa Bay Barracuda’s hulking defender finds himself playing as a forward for this season’s World Championships. With a wealth of solid defenders for the Swedish side, a player of DuBølk’s skill was better utilized as a forward than being left at home. His defensive profile is excellent, as one would expect from a defenseman. While it may be an adjustment for the big man to play on the attacking end of the ice, his fantastic positioning and checking ability will give opponents pause if they think they can slip by a player that is not playing his natural position. As a defenseman, DuBølk scored 14 points for the Barracuda (6 goals 8 assists) and will find himself in a position to improve on his 6 point performance in the last world championship (1 goal 5 assists).

Yngve Simonsson (S56) – San Francisco Pride pride

This season’s world championships will be offensive forward Yngve Simonsson’s first foray into the men’s side for Team Sweden. While his rookie status in this season’s World Championship is not in doubt, Simonsson’s offensive prowess will give opponents pause if they think they will take advantage of a young player. Yngve played an integral role for the Pride this season, notching an offensive points total rivaling and surpassing several of his veteran teammates. He notched a total of 47 points this season (25 goals 22 assists) behind fellow Swedish teammates Henrik Lekberg Osterman and Sven Svenson on the Pride. Select deployment will do Simonsson well for his first World Championship as he looks to ply his offensive skills for the national team.

Calvin Hobbes (S56) – New England Wolfpack

Joining fellow rookie SImonsson in his first world championship is Calvin Hobbes from the New England Wolfpack. The natural center will likely be on the wing for his first taste of the men’s team at the IIHF World Championships. An efficient offensive forward, his accuracy with his passing and his shots allows Hobbes to generate offense whenever he hops over the boards. He was able to notch 20 points for his club team (11 goals 9 assists). While most rookies tend to focus on their offensive game in the early seasons of their career, Hobbes’ ability to defend when his team does not have the puck is welcome for a younger player. He has a natural ability to get into the shooting lanes to block shots and with his defensive skill set, he can make his goaltenders’ lives easier.

Defenders

Zlatan Ibrahimovic Jr. (S51) - Hamilton Steelhawks

A mainstay of the Swedish Men’s team, Zlatan Ibrahimovic Jr. returns as the elder statesman for a new wave of Swedish defenders. He will be heavily relied upon to shore up the defensive structure for the Tre Kronor with his characteristic two-way defensive game. With strong defensive instincts and solid stickwork, crossing over into the Swedish defensive zone when Ibrahimovic Jr. is on the ice becomes incredibly hard. Not only is Ibrahimovic Jr.a stalwart in defense, but his offensive instincts are also top notch as well and he will be relied upon to lead the Swedish transition game. Ibrahimovic Jr. put together a solid 32 point season for the Hamilton Steelhawks (11 goals 21 assists) and will look to improve on his 5 point (1 goal 4 assist) performance from last season’s World Championships.

Sven Yxskaft (S52) – New England Wolfpack

Sven Yxskaft’s consistency as one of the best transition defensemen to wear the Swedish Tre Kronor on his uniform has continued to impress year after year in the World Championships. Smooth skating and strong on his skates, Yxskaft is just as deft at stripping opponents of the puck as he is weaving through the neutral zone for a clean entry into the attacking zone. His offensive instincts are top notch, and he will be relied upon to put up points from the defense for Team Sweden as he has continued to put up points for his club team. Yxskaft led the New England Wolfpack defensemen in points with 37 (8 goals 29 assists), and was fourth in scoring for the Swedish National Team last season at the World Championships with 10 points (2 goals 8 assists).

Magnus Liljeström (S53) – Winnipeg Aurora Aurora

Team Sweden’s defensive factory has been working overtime the past several seasons churning out top notch defenseman and Magnus Liljeström is another strong defenseman entering his prime. A physical specimen, Liljeström prides himself in making it hard for the opposing team to get set up in their offensive zone. While his defensive game is a strength, his offensive instinctoutpaces the rest of Team Sweden’s defense corps. Scoring 41 points this year for the Winnipeg Aurora, Liljeström’s scoring touch from the line is prolific with 16 goals in addition to his 25 assists. The Tre Kronor will look to Liljeström to provide that same scoring touch and improve on his game from last season’s World Championship where he had 3 points (1 goal 2 assists).

Emilia Bergman (S54) – Buffalo Stampede

Next up from the Swedish Defense Factory is a specimen of a different template to the previous three. A defense first player, Emilia Bergman provides a rock steady defensive game to enable the free roaming offensive tendencies of her Swedish defensive counterparts. The best friend of the goaltenders she plays in front of, Bergman is strong on her skates and clears out offensive players from her goaltenders’ sightlines and is never afraid to deliver a devastating check to separate players from pucks. A defensewoman that is never out of position, Team Sweden’s potent attack will be able to take more chances knowing that she is behind them to cover for any mistakes. Bergman’s offensive numbers for the Buffalo Stampede were nothing to scoff at, providing 30 points (9 goals and 21 assists) and notched2 assists for Team Sweden last season.

Joseph Fantobens (S54) – Texas Renegades

Joseph Fantobens returns to the national team after a season on the sidelines and looks to prove to the Swedish GMs that his omission from the national team duties last season was a mistake. Cut from the same cloth as Emilia Bergman, Fantobens is a young defenseman that is more focused on his defensive game than his transition offensive game. With excellent defensive reads, Fantobens plays a physical style of defense that looks to smother any offensive players looking for an easy way to the Swedish net. Opponents need to keep their heads on a swivel whenever Fantobens is on the ice as he is known to blow up skaters left and right. Fantobens provided 27 points for the league leading Texas Renegades (8 goals 19 assists) this season.

Rikard Bjerg (S55) – San Francisco Pride pride

Playing in his natural position after a brief foray as a forward last season’s World Championships is the youngest member on the defense, Rikard Bjerg. To balance the three two-way defenders that help drive offense from the backend for Team Sweden, Bjerg’s excellent defensive capabilities match Fantobens and Bergman in providing a stable backend to allow the offensive stars of Team Sweden to get to work. A smooth skater with the puck, Bjerg’s transition game rivals those several seasons his senior and his ability to get back in position after his forays into the offensive zone gives the Tre Kronor another effective pivot on the blueline. A sound shot blocker, Bjerg provides a little bit of everything in all three zones. Bjerg scored16 points for the San Francisco Pride this season (2 goals 14 assists) and 2 assists last season at the World Championships.

Goaltenders

Kata Vilde (S41) – Calgary Dragons Dragons

Kata Vilde needs no introduction. The most senior member on the team, one of, if not the most decorated Swedish goaltenders to ever lace them up for Tre Kronor, Kata Vilde looks to backstop the Swedish National Team to another medal this season. A positionally sound butterfly goaltender, Vilde’s experience will be an asset not only for the other Swedish goaltenders, but his steadying presence in the net provides Team Sweden the confidence to take risks without fear. Heading into the twilight of his career, the rest of the Tre Kronor will be looking to put it all on the line to win another championship for the 18-year veteran.

A Jobin (S53) – Hamilton Steelhawks

A spectacular goaltender in his own right, A Jobin is one of the most successful goaltenders in the past several seasons. Ever since his emergence after getting the call up from the SMJHL to the Hamilton Steelhawks, he has recorded the most wins out of any goaltender in the league. While Jobin has been apprenticing behind Vilde the past several seasons, he has become the goaltender of the present after several seasons viewed as the heir apparent in the Swedish net. With superb reflexes and impeccable positioning, Jobin will look to translate his club success to the Tre Kronor and look to build upon his legacy on the international stage.

Last season's results were unacceptable for King Carl and the Swedish National Team is hungry to right the wrongs of last season and once again aim for a medal finish. With the younglings of years past blossoming into their primes, built on the shoulders of the giants of the Swedish National Team veterans, it is Sweden’s time to show that they are a force to be reckoned with. Last season’s results were an aberration, and the Tre Kronor are hungry to show what they are capable of.

Heja Sverige!

roastpuff · 04-03-2021, 01:20 AM

[Image: ta-det-lugnt-och-heja-sverige.png]

Henrik · 04-03-2021, 02:16 AM

Lets go!

***sköldpaddor*** · 04-03-2021, 08:40 AM

HEJA SVERIGE

enigmatic · 04-03-2021, 08:52 AM

*gurbs* · 04-03-2021, 11:53 AM

Let’s go squad! Excited to compete with you all and hopefully make King Carl proud!

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