Unlike most teams which announce training camp rosters ahead of time, the Swedish Ice Hockey Association announced on Wednesday the 24 players that they intend to take to Ottawa for the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, which runs from Dec. 26 until Jan. 5.

“The team has a stable foundation in the nine players who took part and took us to (last year’s) final in front of a packed Scandinavium in Gothenburg,” said head coach Magnus Hävelid. “We have good championship experience in the squad, which is important. Our players born in 2006 took home a U18 bronze this spring.”

Eighteen of the 24 players have already been drafted by NHL teams, including 2023 first-rounders Tom Willander (Vancouver Canucks) and Axel Sandin-Pellikka (Detroit Red Wings). Of the six undrafted players, 2006-born left winger Victor Eklund, the younger brother of the San Jose Sharks’ William Eklund, is projected to be a first-round pick in 2025. 

As had been speculated, 2007-born defenseman Anton Frondell, who is projected to be a top-10 pick by most sources but has battled injuries, was not selected.  

Most of the players have played professionally in Sweden this year, either in the SHL or in the second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan. Forwards Felix Unger Sörum (Carolina Hurricanes) and Anton Wahlberg (Buffalo Sabres) both play in the AHL.

A mostly similar team without the four North American-based players finished second behind Czechia at a five-team U-20 tournament in Finland last month. 

Goaltenders:
1 Marcus Gidlöf, Leksands IF – New York Islanders
30 Melvin Strahl, Youngtown Phantoms (USHL) – Columbus Blue Jackets
35 Melker Thelin, IF Björklöven – Utah HC

Defensemen:
2 Rasmus Bergqvist, Skellefteå AIK – Montreal Canadiens
4 Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Skellefteå AIK – Detroit Red Wings
5 Wilhelm Hallquisth, HV 71
6 Axel Hurtig, Calgary Hitmen (WHL) – Calgary Flames
7 Viggo Gustafsson, Timrå IK – Nashville Predators
9 Theo Lindstein, Brynäs IF – St. Louis Blues
24 Tom Willander, Boston University (NCAA) – Vancouver Canucks

Forwards:
11 Zeb Forsfjäll, Skellefteå AIK – Seattle Kraken
12 Isac Hedqvist, Luleå HF
14 Linus Eriksson, Djurgårdens IF – Florida Panthers
15 David Edstrom, Frölunda HC – Nashville Predators
16 Felix Unger Sörum, Chicago Wolves (AHL) – Carolina Hurricanes
17 Felix Nilsson, Rögle BK – Nashville Predators
18 Victor Eklund, Djurgårdens IF
20 Dennis Altörn, Leksands IF
21 Herman Träff, HV 71 – New Jersey Devils
22 Anton Wahlberg, Rochester Americans (AHL) – Buffalo Sabres
25 Otto Stenberg, IF Malmö Redhawks – St. Louis Blues
26 Jack Berglund, Färjestad BK – Philadelphia Flyers
27 David Granberg, Luleå HF
28 Oskar Vuollet, Skellefteå AIK – Carolina Hurricanes