2023 Detroit Red Wings first round pick Axel Sandin-Pellikka has been announced as the captain of the Swedish delegation for the fast approaching World Junior Championship
2023 Detroit Red Wings first round pick Axel Sandin-Pellikka has been announced as the captain of the Swedish delegation for the fast approaching World Junior Championship
This morning, Team Sweden announced its roster for the 2025 World Junior Championship, which will be held from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Ottawa, and dynamic Detroit Red Wings prospect Axel Sandin-Pellikka will be part of the Swedish delegation descending upon the Canadian capital. In fact, Sandin-Pellikka won't just represent the Tre Kronor, he will serve as Sweden's captain.
That Sandin-Pellikka should make the Swedish roster comes as no surprise whatsoever. A year ago, as an 18-year-old, he put up two goals and four assists in seven games in the Swedes' run to the gold medal game on home ice, where they fell to Team USA and fellow Red Wings prospect Trey Augustine.
In 23 SHL games this season for Skellefteå AIK, Sandin-Pellikka has seven goals and a dozen assists for 19 points, a dazzling early season pace. He also has an assist in four games in Skellefteå's Champions Hockey League campaign. He's been up to his usual tricks—dancing along the blue line, making defenders look altogether silly, and finding the back of the net.
For Sweden, the painful gold medal game loss in Gothenburg a year ago made it 12 tournaments since capturing WJC gold. Sandin-Pellikka will be looking to carry his compatriots to that elusive third WJC crown, and this time, the Tre Kronor will have to do it in hostile territory in Ottawa.
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