Sweden announces list for junior WC 2022
The tournament will be held December 26 to January 5 in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta.
Eklund started the season with the Sharks and had one point in each of his first three NHL games. The forward was relocated to Djurgården in the Swedish Hockey League on November 5 and he has three assists in seven SHL matches.
“This was one of the toughest decisions we have had to make,” Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said in November. “Williams’ tremendous skill and vision has been evident since he attended our rookie tournament in September. In his nine NHL games as a teenager, he has shown that he will be a special player in this league. But in the end, we feel it is in the best interest of his long-term development to return to Sweden and continue working to become the dominant player we know he can be. “
To Eklund come defender Simon Edvinsson (Detroit Red Wings, No. 6), forwards Isak Rosen (Buffalo Sabers, No. 14), Fabian Lysell (Boston Bruins, No. 21) and Oskar Olausson (Colorado Avalanche, No. 28), and goalkeeper Jesper Wallstedt (Minnesota Wild, No. 20).
Finland also announced their team for the tournament, including two players who received A-ratings from NHL Central Scouting on their list of players to watch for the 2022 NHL draft: forwards Joakim Kemell (5-foot-11, 171 pounds) and Brad Lambert (6 -0, 175) by JYP in Liiga, the highest professional league in Finland.
Kemell is in third place in Liiga with 12 goals in 18 matches, and his 18 points lead JYP.
“He plays a high-stakes team game,” said NHL Central Scouting chief Dan Marr. “He’s a strong skater, he has the deceptive speed to gain advantages in the game. Very smart, responsible two-way game because he has a strong understanding of the game. That’s why he does not do it at the professional level. Some mistakes.… Then when he has the puck, he has such a complex heads-up game that moves around the puck. And his passes, everything is with authority and precision. The way he has the ability to finish his chances and the production at that level is both impressive and he shows that he is capable of making a difference. “
Lambert has scored five points (two goals, three assists) in 21 games, and Marr compared his style of play to the Detroit Red Wings forward. Dylan Larkin.
“He’s a very consistent artist, he’s a very dedicated player,” Marr said. “For my money, when he is healthy and at his game, you always get a strong performance from him, but it is not a highlight performance. It is a strong performance because he is a smart player who is very good with the puck. He finds “ways to produce and contribute. He has such a quick read-and-react game to get benefits on the pieces. And he knows how to finish.”
Finland, who finished third in the WJC 2021, will play their preliminary matches in Group A at Rogers Place in Edmonton, along with Canada, Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria. Sweden will play in Group B at the WP Centrium in Red Deer, together with the USA, Russia, Slovakia and Switzerland.
The top four teams in each group will play the quarterfinals on January 2. The semifinals are on January 4 and the championship and third place matches are on January 5.
USA won WJC 2021. Finland most recently won WJC 2019; Sweden’s last championship was in 2012.
SWEDEN JUNIOR WC
GOAL: Calle Clang, Rogle, SWE (Pittsburgh Penguins); Jesper Vikman, Vancouver, WHL (Vegas Golden Knights); Jesper Wallstedt, Luleå, SWE (Minnesota Wild)
DEFENDER: Emil Andrae, HV 71, SWE-2 (Philadelphia Flyers); Simon Edvinsson, Frolunda, SWE (Detroit Red Wings); Mans Forsfjall, Skellefteå, SWE (2022 draft justified); Helge Grans, Ontario, AHL (Los Angeles Kings); Leo Loof, Ilves, FIN (St. Louis Blues); Joel Nyström, Farjestad, SWE (Carolina Hurricanes); Anton Olsson, Malmö, SWE (Nashville Predators); Victor Sjöholm, HV 71, SWE-2 (2022 draft eligible)
FORWARD: William Eklund, Djurgarden, SWE (San Jose Sharks); Elliot Ekmark, Linköping, SWE (Florida Panthers); Daniel Ljungman, Linköping, SWE (Dallas Stars); Fabian Lysell, Vancouver, WHL (Boston Bruins); Oskar Magnusson, AIK, SWE-2 (Washington Capitals); Theodor Niederbach, Frolunda, SWE (Detroit Red Wings); Zion Nybeck, HV 71, SWE-2 (Carolina Hurricanes); Oskar Olausson, Barrie, OHL (Colorado Avalanche); Isak Rosen, Leksand, SWE (Buffalo Sabers); Albert Sjöberg, Södertälje, SWE-2 (Dallas Stars); Åke Stakkestad, Karlskoga, SWE-2 (2022 draft entitled); Elias Stenman, Skelleftea Jr., SWE-JR (2022 draft entitled); Daniel Torgersson, Frolunda, SWE (Winnipeg Jets)
FINLAND’S JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
GOAL: Joel Blomqvist, Carpathian, FIN (Pittsburgh Penguins); Juha Jatkola, KalPa Jr., FIN-JR (2022 draft entitled); Leevi Merilainen, Kingston, OHL (Ottawa Senators)
DEFENDER: Aleksi Heimosalmi, Assat, FIN (Carolina Hurricanes); Rami Maatta, Assat, FIN (2022 draft entitled); Topi Niemela, Karpat, FIN (Toronto Maple Leafs); Petteri Nurmi, HPK, FIN (2022 draft entitled); Ville Ottavainen, JYP, FIN (Seattle Kraken); Kasper Puutio, KalPa, FIN (Florida Panthers); Ruben Rafkin, TPS, FIN (2022 draft entitled); Eemil Viro, TPS, FIN (Detroit Red Wings)
FORWARD: Samuel Helenius, JYP, FIN (Los Angeles Kings); Roni Hirvonen, HIFK, FIN (Toronto Maple Leafs); Roby Jarventie, Belleville, AHL (Ottawa Senators); Oliver Kapanen, KalPa, FIN (Montreal Canadiens); Joakim Kemell, JYP, FIN (2022 draft entitled); Ville Koivunen, Karpat, FIN (Carolina Hurricanes); Brad Lambert, JYP, FIN (2022 draft entitled); Joel Maatta, Vermont, H-EAST (2022 draft entitled); Juuso Maenpaa, KalPa, FIN (2022 draft entitled); Olli Nikupeteri, Lulea Jr., SWE-JR (2022 draft entitled); Sami Paivarinta, Lukko Jr., FIN-JR (2022 draft entitled); Aatu Raty, Jukurit, FIN (New York Islanders); Kasper Simontaival, KalPa, FIN (Los Angeles Kings); Kalle Vaisanen, TPS, FIN (New York Rangers)