Official Team Sweden Roster

[HKP]

G
Mikael Tellqvist (Toronto)
Henrik Lundqvist (Frölunda)
Tommy Salo (Colorado)


D
Dick Tärnström (Pittsburgh)
Mattias Öhlund (Vancouver)
Christian Bäckman (St. Louis)
Kim Johnsson (Philadelphia)
Nicklas Lidström (Detroit)
Mattias Norström (Los Angeles)
Marcus Ragnarsson (Philadelphia)
Daniel Tjärnqvist (Atlanta)


F
Daniel Alfredsson (Ottawa)
Mats Sundin (Toronto)
Henrik Zetterberg (Detroit)
Peter Forsberg (Colorado)
Tomas Holmström (Detroit)
Fredrik Modin (Tampa Bay)
Per-Johan Axelsson (Boston)
Nils Ekman (San José)
Andreas Johansson (Nashville)
Jörgen Jönsson (Färjestad)
Marcus Nilson (Calgary)
Markus Näslund (Vancouver)
Samuel Påhlsson (Anaheim)
Daniel Sedin (Vancouver)
Henrik Sedin (Vancouver)

[EveB]

Reading this made 1 question appear in me mind..
No Höglund?

Anyway, scary as ever..

[HKP]

Yeah, Höglund played really well in WCS, but even he isn`t in the team, Sweden has so much depth in their roster that it doesn`t mark anything. Also Nylander was left out, but again Sweden looks scary even without him. ;D

[Balder]

Looking good.

But i won't cry for Höglund, despite his good play in World Championships. He was extremely lucky getting 5 goals!

[EveB]

Isn't good luck an essential part of Tre Kronor? It could be counted as a one player, so you could leave Foppa home to recover from all the injuries?

Funny btw how reading Sweden's roster is always more exiting than reading Canada's ...

- so many names to bring the BAD memories

[Jazz]

The North American media here is focusiing on Nylander's absence. I've heard 4 different radio reports (from different stations) and all are bring up his name.

Anyways, what is the reaction in Sweden to this team?

[Jazz]

Here is the story from Canadian news services.

Nylander, Jonsson don't make the cut as Sweden announces World Cup roster [/b][/u]

BILL BEACON
Canadian Press
Monday, May 17, 2004

(CP) - There have been setbacks for Sweden in international hockey in recent years, but Daniel Alfredsson is confident that this summer's World Cup team can come through.

"We probably don't have as much depth as Canada, but overall, we have a good team," the Ottawa Senators captain said Monday. "I think we have a team that can win it all." Alfredsson joined reporters on a conference call from his home in Ottawa shortly after Sweden named its 26-man roster Monday for the Aug. 31-Sept. 14 World Cup of Hockey.

Peter Forsberg of the Colorado Avalanche, Mats Sundin of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Nicklas Lidstrom of the Detroit Red Wings are the biggest names along with Alfredsson on the Swedish squad.

It also includes four Vancouver Canucks - star winger Markus Naslund, defenceman Mattias Ohlund and twin forwards Daniel and Henrik Sedin.

Calgary Flames winger Marcus Nilsson also made the team, which will be coached by Hardy Nilsson.

Vancouver goaltender Johan Hedberg was one of a handful of notable omissions. Also left off were Boston Bruins centre Michael Nylander, New York Islanders defenceman Kenny Jonsson and Florida Panthers winger Kristian Huselius.

Former stalwarts like Mikael Renberg of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Niklas Sundstrom of the Montreal Canadiens were also dropped from general manager Michael Englund's team.

Sweden was the second team to declare its roster, following Canada's announcement on Saturday. The teams have until May 25 to name their players.

The Swedes are coming off a loss to Canada in the world championship final in Prague on May 9, despite the presence of Alfredsson, Lidstrom and Forsberg on their team. It was the second straight year they lost to Canada in the final.

Sweden finished out of the medals at the Olympics in 2002 and 1998. At the inaugural World Cup in 1996, they lost in double overtime to Canada in the semifinals. Their last word championship victory dates back to 1998.

"That's how it goes," said Alfredsson. "This year, if things go right, we're one of the teams that can win it.

"You can't change what happened in the past. There are ups and downs. We won Olympic gold in 1994 and had a disappointing loss in Salt Lake. That's how sport is. You can't take anything for granted.

"This is a big opportunity. It will be the last big tournament for a lot of players, so they're excited about it."

The big question is in goal, where Avalanche veteran Tommy Salo will compete for the starting job with Toronto backup Mikael Tellqvist and with Henrik Lundqvist, one of two non-NHL players on the squad. The other is forward Jorgen Jonsson, a Calgary draft pick in 1994.

Salo has yet to erase the memory of the goal he let in on a shot from near the red line that allowed Belarus to upset Sweden in the 2002 Olympic quarter-finals in Salt Lake City.

Lundqvist was named top goaltender at this year's world championship, even though he was picked apart for five goals by Canada in the final.

"I don't know who will be the starter," said Alfredsson. "Tommy's always been good for the national team and in the NHL.

"Everything gets blown up because of the miss he made in Salt Lake, but he also won gold in 1994."

Alfredsson said Lundqvist, a New York Rangers draft pick in 2000, was "unbelievable at the world championships and he's going to be good in the NHL as well."

On defence, the Swedes are led by Lidstrom, Ohlund and Mattias Norstrom of the Los Angeles Kings.

Rounding out the blue-line is Pittsburgh Penguins scoring leader Dick Tarnstrom, Marcus Ragnarsson and Kim Johnsson of the Philadelphia Flyers, Daniel Tjarnqvist of the Atlanta Thrashers and Christian Backman of the St. Louis Blues.

The team has seven NHL left wingers, including Naslund, Daniel Sedin, Fred Modin of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Henrik Zetterberg and Tomas Holmstrom of Detroit, P.J. Axelsson of Boston and Andreas Johansson of the Nashville Predators.

At centre, there's Sundin, Forsberg, Henrik Sedin and Samuel Pahlsson of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.

Right wingers are Alfredsson, Nilsson and Nils Ekman of the San Jose Sharks, so at least one left winger is likely to move to the right side.

Alfredsson said the World Cup, mostly played on NHL-size rinks, is closely followed by Swedish fans.

"The World Cup is a big tournament for every country because you're able to have a training camp before, you're able to prepare," he said. "There's no season to interrupt, so every country will have their best team.

"The Olympics is bigger, but people realize that for this tournament, we'll be able to put a team together and put lines together."

Sweden brought back 14 of the 23 players from its team in Salt Lake City. Nylander was on the 2002 team, but only as a replacement for Forsberg, who was out with spleen and ankle injuries.

© Copyright 2004 The Canadian Press

[EveB]

They just said in Sportnews on Finnish TV4 that Mats Sundin is missing from the Swedish World Cup team.. Something happened to Mats today, or is it just that this TV4 doesn't know Mats Sundin from Micke Nylander??

In the latter case.. oh my, it's the same channel broadcasting the World Cup matches in the autumn