Lysell, Rosen to lead Sweden at 2022 World Juniors
Fabian Lysell and Isak Rosen will lead Sweden’s entry at the 2022 World Juniors.
The World Juniors is set for summer competition after the first attempt last December was cancelled in the round robin portion following COVID-19 outbreaks from multiple teams. Sweden did not medal at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship after a quarterfinal loss to Finland.
Lysell, selected in the first round (No. 21) in the 2021 NHL Draft by the Boston Bruins, and Lysell, the No. 14 pick of the Buffalo Sabres the same year, will look to replace the offensive scoring touch lost from the services of Alexander Holtz (New Jersey Devils) and William Eklund (San Jose Sharks).
Lysell came over to North America in 2021-22 and put up some strong numbers while playing for the Vancouver Giants in the Western Hockey League, He registered 62 points (22 goals, 40 assists) in 53 regular-season games, and added 21 points (four goals, 17 assists) in 12 games in the WHL players. His 17 assists were most among all playoff performers.
Rosen remained in Sweden and spent most of his season in the SHL with Leksands IF, where he scored four points (two goals, two assists) in 28 games in the country’s top circuit. He is expected come over to the American Hockey League next season, where he will suit up for the Rochester Americans.
The addition of a couple of Jonathan Lekkerimaki, selected with the No. 15 pick in the 2022 draft by the Vancouver Canucks, and Liam Ohgren, who went No. 19 by the Minnesota Wild, will also help provide some fire power up front.
Sweden will be backed by standout stopper Jesper Wallstedt
. The 6-foot-3 goaltender ended the season playing with Lulea in the SHL and posted a 12-10-0 record, including three shutouts, with a 1.98 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage. Wallstedt, selected with the No. 20 pick in 2021 by the Wild, is one of the top goaltending prospects in the world.
Here’s a rundown of Sweden’s roster for the World Juniors:
GOALIES: Calle Clang, Rogle (SHL); Carl Lindbom, Djurgardens (J20 Nationell); Jesper Wallstedt, Lulea (SHL)
DEFENSEMEN: Emil Andrae, HV71 (Allsvenskan); Simon Edvinsson, Frolunda (SHL); Mans Forsfjall, Skelleftea (SHL); Helge Grans, Ontario (AHL); William Wallinder, Rogle (SHL); Anton Olsson, Malmo (SHL); Ludvig Jansson, Sodertalje (Allsvenskan); Leo Loof, Ilves (Liiga)
FORWARDS: Liam Ohgren, Djurgardens (J20 Nationell); Daniel Ljungman, Linkoping (SHL); Fabian Lysell, Vancouver (WHL); Oskar Magnusson, AIK (Allsvenskan); Theodor Niederbach, AIK (Allsvenskan); Oskar Olausson, Barrie (OHL); Isak Rosen, Leksands (SHL); Albert Sjoberg, Sodertalje (Allsvenskan); Ake Stakkestad, BIK Karlskoga (Allsvenskan); Linus Sjodin, Rogle (SHL); Daniel Torgersson AIK (Allsvenskan); Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Djurgardens (SHL); Victor Stjernborg, Vaxjo (SHL)