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Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson was named to Team Sweden's initial roster for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, the Swedish Ice Hockey Association announced Wednesday.
Hjalmarsson, 28, has two goals and 16 assists in 64 games this season for Chicago. His Chicago teammate Marcus Kruger was left off the initial roster, but could still be added to the final roster.
Kruger, 25, has no goals and one assist in 33 games this season. The Stockholm, Sweden native suffered a left dislocated wrist in December and will not return for the rest of the season after undergoing successful surgery to repair it. Last season, Kruger scored seven goals and 10 assists in 81 games.
Both players have unfinished business while wearing the Swedish sweater. Both players left the ice in Sochi with silver medals around their necks. For Hjalmarsson, it was his first medal in almost a decade. He last won bronze at the 2005 U18 World Championship. He also competed in the 2012 WC and 2007 WJC. Kruger won silver at the 2011 WC and bronze a the 2010 WJC.
Team Sweden announces initial roster for World Cup of Hockey 2016. #WCH2016 pic.twitter.com/kl6lfcB8Ov
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 2, 2016
How "Swede" are these? @adidas has designed some stunning #WCH2016 uniforms for Sweden. pic.twitter.com/N5ZnQPvFiF
— NHL (@NHL) March 2, 2016
This year's World Cup of Hockey, which represents the event's return after a hiatus, is set for September and will be held in Toronto. The format is slightly modified from the past World Cup tournaments, with six national teams and two special "all-star teams" participating.
The eight teams that will compete this year are the United States, Canada, Sweden, Finland, Russia and the Czech Republic, plus Team Europe and Under-23 Team North America.
Here is when the different teams will announce their initital 16-man rosters:
Team Europe: 4:30 p.m. ET on SportsNet’s Hockey Central
Team North America: 5:15 p.m. ET on SportsNet’s Hockey Central
Team Canada: 6:05 p.m. ET on SportsNet’s Hockey Central
Team USA: 6:45 p.m. ET on ESPN’s SportsCenter