2025 World Junior Championship: Team Sweden Final Roster

I say this every year, but I should’ve known Sweden would’ve announced their roster early like they did last year.

Team Sweden has a strong and deep roster, they’re ready to get back into medal contention and look to claim their first gold medal since 2012.

Related: A Quick Guide to the 2025 World Junior Championship

Goaltenders

Marcus Gidlof, Melvin Strahl, Melker Thelin

Marcus Gidlof has played eight games for Leksands IF of the SHL this year. He’s posted a goals-against average (GAA) of 3.24 and a save percentage (SV%) of .877. Gidlof doesn’t have any prior WJC experience but will be a good depth goaltending option for the Swedish team who are looking to avenge their gold medal loss last year. Gidlof was drafted by the New York Islanders in the fifth round (147th overall) of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.

Melvin Strahl has played 19 games for the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL this year. He’s posted a GAA of 2.36 and a SV% of .902. Strahl, like Gidlof, doesn’t have any prior WJC experience but will be another good depth option for the Swedish team. Strahl was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the fifth round (156th overall) of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.

Melker Thelin has played 11 games for IF Bjorkloven of HockeyAllsvenskan this year. He’s posted a GAA of 2.43 and a SV% of .908. Thelin is the projected starter for Sweden as he’s got two games in the 2024 U20 tournament and one game in the 2023 U18 tournament for Sweden. Thelin was drafted by the Arizona Coyotes in the fifth round (134th overall) in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.

Defencemen

Rasmus Bergqvist, Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Wilhelm Hallquisth, Axel Hurtig, Viggo Gustafsson, Theo Lindstein, Tom Willander

Rasmus Bergqvist is a defenseman for Skelleftea AIK of the SHL. He’s posted one assist in 23 games this season. The 6-foot-2 defender was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the seventh round (224th overall) of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and has never represented Team Sweden in international competitions.

Axel Sandin-Pellikka is a defenseman for Skelleftea AIK of the SHL. He’s posted 22 points (8G, 14A) in 25 games this season. The 5-foot-11 defender was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings at 17th overall of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and last represented Team Sweden at the U20 WJC in 2024 where he won silver.

Wilhelm Hallquisth is a defenseman for HV71 of the SHL. He’s posted six points (1G, 5A) in 23 games this season. The 5-foot-11 defender was undrafted in the 2023 and 2024 NHL Entry Draft and has never represented Team Sweden in international competitions.

Axel Hurtig is a defenseman for Calgary Hitmen of the WHL. He’s posted seven points (2G, 5A) in 28 games this season. The 6-foot-5 defender was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the seventh round (208th overall) of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and last represented Team Sweden in various international competitions.

Viggo Gustafsson is a defenseman for Timra IK of the SHL. He’s posted two points (1G, 1A) in 15 games this season. The 6-foot-2 defender was drafted by the Nashville Predators in the third round (77th overall) in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and last represented Team Sweden at the U18 WJC in 2023 where he won bronze.

Theo Lindstein is a defenseman for Brynas IF of the SHL. He’s posted four points (2G, 2A) in 23 games this season. The 6-foot defender was drafted by the St. Louis Blues at 29th overall of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and last represented Team Sweden at the U20 WJC in 2024 where he won silver.

Tom Willander is a defenseman for Boston University of the NCAA. He’s posted nine points (2G, 7A) in 16 games this season. The 6-foot-1 defender was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks at 11th overall of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and last represented Team Sweden at the U20 WJC in 2024 where he won silver.

Forwards

Zeb Forsfjall, Isac Hedqvist, Linus Eriksson, David Edstrom, Felix Unger Sorum, Felix Nilsson, Victor Eklund, Dennis Altorn, Herman Traff, Anton Wahlberg, Otto Stenberg, Jack Berglund, David Granberg, Oskar Vuollet

Zeb Forsfjall is a forward for Skelleftea AIK of the SHL. He’s posted six points (1G, 5A) in 25 games this season. The 5-foot-9 forward was drafted by the Seattle Kraken in the sixth round (180th overall) of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and last represented Team Sweden at the U20 WJC in 2024 where he won silver.

Isac Hedqvist is a forward for Lulea HF of the SHL. He’s posted 11 points (3G, 8A) in 25 games this season. The 5-foot-11 forward went undrafted in the 2023 and 2024 NHL Entry Draft and has never represented Sweden in international competitions.

Linus Eriksson is a forward for Djurgardens IF of HockeyAllsvenskan. He’s posted nine points (2G, 7A) in 21 games this season. The 6-foot forward was drafted by the Florida Panthers in the second round (58th overall) of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and last represented Team Sweden at the U18 WJC in 2023 where he won bronze.

David Edstrom is a forward for Frolunda HC of the SHL. He’s posted 13 points (4G, 9A) in 22 games this season. The 6-foot-3 forward was drafted by the Nashville Predators 32nd overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and last represented Team Sweden at the U20 WJC in 2024 where he won silver.

Felix Unger Sorum is a forward for the Chicago Wolves of the AHL He’s posted seven points (2G, 5A) in 22 games this season. The 5-foot-11 forward was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round (62nd overall) in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and last represented Team Sweden at the U20 WJC in 2024 where he won silver.

Felix Nilsson is a forward for IK Oskarshamn for HockeyAllsvenkan. He’s posted 13 points (2G, 11A) in 25 games this season. The 6-foot forward was drafted by the Nashville Predators in the second round (43rd overall) of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and has represented Team Sweden in various competitions.

Victor Eklund is a forward for Djurgardens IF in HockeyAllsvenskan. He’s posted 15 points (8G, 7A) in 25 games this season. The 5-foot-11 forward is a top prospect eligible for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and last represented Team Sweden at the U18 WJC in 2023 where he won bronze.

Dennis Altorn is a forward for Leksands IF oh the SHL. He’s posted 13 points (7G, 6A) in 32 games this season. The 6-foot-2 forward went undrafted in the 2023 and 2024 NHL Entry Draft and has never represented Sweden in international competitions.

Herman Traff is a forward for HV71 of the SHL. He’s posted nine points (4G, 5A) in 22 games this season. The 6-foot-3 forward was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the third round (91st overall) of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and has never represented Sweden in international competitions.

Anton Wahlberg is a forward for the Rochester Americans of the AHL. He’s posted 10 points (4G, 6A) in 25 games this season. The 6-foot-3 forward was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the second round (39th overall) of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and last represented Team Sweden at the U20 WJC in 2024 where he won silver.

Otto Stenberg is a forward for Malmo Redhawks of the SHL. He’s posted six points (3G, 3A) in 25 games this season. The 6-foot forward was drafted by the St. Louis Blues at 25th overall of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and last represented Team Sweden at the U20 WJC in 2024 where he won silver.

Jack Berglund is a forward for BIK Karlskoga in HockeyAllsvenskan. He’s posted three points (1G, 2A) in 19 games this season. The 6-foot-4 forward was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round (51st overall) in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and last represented Team Sweden at the U18 WJC where he won bronze.

David Granberg is a forward for Lulea HF of the SHL. He’s posted seven points (6G, 1A) in 24 games this season. The 6-foot-2 forward went undrafted in the 2023 and 2024 NHL Entry Draft and has never represented Sweden in international competitions.

Oskar Vuollet is a forward for Skelleftea AIK of the SHL. He’s posted 10 points (6G, 4A) in 27 games this season. The 5-foot-11 forward was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the fifth round (133rd overall) in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and last represented Team Sweden in various international competitions.

Final Thoughts on Country Roster

Team Sweden brings a roster that is both familiar with one another, but also hungry to avenge their gold medal loss on home turf in the 2024 tournament.

This is a strong roster and will play a hard defensive game. The coach is familiar to this team and the players are familiar to the coach. Overall, Sweden went with a strong chemistry roster and built around their strongest players making them a fun team to watch in the 2025 tournament.