Team Sweden has announced its roster for the 2026 World Junior Championship, set for December 26 to January 6 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The team is headlined by projected top-10 NHL Draft pick Ivar Stenberg and includes several NHL-drafted prospects. Forward Victor Eklund left a recent club game with an injury, raising concerns ahead of the tournament.
Sweden's squad for the 2026 World Junior Championship features a mix of high-profile forwards, solid defensemen, and promising goalies, aiming to rebound from last year's bronze medal game loss to Canada in a 14-round shootout.
Forwards
The forward group is led by 18-year-old winger Ivar Stenberg, who has 24 points in 25 games for Frolunda HC in the SHL and is a consensus top-10 pick for the 2026 NHL Draft. Other notable players include Chicago Blackhawks draftee Anton Frondell, New York Islanders selection Victor Eklund, Anaheim Ducks prospect Lucas Pettersson, Washington Capitals pick Milton Gastrin, and Philadelphia Flyers draftee Jack Berglund. Brothers Viggo Bjorck and Wilson Bjorck will skate together, with Wilson selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the fifth round of the 2025 NHL Draft and Viggo projected as a first-rounder in 2026. The full forward list: Lucas Pettersson, Milton Gastrin, Linus Eriksson, Ivar Stenberg, Anton Frondell, Valter Lindberg, Victor Eklund, Viggo Bjorck, Loke Krantz, Liam Danielsson, Eddie Genborg, Jack Berglund, Wilson Bjorck, Eric Nilson, Casper Juustovaara Karlsson.
Defensemen
The blue line includes Winnipeg Jets prospects Sascha Boumedienne (2025 first-rounder with two goals and six points in 16 NCAA games for Boston University) and Alfons Freij (2025 second-rounder with two assists in 25 SHL games for Timra IK). San Jose's Leo Sahlin Wallenius and Nashville's Viggo Gustafsson, both 2024 draftees, anchor the unit. Full list: Felix Ohrqvist, Leo Sahlin Wallenius, Sascha Boumedienne, Viggo Gustafsson, Felix Carell IF, Victor Johansson, William Hakansson, Alfons Freij.
Goalies
Herman Liv is expected to start, posting a 7-5-0 record, 2.40 GAA, and .915 SV% in 13 games on loan with Almtuna IS in HockeyAllsvenskan. Dallas fifth-round pick Mans Goos (2025) earned a win in his lone appearance for BIK Karlskoga, while St. Louis sixth-rounder Love Harenstam (2025) has a 6-11-0 record, 2.13 GAA, and .913 SV% in 13 games for Sodertalje SK. Full goalies: Herman Liv, Love Harenstam, Mans Goos.
In recent news, Eklund sustained a slashing injury to his leg from Timra's Anton Lander at 4:30 of the first period in Djurgarden's 3-2 shootout win over Timra, playing only 1:17 before exiting in pain. His status for the tournament remains unclear, as it was his final club game before JVM. Frondell scored the opener in that game, his 10th SHL goal, and Bjorck netted the shootout winner.