Most Decorated Program In Tournament History Returns to North America
The Sweden Selects program had been represented at each of the first 11 World Selects Invitational tournaments dating all the way back to 2009 in Riga, Latvia. In 2021, though, that streak ended when European teams faced significant travel challenges surrounding COVID-19.
This May, the Swedes return with a purpose, and one goal in mind: win the 15U World Selects Trophy in Nashville.
They’ll have plenty of weapons to get the job done, starting with Djurgårdens IF goaltender Love Härenstam, who’s fresh off a national championship run. He went 15-2-0 this season — including 5-0-0 in the U16 playoffs — with a .943 save percentage as one of the best goalies in the country.
A winter club teammate of Härenstam’s, Anton Frondell led DIF in scoring with 25 goals and 43 points on a team that had 26 players older than him, including 22 from the 2006 birth year. Frondell was a leading scorer the last time he represented Sweden Selects as well, at the 12U WSI in Bolzano, Italy.
Forward Jakob Ihs-Wozniak and defenseman Oliwer Sjöström round out the team’s leadership group. Ihs-Wozniak led Luleå IF in scoring, and spent time playing for both the program’s U16 and U18 teams this winter. Sjöström was a top defender in Sweden all season long for IF Björklöven.
Sweden Selects has won three WSI tournaments all-time. Two of those have been at the 15U age level, with the most recent coming in Philadelphia in 2015. That squad featured future NHL Draft picks Ryan Merkley, Rasmus Sandin, Lucas Wernblom and Oliver Wahlstrom.
World Hockey Hub will have exclusive coverage leading up to, and throughout, the 2022 15U World Selects Trophy. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube for previews, updates, top prospects, highlights, interviews and more!
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