Erik Brännström cherishes the opportunity to compete with NHL stars

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN –

One by one, the established NHL players have taken over the Swedish World Championship squad. Stars like Oliver Ekman Larsson, John Klingberg and Mika Zibanejad will participate in this weekend’s tune-up tournament Sweden Hockey Games in Södertälje and Stockholm, where the Swedes play the Czech Republic, Russia and Finland.

But with one week to go before the this year’s World Championships starts in Copenhagen and Herning in Denmark, there are still some fresh faces on the roster. Notably five players that grabbed a silver medal in this year’s World Junior Championships in Buffalo. Goalie Filip Gustavsson, defenseman Erik Brännström and forwards Elias Pettersson, Lias Andersson and Axel Jonsson Fjällbyare all competing for spots.