Defensemen Karlsson and Pettersson: Ready to Take on the World for Team Sweden

The Swedish Ice Hockey Association has announced that defensemen Erik Karlsson and Marcus Pettersson will represent Team Sweden at the 2024 IIHF World Championship. The championship will take place from May 10-26 in Prague and Ostrava, Czechia.

Karlsson, 33, has had an impressive career with 817 points (189G-628A) in 1002 career NHL games. He previously represented Sweden at the 2010 and 2012 World Championships, winning bronze in 2010. Karlsson joined the Penguins this season after being traded from the San Jose Sharks in August 2023. Leading all Penguins defensemen in goals, assists, and points, he has been a valuable asset to the team.

Pettersson, 27, set career highs in various offensive categories this season by playing in all 82 games and recording four goals, 26 assists, and 30 points. He also achieved his first career game-winning goal against Montreal on January 27 and led Pittsburgh with a plus-28 rating, finishing eighth among all NHL defensemen. Pettersson is looking forward to representing his home country on the international stage.

The preliminary round schedule for Team Sweden’s participation in the World Championship has been announced. However, broadcast information will be provided at a later date. Karlsson and Pettersson are both excited about making significant contributions to their country’s team during the competition.

In conclusion, both Karlsson and Pettersson have proven themselves as valuable players for their respective teams throughout their careers. Now they will have the opportunity to showcase their skills on an even bigger stage as they represent Sweden at the IIHF World Championship in May of next year.