As expected, the NHL star’s name was included in the squad that was presented at the Olympiatoppen on Monday. It is Zuccarello’s first World Cup since 2016 in Moscow.
– We are very grateful that he will be part of our WC squad, said national team manager Johansson when the team was presented.
Zuccarello and fullback Johannes Johannesen, who has been busy with the playoffs for the Finnish Lahti Pelicans, will join the Norwegian squad in Prague. So do USA pros Emil Martinsen Lilleberg and Mathias Emilio Pettersen, who are still playing in the playoffs in the AHL.
Goalkeepers:
Jonas Arntzen (Örebro)
Henrik Haukeland (Düsseldorf)
Tobias Normann (AIK).
Backer:
Sander Vold Engebråten (Örebro)
Isak Hansen (Sparta)
Sander Hurrød (Storhamar)
Max Krogdahl (Östersund)
Christian Kåsastul (Pustertal)
Mattias Nørstebø (Björklöven)
Stian Solberg (Vålerenga)
Johannes Johannesen (Lahti Pelicans)
*Emil Lilleberg (Tampa Bay Lightning).
Runners:
Mats Zuccarello (Minnesota Wild)
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård (Mora)
Andreas Martinsen (Storhamar)
Eskild Bakke Olsen (Karlskoga)
Thomas Olsen (Vålerenga)
Thomas Berg Paulsen (Malmö)
Martin Rønnild (Storhamar)
Eirik Østrem Salsten (Storhamar)
Håvard Østrem Salsten (Sparta)
Noah Steen (Mora)
Patrick Thoresen (Storhamar)
Mathias Trettenes (Stavanger)
Petter Vesterheim (Mora)
Markus Vikingstad (Fishtown Penguins)
*Mathias Emilio Pettersen (Texas Stars).
Norway opens the WC in Prague in group A against Switzerland on 10 May.
This is the rest of the WC program for the Norwegian ice warriors: Czech Republic (11/5), Finland (13/5), Denmark (14/5), Canada (16/5), Austria (19/5) and Great Britain (20 /5).
* = Players who are still busy with playoffs in the AHL.
