Penguins' Patric Hornqvist to play for Sweden in World Championships
Pittsburgh Penguins winger Patric Hornqvist will play for his native Sweden in the World Championships next month in Slovakia, the Swedish ice hockey federation announced Wednesday.
Hornqvist will be joined on a star-studded Swedish roster by New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist, Arizona Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Calder Trophy favorite Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks. Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson could still be added to the roster.
Hornqvist has suffered four documented concussions in the past three seasons, but said last week that he felt no lingering effects and was healthy as he slumped to six goals in his final 50 games of the season for the Penguins.
Hornqvist has been committed to the Swedish cause in his career, playing five times in the World Championships. He has also represented his country in the 2010 Olympics and 2016 World Cup of Hockey. Last year, he helped Sweden win its second straight world title.
Jonathan Bombulie is the TribLive assistant sports editor. A Greensburg native, he was a hockey reporter for two decades, covering the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for 17 seasons before joining the Trib in 2015 and covering the Penguins for four seasons, including Stanley Cup championships in 2016-17. He can be reached at jbombulie@triblive.com.
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