Marcus Kruger’s wish was granted early Monday morning as the Swedish Ice Hockey Association announced the Chicago Blackhawks will play for Team Sweden at the 2017 World Championship.
Kruger won’t be joined on Team Sweden by his Chicago teammate Niklas Hjalmarsson, who declined his invitation to play in the tournament which runs from May 5 to 21 in Cologne, Germany and Paris, France.
Kruger, 26, scored five goals and 17 points in 70 games this season for Chicago. He’s no stranger to representing Sweden at the international level. The 6-foot, 181-pound center won four medals at the senior level, including silver twice at the 2011 World Championship and 2014 Olympic Games.