Former NHL MVP Forsberg included in Sweden's Olympic squad for Vancouver Games

Swedish ice hockey star and former NHL player Peter Forsberg is shown in this file photo. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Hakan Nordstrom/Scanpix Sweden

2009-12-27 12:50:00

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Former NHL MVP Peter Forsberg was included Sunday in defending champion Sweden's Olympic squad for the Vancouver Games.

The veteran centre, who won two Stanley Cups with the Colorado Avalanche and was the NHL's MVP in 2003, was selected in the 23-man Olympic squad by coach Bengt-Ake Gustafsson.

Forsberg, who now plays for Modo of the Swedish Elite League after 12 NHL seasons, has dealt with nagging ankle and foot problems for several years.

However, Gustafsson was not worried about his injuries ahead of the Olympics.

"I have been in contact with 'Foppa' and there shouldn't be any problems with the injury," he told daily Aftonbladet.

Forsberg helped Sweden win gold at the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics in Norway, by scoring the clinching goal in a penalty shootout against Canada.

In the 2006 Olympic final, he set up the last goal to secure a 3-2 victory over Finland.

The Swedish roster also includes Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson and Nicklas Lidstrom, winner of six Norris trophies as the NHL's top defensive player with the Detroit Red Wings.

Lidstrom's teammates, Tomas Holmstrom and Niklas Kronwall, as well as Red Wings leading scorer Henrik Zetterberg will also go to Vancouver for Sweden.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Jonas Gustavsson (Toronto Maple Leafs), Stefan Liv (HV71) Henrik Lundqvist (New York Rangers).

Defenders: Tobias Enstrom (Atlanta Thrashers), Magnus Johansson (Linkopings HC), Niklas Kronwall (Detroit Red Wings), Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings), Douglas Murray (San Jose Sharks), Johnny Oduya (New Jersey Devils), Henrik Tallinder (Buffalo Sabres), Mattias Ohlund (Tampa Bay Lightning).

Forwards: Daniel Alfredsson (Ottawa Senators), Nicklas Backstrom (Washington Capitals), Loui Eriksson (Dallas Stars), Peter Forsberg (Modo Hockey), Tomas Holmstrom (Detroit Red Wings), Patric Hornqvist (Nashville Predators), Fredrik Modin (Columbus Blue Jackets), Samuel Pahlsson (Columbus Blue Jackets), Daniel Sedin (Vancouver Canucks), Henrik Sedin (Vancouver Canucks) Mattias Weinhandl (Dynamo Moskva), Henrik Zetterberg (Detroit Red Wings).