Hurricanes’ Lindholm leads Sweden to 10-0 rout of Norway

Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network
Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network

RALEIGH, N.C. – As Triangle-area hockey fans prepared to watch the Carolina Hurricanes who were in Toronto, Ontario to face off against the Maple Leafs on Sunday night, earlier in the day, rookie Elias Lindholm led his Swedish U20 team to a 10-0 drubbing of Norway at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship being played in Malmo, Sweden.

With the opportunity afforded to him by Carolina to return to his home country to participate in the showcase international tournament, Lindholm has the opportunity to help Sweden contend for another medal to go along with the silver he won last year with the team.

Playing in his second game of the tournament, Lindholm tallied his first points against Norway and was one of seven players to finish with three in total, scoring his first tournament goal on the power play to go along with two assists.

Fellow Hurricanes prospect and teammate Erik Karlsson also recorded an assist in the lopsided game that allowed Sweden to outshoot Norway 45-13, of which Lindholm contributed five snipes towards to the goal of his own.

Nearing the end of preliminary-round play, Sweden now sits atop Group B undefeated at 3-0 with nine points, with the only team they have left to play, Russia, right behind them in second place (2-0 – 6 points) and undefeated as well.

At this point, it looks as though Lindholm and Sweden are seriously in the hunt for a gold medal as they were in 2012 when they won it.

Even though Carolina will be without his passing and shooting abilities for another week, the experience should provide Lindholm ample opportunity to play at the top level of his game in order to experience the ultimate success of winning it all.

The positives of that happening for the first-year NHL’er should help him to contribute even more to the Hurricanes’ offense when he resumes playing with them.

As one of 33 total current Hurricanes players, coaches, and personnel who have participated in the World Junior Championship tournament, fellow rookie Ryan Murphy knows how special the opportunity to play in the event is.

He pointed out how much everyone would be rooting for Lindholm’s success while representing his country and the organization on the international stage.

“Obviously he would have loved to stay here and play in the NHL, that’s a dream come true,” Murphy said.

“At the same time, this is the last chance for him to go back home and play World Juniors in front of his home crowd. We’re cheering for him. Even though I’m Canadian I’m hoping all the best for him. I think he’s going to have a great tournament.”

Carolina Hurricanes – U20 World Junior Championship participation

Player/Country/Year/WJC Location/Finish/GP – Points

Kirk Muller/Canada/1984/Nykoping, Sweden/ 4th/7 GP -3 pts (2g, 1a)

John MacLean/Canada/1984/Nykoping, Sweden/4th/7 GP – 8 pts. (7g, 1a)

Robert Kron/Czechoslovakia/1985/Helsinki, Finland/Silver/7 GP – 8 pts (3g, 5a)

Robert Kron/Czechoslovakia/1986/Hamilton, ON, Canada/4th/7 GP – 4 pts (3g, 1a)

Robert Kron/Czechoslovakia/1987/Piestany, Czechoslovakia/Silver/5 GP – 3 pts (1g, 2a)

Glen Wesley/Canada/1987/Piestany, Czechoslovakia/DQ/6 GP – 3 pts (1g, 2a)

Rod Brind’Amour /Canada/1989/Anchorage, AK, USA/4th/7 GP – 5 pts (3g, 2a)

Shane Willis/Canada/1997/Geneva, Switzerland/Gold/7 GP – 0 pts

Manny Malholtra/Canada/1998/Helsinki, Finland/8th/7 GP- 0 pts

Manny Malholtra/Canada/2000/Skelleftea, Sweden/Bronze/7 GP – 2 pts (2a)

Jay Harrison/Canada/2001/Moscow, Russia/Bronze/7 GP – 0 pts

Jay Harrison/Canada/2002/Pardubice, Czech Republic/Silver/7 GP – 1 pt (1a)

Mike Komisarek/United States/2001/Moscow, Russia/5th/7 GP – 0 pts

Mike Komisarek/United States/2002/Pardubice, Czech Republic/5th/7 GP – 2 pts (2a)

Ron Hainsey/United States/2000/Skelleftea, Sweden/4th/7 GP – 2 pts (1g, 1a)

Ron Hainsey/United States/2001/Moscow, Russia/5th/7 GP – 5 pts (5a)

Tim Gleason/United States/2001/Moscow, Russia/5th/7 GP – 1 pt (1a)

Tim Gleason/United States/2003/ Halifax, NS, Canada/4th/1 GP – 0 pts

Tuomo Ruutu/Finland/2001/Moscow, Russia/Silver/7 GP – 4 pts (1g, 3a)

Tuomo Ruutu/Finland/2002/Pardubice, Czech Republic/Bronze/7 GP – 5 pts (4g, 1a)

*Tuomo Ruutu/Finland/2003/ Halifax, NS, Canada/Bronze/7 GP – 10 pts (2g, 8a)

Joni Pitkanen/ Finland/2002/Pardubice, Czech Republic/Bronze/7 GP – 4 pts (1g, 3a)

**Joni Pitkanen/Finland/2003/Halifax, NS, Canada/Bronze/7 GP – 6 pts (1g, 5a)

Alexander Semin/Russia/2004/Helsinki, Finland/5th/6 GP – 4 pts (2g, 2a)

Andrej Sekera/Slovakia/2005/Grand Forks, ND, USA/7th/6 GP – 1 pt (1a)

Andrej Sekera/Slovakia/2006/Vancouver, BC, Canada/8th/6 GP – 5 pts (2g, 3a)

Anton Khudobin/ Russia/2005/Grand Forks, ND, USA/Silver/5 GP – 3-2 (2.73 gaa)

Anton Khudobin/ Russia/2006/Vancouver, BC, Canada/Silver/5 GP – 4-1 (2.20 gaa)

Jiri Tlusty/Czech Republic/2006/Vancouver, BC, Canada/6th/4 GP – 0 pts

Nathan Gerbe/United States/2006/Vancouver, BC, Canada/4th/ 7 GP – 0 pts

Nathan Gerbe/United States/2007/Leksand, Sweden/Bronze/ 7 GP – 6 pts (6a)

***Oskar Osala/Finland/2007/Leksand, Sweden/6th/6 GP – 8 pts (5g, 3a)

Zach Boychuk/Canada/2008/Pardubice, Czech Republic/Gold/ 7 GP – 0 pts

Zach Boychuk/Canada/2009/Ottawa, ON, Canada/Gold/6 GP – 7 pts (4g, 3a)

Evegenii Dadonov/Russia/2008/Pardubice, Czech Republic/Bronze/7 GP – 0 pts

Evegenii Dadonov/Russia/2009/Ottawa, ON, Canadda/Bronze/7 GP – 7 pts (2g, 5a)

Tommi Kivisto/Finland/2009/Ottawa, ON, Canada/7th/6 GP – 1 pt (1g)

Tommi Kivisto/Finland/2010/Saskatoon, SK, Canada/5th/6 GP – 1 pt (1a)

Tommi Kivisto/Finland/2011/Buffalo, NY, USA/6th/6 GP – 1 pt (1a)

Michal Jordan/Czech Republic/2009/Ottawa, ON, Canada/6th/6 GP – 1 pt (1a)

Michal Jordan/Czech Republic/2010/Saskatoon, SK, Canada/7th/6 GP – 1 pt (1a)

Drayson Bowman/United States/2009/ Ottawa, ON, Canada/5th/6 GP – 4 pts (3g, 1a)

Aaron Palushaj/United States/2009/Ottawa, ON, Canada/5th/6 GP – 5 pts (2g, 3a)

Rasmus Rissanen/Finland/2011/Buffalo, NY, USA/6th/6 GP – 0 pts

Justin Faulk/United States/2011/Buffalo, NY, USA/Bronze/6 GP – 4 pts (1g, 3a)

Gregory Hofmann/Switzerland/2012/Calgary & Edmonton, AB, Canada/6 GP – 2 pts (1g, 1a)

Victor Rask/Sweden/2012/Calgary & Edmonton, AB, Canada/Gold/6 GP – 1 pt (1a)

Victor Rask/Sweden/2013/Ufa, Russia/Silver/6 GP – 4 pts (2g, 2a)

Ryan Murphy/Canada/2013/Ufa, Russia /4th/6 GP – 3 pts (1g, 2a)

Elias Lindholm/Sweden/2013/Ufa, Russia/Silver/7 GP – 4 pts (2g, 2a)

^Elias Lindholm/Sweden/2014/Malmo, Sweden/TBA

^Erik Karlsson/Sweden/2014/Malmo, Sweden/TBA

^Jaccob Slavin/United States/2014/Malmo, Sweden/TBA

Notes:

* Tied for overall Tournament scoring lead

** Selected Tournament All-Star Team

***Tied for most Tournament goals scored

^Current participants – final awards/statistics TBA