New York Rangers Lias Andersson Named Team Sweden Captain
Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images

The New York Rangers 2017 first-round draft pick, Lias Andersson, has been named Captain for Team Sweden. The team will participate in the World Junior Championships in Buffalo.

The official New York Rangers Twitter account made the announcement earlier on Saturday that Lias Andersson would serve as Captain for Team Sweden in the World Junior Championships.

The World Junior Championships will kick off play in Buffalo beginning Dec. 26. Sweden’s first game will be against Belarus in Group B competition. Andersson was named to the Team Sweden roster on Dec. 6.

The highly talented center was taken by the Rangers, seventh overall, in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Andersson played for the Rangers’ prospect team in Traverse City, MI and then scored an invite to training camp. In camp, Andersson played at the center position, where the Rangers were looking for someone to play the fourth line. Though he played well, he seemed to be a little tired and behind the play often. Before the season started he was sent back to his Swedish professional team, Frolunda HC.

In 22 games this season, Andersson has registered seven goals with seven assists and a plus-6. He had been averaging 14:39 minutes on the ice with Frolunda HC.

Andersson has said previously that he believed all of the hockey he played in over the summer plus the travel was one of the main factors for his sluggish performance in training camp. At only 18 years old, Andersson will have plenty of time to to get acclimated to the NHL style of hockey. He is playing for one of the best teams in the Swedish Hockey league, where several current NHL players got their start.

Filip Chytil, the Rangers’ 21st overall pick in the 2017 draft, was selected to play for the Czech Republic team in this years WJC. Team Sweden will play the Czech Republic on Dec. 28.

A graduate of St. John's University class of '91. I have been a fan of the New York Rangers since the days of Peter Puck. Founder of Ranger Proud, the Facebook page that covers all news, notes, pre /post-game stats, and player quotes. I can be reached at [email protected]