Ehlers, Bjorkstrand named to Danish junior team

Forwards Nikolaj Ehlers and Oliver Bjorkstrand highlight the list of players selected to the Denmark National Junior Team preliminary roster for the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship in Toronto and Montreal. The tournament starts Dec. 26.

Nikolaj Ehlers Halifax QMJHL (Courtesy: Mike Dembeck)

Ehlers, selected by the Winnipeg Jets with the ninth pick of the 2014 NHL Draft, has 16 goals and 47 points in 23 games this season with the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Bjorkstrand, a 2013 third-round choice (No. 89) of the Columbus Blue Jackets, has 21 goals and 40 points in 28 games as an assistant captain for the Portland Winterhawks in the Western Hockey League.

They played significant roles in leading Denmark to a first-place finish in the 2014 WJC Division I-A tournament, which earned Denmark promotion to the top level for this year's WJC. Ehlers had two goals and six points in five games while Bjorkstrand had four goals and six points in five games.

Denmark coach Olaf Eller, the father of Montreal Canadiens forward Lars Eller, will cut two players by Dec. 21, before the team leaves for Ottawa for selection camp. Denmark will play a pre-tournament exhibition game against Germany on Dec. 23 at Centre D'Excellence Sports Bousseau in Boisbriand, Quebec.

The roster also includes 17-year-old defenseman Christian Mieritz, who is eligible for the 2016 NHL Draft.

DENMARK NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM PRELIMINARY ROSTER

GOALIES: Nicolaj Henriksen, Esbjerg, DEN (2015 draft eligible); Thomas Lillie, Vaxjo Jr., SWE-JR (2015 draft eligible); George Sorensen, Herning, DEN (2015 draft eligible)

DEFENSEMEN: Victor Eskerod, Gentofte, DEN (2015 draft eligible); Daniel Hansen, Sonderjyske, DEN (2015 draft eligible); Sonny Hertzberg, Oshawa, OHL (2015 draft eligible)Anders Krogsgaard, Esbjerg, DEN (2015 draft eligible); Mads Larsen, Malmo, SWE-2 (2015 draft eligible); Matias Lassen, Rodovre, DEN (2015 draft eligible); Christian Mieritz, Rodovre, DEN (2016 draft eligible); Daniel Nielsen, Hvidovre, DEN-2 (2015 draft eligible)

FORWARDS: Mikkel Aagaard, Niagara, OHL (2015 draft eligible); Matthias Asperup, Malmo Jr., SWE-JR (2015 draft eligible); Oliver Bjorkstrand, Portland, WHL (Columbus Blue Jackets)Soren Dau Mortensen, Sonderjyske, DEN (2015 draft eligible); Nikolaj Ehlers, Halifax, QMJHL (Winnipeg Jets); Mads Eller, Edmonton, WHL (2015 draft eligible); Jeppe Holmberg, Esbjerg, DEN (2015 draft eligible); Kristian Jensen, Lulea Jr., SWE-JR (2015 draft eligible); Christian Kristiansen, Rogle-Jr., SWE-JR (2015 draft eligible); Marcus Nielsen, Rungsted, DEN (2015 draft eligible); Soren Nielsen, Esbjerg, DEN (2015 draft eligible); Nick Olesen, Odense, DEN (2015 draft eligible); Andre Pison Staermose, Wenatchee, NAHL (2015 draft eligible); Emil Rasmussen, Rodovre, DEN (2015 draft eligible); Alexander True, Seattle, WHL (2015 draft eligible)

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