Middleton, Rossi, Walker and Wallstedt Named to World Championship Roster

SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Minnesota Wild defenseman Jake Middleton (Canada), center Marco Rossi (Austria), forward Sammy Walker(United States) and goaltender Jesper Wallstedt (Sweden) will represent their respective countries at the 2023 IIHF World Championship in Tampere, Finland and Riga, Latvia, May 12 - 28.

Middleton, 27, recorded 15 points (3-12=15) in 79 contests for Minnesota during the 2022-23 regular season and set career marks in games played, assists, points, shots (79) and blocked shots (155). The 6-foot-3, 219-pound native of Stratford, Ontario, ranked second on the team in blocked shots and plus/minus rating (15) on the season. Originally selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the seventh round (210th overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft, Middleton has appeared in 159 NHL games and posted 32 points (7-25=32), 167 penalty minutes (PIM), a plus-20 rating, 162 shots and 162 blocked shots during five NHL seasons with the San Jose Sharks (2018-2022) and Wild (2022-23).

Rossi, 21, played in 19 games for Minnesota during the 2022-23 regular season, recording an assist and 13 shots. The 5-foot-9 native of Feldkirch, Austria, also tallied 51 points (16-35=51) in 53 games for the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League (AHL) this season, ranking second on the team in points, third in assists and fourth in power-play goals (six). A first-round (ninth overall) selection by Minnesota in the 2020 NHL Draft, Rossi has also represented Austria at the 2017 IIHF World Under-18 Championship (Division 1, Group B), 2018 IIHF World Under-18 Championship (Division 1, Group B), 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship (Division 1, Group A), and the 2021 World Junior Championship, where he served as Austria's captain. He also played for Team Austria in the 2022 Winter Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Walker, 23, skated in nine games for Minnesota during the 2022-23 regular season, posting two points (1-1=2) and eight shots. The 5-foot-10 native of Edina, Minn., also recorded 48 points (27-21=48) in 56 games for Iowa this season, leading the team in goals and power-play goals (nine) while ranking fourth in points and fifth in assists. Among AHL rookies, Walker finished third in goals, tied for third in power-play goals and plus/minus rating and tied for sixth in points, and represented Iowa at the 2023 AHL All-Star Classic. He was originally selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the seventh round (200th overall) selection in the 2017 NHL Draft.

Wallstedt, 20, went 18-15-5 with a 2.68 goals-against average (GAA) and a .908 save percentage (SV%) and one shutout in 38 games for Iowa this season. The 6-foot-3, 214-pound native of Västerås, Sweden, earned AHL goaltender of the Month honors in January of 2023 and represented Iowa at the 2023 AHL All-Star Classic. Wallstedt has also represented Sweden in numerous international tournaments, including the 2022 and 2021 IIHF World Junior Championships and the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.