Rask to play in 2012 World Juniors

Calgary Hitmen forward Victor Rask will play for Sweden at the 2012 World Junior Hockey Championship co-hosted by Edmonton and Calgary December 26, 2011 to January 5, 2012.  He is one of four players named to the team currently playing in the Canadian Hockey League, but the only Swedish selection from the Western Hockey League.  Rask is off to a strong rookie season start with the Hitmen.  The 18-year-old has a team teaming 15 goals and is tied with Jimmy Bubnick for second in points at 24.  Rask and Team Sweden are in Group A with Russia, Switzerland, Slovakia and Latvia and will play all their preliminary round games at Scotiabank Saddledome starting on the 26th against Latvia. 

This is the 13th straight year the Hitmen will be represented at this prestigious tournament.  Rask will also become the 17th player in franchise history to play in the World Juniors.  Here are his predecessors.

2000 Matt Kinch (Canada 4GP 0G 0A 0PTS) Chris Nielsen (Canada 7GP 3G 0A 3PTS)        

2001 Pavel Brendl (Czech Republic 7GP 4G 6A 10PTS) Toni Bader (Germany)           

2002 Fredrik Sjostrom (Sweden 7PG 0G 0A 0PTS)        

2003 Fredrik Sjostrom (Sweden 4GP 0G 1A 1PTS)   
2004 Ryan Getzlaf (Canada 6GP 3G 3A 6PTS) Tomas Troliga (Slovakia 6GP 1G 1A 2PTS)   
2005 Ryan Getzlaf (Canada 6GP 3G 9A 12PTS) Andrew Ladd (Canada 6GP 3G 4A 7PTS)   
2006 Justin Pogge (Canada 6GP 6-0 1.00GAA .952% 3SO) Freddie Pettersson (Sweden 6GP 3G 2A 5PTS)   
2007 Karl Alzner (Canada 6GP 0G 1A 1PTS) Freddie Pettersson (Sweden 6GP 1G 1A 2PTS)   
2008 Karl Alzner (Canada 7GP 1G 1A 2PTS) Bostjan Golicic (Slovenia 5GP 2G 1A 3PTS)   
2009 Brett Sonne (Canada 6GP 1G 2A 3PTS) Bostjan Golicic (Slovenia 5GP 0G 4A 4PTS)    
2010 Martin Jones (Canada 2GP 1-1 2.30GAA .917%) Brandon Kozun (Canada 6GP 3G 4A 7PTS)   
2011 Juraj Holly (Slovakia 5GP 1-3 3.83GAA .913% 1SO)