STOCKHOLM – The Swedish Ice Hockey Association announced on Thursday morning that Vermont's Todd Woodcroft has been named an assistant coach with the 2021 Sweden National Junior Team.
 
The Sweden National Junior Team will take part in the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship Dec. 26, 2020 – Jan. 5, 2021, in Edmonton, Alberta. All games will be held at Rogers Place the home of the NHL's Edmonton Oilers. At the 2020 event held in the Czech Republic Sweden won the Bronze Medal defeating Finland 3-2.
 
In his role as assistant coach, Coach Woodcroft will help the team remotely, working specifically on pre-scouting the opponents and post-scouting all of Sweden's games.
 
"The invitation from Tomas Montén and the Swedish Ice Hockey Federation to serve as an assistant coach for the Juniorkronorna at the '21 World Junior Championships is truly an honor," said Woodcroft. "I have had the opportunity to work with Team Sweden on two separate occasions (World Cup, 2016/World Championships, 2017), coaching alongside Tomas and winning a Gold Medal together in the process. I am humbled by his opinion of me as a coach and I am excited to continue to learn from him as we prepare for the best junior tournament in the world."
 
Sweden will compete in Group B of the tournament facing Austria, Czech Republic, Russia, and the United States in round robin action. Sweden will begin the tournament on December 26 facing the Czech Republic at 2 p.m. (ET). In the United States the World Junior Hockey Championship will be broadcast live on the NHL Network. All full TV schedule will be released at a later date.

Handy Toyota is the presenting sponsor of Vermont men's hockey.