The 2010 IIHF World Junior Championships get underway on Boxing Day in Regina and Saskatoon. And while much has been made of Team Canada and it's newly announced captain Patrice Cormier, what about the other countries?

As Team Canada gets set to take on Sweden in a pre-competition game tonight in Regina, Saskatchewan, it's time to take an in-depth look at some of the key players who will take the ice for Team Sweden.

Last year Sweden lost 5-1 in the gold medal game to Team Canada, giving the Canadians their fifth straight gold medal.

Sweden have lost two consecutive gold medal games to Canada. This year Sweden is one of the favourites to make it to the gold medal game yet again, but they will have their hands full in a very competitive Group B that includes Austria, Finland, Russia, and the Czech Republic

Team Sweden will have eight players returning from last year’s team. One of those returning players will be Magnus Pääjärvi-Svensson.

Pääjärvi-Svensson was chosen 10th overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2009 NHL Draft. This will be his third World Junior tournament. Last year Pääjärvi-Svensson was one of the offensive spark plugs for Team Sweden with two goals and seven points in six games.

In 16 games this season with Timra IK of the Swedish Elite League, Pääjärvi-Svensson has seven goals and five assists.

The other returning players for Team Sweden include: David Rundblad, Tim Erixon, Mattias Tedenby, Jacob Josefson, Marcus Johansson, and Andre Petersson.

In between the pipes, Sweden will be led by a netminder who was one of the best in last year’s tournament. Florida Panthers prospect Jacob Markstrom was named best goaltender of the 2009 World Juniors. Markstrom allowed only eight goals, had a goals against average of 1.61, led all goalies with a save percentage of .943%, and recorded a shutout against Russia.

Here is how the full roster looks for Sweden.

Goaltenders
Jacob Markstrom – Florida Panthers
Anders Nilsson – New York Islanders

Defencemen
Simon Bertilsson – Philadelphia Flyers
Mattias Ekholm – Nashville Predators
Oliver Ekman-Larsson – Phoenix Coyotes
Tim Erixon – Calgary Flames
Lukas Kilstrom – Sodertalje SK
Adam Larsson – 2011 Draft Eligible
David Rundblad – St. Louis Blues

Forwards
Daniel Brodin – Djurgardens IF Stockholm
Marcus Johansson – Washington Capitals
Jacob Josefson – New Jersey Devils
Carl Klingberg – Atlanta Thrashers
Marcus Kruger – Chicago Blackhawks
Anton Lander – Edmonton Oilers
Martin Lundberg – Skelleftea AIK
Magnus Pääjärvi-Svensson – Edmonton Oilers
Andre Petersson – Ottawa Senators
Dennis Rasmussen – VIK Vasteras SK
Anton Rodin – Vancouver Canucks
Jakob Silfverberg – Ottawa Senators
Mattias Tedenby – New Jersey Devils

Head Coach: Par Marts
Assistant Coaches: Stefan Ladhe, Peter Sundstrom

-For all your World Juniors news, stats, and updates, you can follow Ken Beckett on Twitter @ www.twitter.com/KenBeckett

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