ZURICH – Before the start tomorrow, more participating teams have announced their rosters for the IIHF InLine Hockey World Championship in Bratislava, Slovakia. The hosts will play Austria on Saturday while the 16-team tournament will be in full swing from Sunday.

Defending champion Sweden will start the tournament with several returnees and ice hockey pros including Dick Axelsson (Djurgarden), Linus Klasen (Sodertalje), Fredrik Eriksson (Malmo) and players from Swedish minor leagues, from Denmark, France, Norway and the USA.

Last year’s finalist Finland will show up with a prominent goalie tandem with Mikko Koskinen, who was backup of Finnish SM-Liiga runner-up Espoo Blues, and Slovan Bratislava goalie Sasu Hovi.

Germany has finalised its roster as well. Ice hockey pros Aleksander Polaczek und Florian Jung, who were in the long list, will be missing due to injuries and the participation of Michael Wolf, who played for Germany in the 2008 Ice Hockey World Championship in Halifax in May, is currently uncertain. However, there are several other ice hockey professionals in the roster of last year’s bronze medal winners.

Also host Slovakia has a former Ice Hockey World Championship player with forward Richard Kapus from Slovan Bratislava. Also in the team are Martin Galik, Henrich and Jakub Ruckay, who all play ice hockey in the Slovakian Extraliga.

The United States roster is highlighted by seven players that earned a gold medal at the 2006 IIHF InLine Hockey World Championship: goaltender Jamie Bufalino; defencemen Derek Kern and Lee Sweatt; forwards Tommy Bruce, Sam Ftorek, Aaron Moss and Chris Peterson. In contrast to some other teams, the Americans will mostly do without hockey pros with the exception of Lee Sweatt (TPS Turku, Finland) and Sam Ftorek (Bloomington Prairie Thunder, IHL).

Finland

Goalkeepers: Sasu Hovi (Pahalampi), Mikko Koskinen (GrIFK).

Skaters: Jari Harjumaki (Naata Rollers), Tommi Heinonen (Kiekko-67), Juhani Holm (MahtiAnkat), Jani Honkanen (MahtiAnkat), Antti Kovero (Pahalampi), Rami Lehtila (Pepe Roller), Olli Lehtinen (Pepe Roller), Kari Lohtander (Naata Rollers), Jani Lyytinen (Vuorelan Veikot), Sami Markkanen (Devils), Jaakko Rissanen (Vuorelan Veikot), Antti Raikkonen (Pahalampi), Aki Tuominen (MahtiAnkat), Jonne Vaahtera (MahtiAnkat), Tuomas Valosaari (GrIFK).

Head coach: Nemo Nokkosmaki.

Germany

Goalkeepers: Jochen Vollmer (Munich), Thomas Ower (Frankfurt Lions).

Defencemen: Josef Kottmair (Freiburg), Marian Bazany (Dusseldorf Metro Stars), Florian Zeller (Bad Tolz), Lukas Slavetinsky (Ravensburg), Steffen Tolzer (Augsburg Panther), Henrik Holscher (Krefeld Pinguine), Jan Schinkothe (Deggendorf).

Forwards: Christian Wichert (Augsburg Panther), Stefan Wichert (Weisswasser), Patrick Reimer (Dusseldorf Metro Stars), Alexander Leinsle (Munich), Michael Wolf (Iserlohn Roosters), Thomas Greilinger (Ingolstadt), Daniel Huhn (Landsberg), Daniel Menge (Dresden).

Head coach: Georg Holzmann.

Slovakia

Goalkeepers: Jozef Ondrejka (VUJE Piestany), Roman Hrusovsky (Veant Mad Dogs)

Defencemen: Tomas Sille (Veant Mad Dogs), Peter Strapaty (Hermes Trencin), Martin Kluciar (Horimex Dubnica), Anton Poznik (Hermes Trencin)

Forwards: Peter Staron, Richard Kapus, Roman Simunek, Andrej Szoke (all Veant Mad Dogs), Henrich Ruckay, Jakub Ruckay (obaja VUJE Piestany), Martin Galik (Casey/West), Lukas Ruzicka (Horimex Dubnica), Miroslav Kristin (Hermes Trencin).

Head coach: Imrich Antal

Sweden

Goalkeepers: Dennis Karlsson (Sickgrip Oskarshamn), Kristoffer Martin (Goteborg Revolution).

Defencemen: Johan Lilja (Stockholm Capitals), Dave Lindarv (Haninge Inline Mates), Daniel Brolin (Goteborg Revolution), Jonas Karlsson (Charlestown Force IF), Anders Togersson (Goteborg Revolution), Ludvig Rantanen (Goteborg Revolution), Andreas Svensson (Nor IK Tigers), Martin Thelander (Nor IK Tigers).

Forwards: Fredrik Eriksson (Nor IK Tigers), Carl Berglund (Nor IK Tigers), Dick Axelsson (Stockholm Capitals), Simon Olsson (Goteborg Revolution), Kristian Luukkonen (Goteborg Revolution), Daniel Wessner (Nor IK Tigers), Johan Olsson (Nor IK Tigers), Linus Klasen (Stockholm Capitals).

Head coach: Fredrik Skoog.

United States

Goalies: Jamie Bufalino (Mission Syndicate), Kyle Mikel (Lindenwood University, NCRHA).

Defencemen: James Beilsten (Pama Cyclones), Derek Kern (Mission Snipers), Steven Oleksy (Lake Superior State University, CCHA), Rafael Rodriguez (Robert Morris University, CHA), Lee Sweatt (TPS Turku, Finland).

Forwards: Tommy Bruce (Lindenwood University, NCRHA), Etan Chavira (Pama Cyclones), Dan Comrie (Lincoln Stars, USHL), Kevin De Vergilio (St. Lawrence University, ECACH), Sam Ftorek (Bloomington Prairie Thunder, IHL), Kyle Gouge (Lindenwood University, NCRHA), Pat Lee (University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, WIAC), Aaron Moss (Mission Syndicate), Chris Peterson (Tour Mudcats).

Head coach: Darren Turcotte

More rosters will be available on the 2008 IIHF InLine Hockey World Championship website from Sunday.