STOCKHOLM/HELSINKI – AHL defenceman Justin Krueger will join the German national team in Helsinki. He’s expected to arrive on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old son of long-time Switzerland coach Ralph Krueger finished his second season with the American Hockey League’s Charlotte Checkers when the team lost in the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs against the Oklahoma City Barons on Saturday.

The Düsseldorf native played 74 games this season and had one goal and 16 assists.

For Krueger it will be his fourth straight IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship participation since his debut on home ice in Cologne, Mannheim and Gelsenkirchen in 2010.

The Krueger family has participated in the World Championships in every year since 1998 when Ralph Krueger debuted as national team coach of Switzerland when the country hosted the world tourney in Zurich and Basel.

With Krueger the German national team will have 22 skaters and two goalkeepers on its roster with one open spot remaining for a third goalie.

France registers Thomas Roussel, Ritz

The French national team filled its roster for the 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship by registering two players from its domestic league, defenceman Thomas Roussel (Amiens Gothiques) and forward Nicolas Ritz (Dijon Ducs).

For Thomas Roussel – not related with NHL forward Antoine Roussel, who is also on the roster – it will be the fourth World Championship. Ritz, 21, has never played in the World Championship before but was part of the team that battled in the Final Olympic Qualification in February. He represented France in three U20 and two U18 World Championships in lower divisions.

The French have now 22 skaters and three goalkeepers on the roster and cannot add any more players.

Austria to add Kristler, Reichel

The Austrian Ice Hockey Association announced on Monday that it will register defenceman Johannes Reichel (KAC Klagenfurt) and forward Andreas Kristler (Red Bull Salzburg) as the last two players to fill the roster.

For Reichel it will be the sixth World Championship (including Division I) and fourth consecutive participation while Kristler will participate for the second time after 2009 when he debuted as an 18-year-old.

Following the cut, forward Manuel Geier, who was practising with the team but hadn’t been registered, travelled home today.

MARTIN MERK