BERNE – Sweden forward Joel Lundqvist suffered a thigh injury in the game against Austria. He was on the receiving end of a Thomas Vanek bodycheck, which worsened a minor injury he had been nursing.  

Lundqvist had been cleared by doctors to play in the tournament.

According to Team Sweden doctor Björn Waldebäck, the injury will take a few months to heal completely.

Meanwhile it has been announced that Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Anton Strålman will join the Swedish national team in the 2009 World Championship. Strålman was sent to play the AHL playoffs with the Leafs minor league affiliate, Toronto Marlies, but when even the Marlies season ended, coach Bengt-Åke Gustafsson invited Strålman to Berne.

Last year, Strålman scored 4+3=7 points in 8 games when Sweden finished fourth in the World Championship.

The 22-year-old defenceman will arrive in Switzerland on Tuesday, and may be available for Sweden's game against the USA on Wednesday.