Norway heads to Slovakia with all the stars. Except for one

Thoresen, a recent winner of KHL play offs with Ufa, has pulled out of the squad citing family reasons. "I'd love to help the team, but I've been away from my family for 20 out of the last 22 months," said the 27-year old forward, who even refused an offer from head coach Roy Johansen to take his family over to Slovakia.

Even without Thoresen, the Norwegian squad offers some of the best talent their hockey pool can offer. Mats Zuccarello Aasen of New York Rangers should be the main attacking threat, supported by Mathis Olimb of AHL's Rockford and a handful of forwards playing in Swedish Elitserien.

Jonas Holøs of Colorado Avalanche will be the star of Norwegian defense, turning out to be a mixture of experience and young potential. Head coach Roy Johansen and his team will hope to repeat last year's success in Germany, where Norway only narrowly missed out on the quarterfinal appearance. This year, they face USA, Sweden and Austria in Group C of the tournament, opening their campaign against Tre Kronor on April 30^th.

Goalkeepers:
Pål Grotnes (Stjernen)
Lars Haugen (Manglerud Star)
Robert Hestmann (Storhamar)

Defenders:
Alexander Bonsaksen (Modo, SWE)
Brede Csiszar (Vålerenga)
Erik Follestad (Frisk Asker)
Jonas Holøs (Colorado Avalanche, NHL)
Eerikki Koivu (Lørenskog)
Ole-Kristian Tollefsen (Modo, SWE)
Lars Løkken Østli (Storhamar)

Forwards:
Morten Ask (Vålerenga)
Anders Bastiansen (Färjestad, SWE)
Kristian Forsberg (Modo, SWE)
Anders Fredriksen (Lørenskog)
Mads Hansen (Brynäs, SWE)
Marius Holtet (Färjestad, SWE)
Peter Lorentzen (Stavanger Oilers)
Andreas Martinsen (Lillehammer)
Ken Andre Olimb (Leksand, SWE)
Mathis Olimb (Rockford Icehogs, AHL)
Martin Røymark (Timrå, SWE)
Per-Åge Skrøder (Modo, SWE)
Lars Erik Spets (Lørenskog)
Martin Laumann Ylven (Linköping, SWE)
Mats Zuccarello Aasen (New York Rangers, NHL)

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