Maple Leafs' Liljegren will miss WJHC with injury

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Timothy Liljegren will miss the 2019 World Junior Hockey Championship due to a high ankle sprain, the team announced Thursday.

Lillegren was expected to play a key role on Sweden's blue line. Liljegren, who's spent this season with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League, suffered the injury in a game on Dec. 1 against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. His recovery timetable is labeled week to week.

The 19-year-old has posted two goals and eight points in 19 games.