Solberg shining on big stage

“Everybody watching, probably including the U.S. team, can just see what he has,” added Norwegian forward Andreas Martinsen, an ex-NHLer playing in his 13th Ice Hockey World Championship. “He just plays. He doesn’t think. He just goes out there and does things, and he’s a great player.”

Indeed, Solberg – who made his Ice Hockey World Championship debut (2+1=3 in seven games) in Norway’s 11th-place finish last year – has been doing it all for coach Tobias Johansson’s Polar Bears, who are still seeking their first win.

In addition to scoring four goals in four games in Herning, the 189-cm, 92-kg Oslo native is averaging 26:44 in ice time per game. That’s second only at this tournament to Werenski (31:38), who has only played the one game versus Norway, and directly ahead of both Norwegian captain Emil Lilleberg (26:07) and German captain Moritz Seider (24:37).

Incidentally, the 24-year-old Seider – Detroit’s top blueliner and a two-time World Championship all-star – was Solberg’s favourite non-Norwegian player growing up. Yep, he’s that young.

It’s vital for kids like Solberg to step up if Norway hopes to maintain the top-division place it has enjoyed continuously since 2006. This Norwegian squad’s average age is just 25. Other noteworthy U25 team members include the 24-year-old Lilleberg, coming off his second NHL season with Tampa Bay, and 19-year-old stud forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, who spent 2024-25 with Skelleftea after becoming the highest-drafted Norwegian ever (15th overall to Detroit in 2024). 

“I think we have a great generation coming up with younger players,” said Solberg. “We had some really good players a couple years ago, but they’re all starting to get older, like [Patrick] Thoresen, [Mats] Zuccarello, [Mathis and Ken Andre] Olimb, [Martin] Roymark. So younger guys have to come in and fill their roles. The team is getting younger and Norway has a good future ahead. I feel like we have played pretty good in all of our games.”

He’s particularly impressed with what Lilleberg – his partner in the opening 2-1 loss to Kazakhstan – brings to the table.

“Of course, there are not a lot of D-men playing in the NHL from Norway,” Solberg said. “So I’m always trying to look at him. What is he doing in the locker room? What is he like with people? How is he treating the guys in the team? He’s a really professional guy, and of course I’m looking up to him. He’s a couple years…