Team Sweden has announced that William Nylander will not play again at the world junior hockey championship. 

"William isn't 100 per cent fit to play a game so it was an easy decision," said Per Adolf Bergsten, the team's doctor. "He was getting better, but I can't tell you how close he was to playing a game."

Dr. Bergsten said that the Toronto Maple Leafs were "not involved at all with the decision, but they fully agreed with the decision."

"The decision for William not to play the rest of the tournament was the right decision," Maple Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello told TSN in a statement. "He will return to Toronto and be reevaluated by our team physicians. We have have been in constant communication with the Swedish Federation and have been supportive of all their decisions throughout this process."

"It's sad," said Alexander Nylander, William's younger brother and Swedish teammate. "I was looking forward to playing with him again, but better to be on the safe side for his head."

Alexander Nylander, who leads Sweden with nine points, said he always held out hope William would return to the tournament, but part of him is glad the issue has been resolved. 

"I was thinking about that every game," the Mississauga Steelheads forward said. "Of course, it will be a little easier to play, because I won't have to think about it."

Sweden faces Finland in the semi-finals on Monday. William Nylander had not played since suffering the injury in the first game of the tournament on Boxing Day.