Finland’s tournament in the Under-20 World Ice Hockey Championships ended in a bitter way, when Sweden won the quarter-finals with a score of 3–2. Nuoret Leijonat was still in the lead three and a half minutes before the goal, but finally succumbed to the handling of the western neighbors.
Sports expert Top Nättinen highlights three selections from the Young Lions’ performances in the tournament.
1. Finland played winningly only in places
Finland was still in the lead three and a half minutes before the end of the match, but Sweden’s super promise Leo Carlsson brought the evening to Sweden’s level at the end of a long rotation. Moments later, Finland had a chance to score the winning goal with superior power, but the bounces prevented it Victor Stjernborg hit the puck through the net into the net.
According to Nättinen, Finland only played in the way required to win in places, but in these matches only the result is decisive. Playing well isn’t enough if you can’t take advantage of your chances.
– A sad ending that could have gone either way. Finland even had a chance to escape by playing the opening set, but the efficiency of scoring and getting to them fell short, Nättinen recounted problems familiar to Finland throughout the tournament.
According to Nättinen, there were not two good teams in the match, but Finland was the best of those present.
– In the end, Finland should be able to change with a quick cycle and have fresh players defend all the time. Now it was not successful at all, Nättinen commented on Sweden’s equalizing goal.
The number one pack that worked for 27 minutes Topias Vilén couldn’t keep his own player in front of the goal in Sweden’s equalizing goal. 24 minutes played Aleksi Heimosalmi was, on the other hand, careless on the line during the winning goal.
Nättinen doesn’t give Finland’s goals too much playing time. However, he reminds us that when fatigue sets in, the possibility of body errors increases.
– Heimosalmi was a bit careless in the situation. Not necessarily in bounce hockey, but in that you should have taken the ice and the legs from under it. Under no circumstances should the guy have been let through.
2. The jump to juniors was too big for Tomi Lämsa
Coached professional players in the hockey league KHL for five seasons Tomi Lämsa piloted Young Lions for the first time. Nättti feels that the jump from professionals to juniors was too big for Lämsa in this period.
– When I listened to and read interviews before the tournament, I got an analytical picture of him. It continued in the tournament. I missed emotional coaching, raising energy and being active on the bench. The kind of rambunctious nature where he goes into the discomfort zone. Now it was too professional and there didn’t seem to be any kind of bond with the players.
According to Nättinen, there should be people inspiring the players in the youth games.
– Someone has nicely said that a coach must be a professional with amateur enthusiasm, but it seemed that it was rigid coaching of adults. I don’t know if the players were behind him and if they bought his ideas.
Lämsä talked before the tournament that Finland bases its game on puck control and the principles of our game. However, according to Nättinen, the style of play against the United States and Sweden was only revealed in a few moments.
3. Logical conclusion
According to the expert, at no point did Finland reach the level that winning would have required.
– Falling out in the semifinals is a logical consequence of how Finland played. At no point did the game develop, and no one emerged who would have carried this team alone. Superiority did not work at a sufficiently good level either.
From Finland’s number one chain Joakim Kemell scored 2+2, Oliver Kapanen 2+1 and Ville Koivunen 0+2. From the second chain Jani Nyman and Niko Huuhtanen scored 2+1. Finland scored only 14 goals in the tournament, the fewest of any top country.
– Defensively, Finland was on the right side from time to time, but in tight games against the United States and Sweden, there were a total of nine goals conceded.
When talking about the expectations of Finnish ice hockey, according to Nättinen, the result is really a big disappointment. However, reflecting on the composition, playing, development or lack of development of the game, the arrival was expected.
– On the other hand, Finland has often gone from the quarter-finals to the next round, even though it hasn’t deserved it. In the long run, the coin sometimes flips the other way. There is no need to turn this into a crisis for Finnish ice hockey, but a certain kind of humility can be taken from this for the future.