Sebastian Aho, Alexander Barkov, Mikko Rantanen, Miro Heiskanen, Esa Lindell and Juuse Saros. They are the new head coach of the Finnish men’s ice hockey team Leijoni Antti Pennanen first player choices.
– At this stage, the fielder was chosen. An excellent goalkeeper who is at his best one of the best in the world. Dallas’ defense duo probably doesn’t need any explanations, and the attack trio is the NHL’s elite, Pennanen explains over the phone.
According to the head coach, all the players have seemed eager when they get to represent Finland.
– I have been waiting for years to experience the best against the best tournament in the national team shirt, defender Esa Lindell says at the press conference.
He describes it as great that even the best in hockey get to face each other in the national team.
– There is now a good mood at the European Futsal Championships, so surely the same thing will happen in that tournament of four countries – and later in the Olympics.
Lindell’s teammate, defender Miro Heiskanen, also enjoys the tournaments of the countries’ best players.
– It’s been a while since NHL players have qualified for the Olympics or other such tournaments, Heiskanen predicts.
Heiskanes became a father in February, when the couple’s first child was born. He says that parenting has been nice and the child is doing well.
– Funny case, fast growing and happy guy. Especially in the summer, you can spend a lot of time together. Let’s see how fast he grows.
Goalkeeper Juuse Saros says that a big goal for him would be to participate in the Olympics. In his opinion, the tournament of four countries is also a great thing.
– Surely everyone has been waiting for tournaments like this, so it’s nice that this is finally happening.
A four-nation tournament in North America
The selections made now are the first for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament to be played in February. In addition to Finland, Canada, Sweden and the United States will play in Boston and Montreal.
Everyone names their first six players on Friday. The rest of the players will be selected between November and December.
– Next, I will continue meeting the players. Attendance at training camps and another follow-up round in the NHL are known. I go to the place to watch the game, when now I have to get to know NHL hockey, says Pennanen.
He states that playing in a small rink is somewhat familiar to him. He coached the under-20 national team Nuori Leijon two and a half times at the World Championships in Canada. The 2022 Edmonton tournament was suspended due to coronavirus infections and was completed later.
The February tournament is Pennanen’s first as head coach of the men’s national team. Heiskanen and Lindell say that they don’t know much about the Lions’ new head coach.
– Last week we saw him. An enthusiastic guy and enthusiastic about this project. That was great to hear. A really good guy, nothing bad to say, says Heiskanen.
Saros and Pennanen have both been involved in hockey for a long time in Hämeenlinna. According to the goalkeeper, the duo’s paths have crossed a bit.
– We haven’t officially been in the same team. When Antti was a junior coach, I was in the younger age groups. Then, when Antti returned, I had already left for North America. A lot of friends have played under Antti, so I’ve heard a lot of good things about his coaching, says Saros.
Ruutu as assistant coach, Tapola at work in Switzerland
In addition to the NHL players, the North American league will also confirm the coaching staff. Pennanen’s assistant coaches Tuomo Ruutu and Mikko Manner.
– Even then, during the negotiation phase of the head coach’s contract, we had discussions about the coaching team. That’s when Tuomo’s name came up when we were thinking about the Winter Olympics and this tournament was known, says the head coach.
Pennanen and Ruutu have worked together before. The two worked in the coaching group of the Young Lions during the years 2020–22, Pennane as head coach and Ruutu as assistant coach.
Appointed to the national team’s coaching team for next season Jussi Tapola will not travel to the North American tournament. He works as the head coach of SC Bern, and the Swiss league is running during the tournament.
– The original idea was that Tuomo will be involved regardless of Jussi’s situation. Tuomo was also really motivated to join the coaching team, states Pennanen.
Also included are Kekäläinen and Koivu
General Manager of Finland Jere Lehtinen can support Jarmo Kekäläinen and Mikko Koivun. Lehtinen states that it is great to be able to play against the best players from their countries in the tournament.
– It will be almost nine years since the best last met. Of course, there are only four countries in the tournament. A good start in the sense that the following year is the Olympics, Lehtinen says at the press conference.
The 4 Nations Face-Off tournament will be played in Montreal and Boston from the 12th to the 20th. February 2025. Only NHL players will play in the tournament. For example, the Czech Republic currently only has four defenders playing in the series, so it cannot assemble a team that meets the requirements.
The tournament is organized by the NHL and the league’s players association NHLPA.
– Only contract players of the league can join. Everyone is available at the Olympics, Lehtinen explains.
Update 28.6. at 2:13 p.m.: Added Antti Pennanen’s comments to the story.
Update 28.6. at 3:23 p.m.: Edited story throughout. Added comments by Jere Lehtinen, Esa Lindell, Miro Heiskanen and Juuse Saros.