Finland bowed to host Canada in the World Youth Hockey Championship match in Ottawa. Expert Topi Nättinen goes through the match and already looks towards the future.
The U20 Men’s Ice Hockey World Championship will be held in Ottawa, Canada from December 26, 2024 to January 5, 2025.
In their opening match, Nuoret Leijonat lost to host Canada with a score of 0–4.
Canada dominated the game events, while Finland fell into uncertain puck-like play. On the finish line Petteri Rimpinen kept Finland up throughout the match. Kiekko-Espoo’s goalkeeper made a total of 37 saves in the match.
The opening of the World Cup in Ottawa, Canada was watched by an almost full house – 18 thousand spectators.
– It felt really great. The mood was high, and it was great to open the games against Canada, Rimpinen said in an interview.
Lauri Mikkolan the team led by the team lost the puck several times in a bad place, and this resulted in, among others, Canada of Easton Cowan completed the 2–0 goal in the second period.
The young Lion team seemed tense almost the entire match.
– You have to understand that the demands of the game are quite tough and space and time are limited. You have to be careful all the time. Canada had long attacks, and it took away our energy at the beginning, Mikkola said after the match.
Sports expert Top Nättinen go through the three most important points from the match, and quickly catch up on the upcoming match against Germany.
Rimpinen sparkles
The goalkeepers of both countries were selected as the best of their teams in the match. Carter George kept Canada clean in goal with 31 saves. Rimpinen, on the other hand, couldn’t really do anything for Canada’s goals.
– As it was already known before the tournament that Rimpinen will be Finland’s most important player. He succeeded in a tough place and certainly gained confidence despite the loss. World-class top individuals in front, so some goals from there, but then it goes through by force.
Representing Jukurei in the club team Topias Hynninen was sidelined for the match due to illness or injury.
– Kasper Halttunen, Emil Hemming and Rasmus Kumpulainenwho were already in the games last year, so there wasn’t really anything about them. Hopefully, Topias Hynninen will be able to play quickly, so that the chains will be better balanced, Nättinen says.
Good underpower, bad overpower
Finland was underpowered at best in the match. The team was undermanned four times, but Canada didn’t create many dangerous scoring opportunities during its superior strength. Finland had the upper hand no less than six times.
– If you don’t score goals from places, then it will always be a joke. In a short tournament, the top players must make a result, Nättinen emphasizes.
According to the expert’s observations, Finland did not seem to have credit for their own performance in the match.
– Finland had to spill the puck a lot. Carelessness marked Finland’s game, and perhaps it wasn’t quite understood what the standard of the game was. The pace was simply surprising, says Nättinen.
– Some of the top Finnish forwards even had a little bit of survival to even stay involved in the game, Nättinen adds.
Next game ahead quickly
Finland will meet Germany this very evening in a match starting at 22:30 Finnish time. In their opening match, the Germans lost to the United States crushingly 10–4. According to Nättinen, it is good that the next game comes quickly.
– Of course, a really disappointed team will come. Finland has the same situation, both are going to improve.
Nättinen would like to see Rimpinen, who made a strong save, with Finland’s goal in the Germany match as well.
– If we think from the point of view of recovery, I wouldn’t find it surprising at all that Kim Saarinen would play next. There is a lot of stake in the match against Germany and Rimpinen is a hot goalkeeper. However, I would personally see Rimpinen playing these first three matches.
After the Germany game, Finland will face the United States and Latvia in the opening group.
– This is not a forced victory of forced wins, but this is very close to it, says Nättinen about the upcoming game against Germany.
Urheilu closely follows the under-20 hockey world championships in the application and on its website. The atmosphere is also broadcast on Urheilurutu and Urheiluradio.