Finland won silver in the World Junior Championships, despite numerous flaws in hockey. It increases the value of the achievement even more, writes Jussi Paasi.
Jussi Paasi sports reporter
It started with perfect hockey.
Nuoret Leijonat came to the World Cup finals blazing. In the beginning, the pre-favorite USA was completely at Finland’s feet.
Härmä’s youngsters did what they wanted in the opening set. I don’t remember seeing similar intensity from the blue and white national team for years. In every exchange, in every situation, Finland was deep in the heart of the game.
In the second set, Finland continued where it left off in the first and took a two-goal lead. But then the United States showed why it is currently the leading country in ice hockey. Game speed, individual skill and goal-scoring efficiency rushed to the fore confusingly quickly.
From then on, Finland was in the washing machine. Especially in the third set, the USA’s spinning program ran at a furious pace. The Young Lions survived like a miracle and made it to overtime, but the reigning champion finally took over there.
Overall, the WC final was a great reminder that this tournament is the most beautiful, entertaining and interesting event in the hockey world. I wished many times while watching the final that the game would never end.
The chances of the Finnish team were doubted before the start of the tournament – and even after the two preliminary series games. Silver was a fantastic performance from Nuori Leijon. You can safely call it a surprise medal. And won silver.
Rimpy, Rimpy, Rimpy
The biggest headlines of the tournament were written about the goalkeepers of the Finnish team Petteri Rimpinesten.
Rimpinen was not a familiar name to many before the start of this hockey season. In the fall, those who follow the SM league got to see how the 18-year-old veskari became Kiekko-Espoo’s number one goalkeeper in a show of style.
At the World Championships in Ottawa, Rimpinen thrust himself into the international consciousness. The nickname “Showtime” is now also known in North America. Rimpinen, who was left without an NHL reservation last summer, slipped his business card into the lap pocket of many a talent scout’s club jacket with his amazing moves.
Rimpinen’s importance to Finland was irreplaceable. In the semi-final, Nuoret Leijonat was on a roll against Sweden, especially towards the end of the game. Rimpinen did the job. Without Rimp, Finland would have been more or less in trouble even before the playoffs. In the preliminary series match against the USA, he prevented, among other things, five passes.
Showtime lived up to its name in the finals as well. In overtime, he made several world-class saves.
Even though Rimpinen stole the show, the commitment and endless faith of the Finnish field players is also something to admire.
Like a team captain Aron Kiviharju told before the games, the players wanted to support each other’s strengths and compensate for weaknesses. That’s a great example for all of us!
Burning desire, wild passion, unyieldingness and at the same time enjoying the game shone through the team’s performances throughout the tournament. The young Lions throwing themselves into the game was exciting to watch.
There are enough grievances
Then to the content after the thought line in the title of this comment.
There are enough things to worry about in Härmä’s puddle. Ones that have been swept under the rug for too long.
The legendary success of the men’s national team, the nation’s Leijoni, blinded the Ice Hockey League for years. Jukka Jalonen the gold machine forged World Cup and Olympic gold. The home games played in Tampere made the association’s coffers ring even more fiercely.
But when the winning streak in the rink froze, the curtain tore open. The lazy union had forgotten to take care of the basic tasks.
The list of recent grievances is long. Many of them are still not treated.
The racial uproar, in which the Ice Hockey Association tried for a long time to turn against the equality commissioner and the principles that apply to all of society, was a shameful episode. It has still not been understood that the company transfer rules against the basic rights of children and young people have been updated to modern times.
Other problems include, among other things, the elimination of genuine competition from the youth leagues, leaving women’s hockey to hunning, and the wildly increased costs of the sport, which have already made hockey a hobby for well-to-do families. The list could go on.
Now it must not happen that the ladle bosses assure in their festive speeches that the dominant sport is doing really, really well when the Young Lions return home from Canada with medals around their necks. You must not close your eyes to obvious problems.
The youth national team won silver despite numerous problems. It increases the value of the achievement even more.
Ice hockey urgently and quickly needs fundamental changes in order to maintain the sport’s special status and popularity in Finland.
Nuoret Leijonat showed what the game can offer both players and the public at its best. If only the Jääkieckoliitto office would sometimes work just as well.