In the opening match of the World Cup, Finland will face Canada the night before Friday at 2:30 Finnish time. Urheilu follows the events on its website.
A year ago, the Young Lions’ World Cup journey ended in fourth place, when the Czech Republic defeated Lauri Mikkolan coached group no less than 8–5.
Now Finland is going to Ottawa to improve that ranking. Urheilu’s hockey expert Top Nättinen however, you can’t expect too much from the team.
– Finland practically has a team like that every year, which can fight for the gold medal. But, if you look at this team realistically, it’s really beyond a stone’s throw that Finland would get that gold medal there. A medal alone would be an overachievement for this team, says Nättinen.
What’s coming up?
The Young Lions have won the World Cup gold five times.
The most recent world championship is from 2019. At that time, the head coach Jussi Ahokkan the pillars of the golden team he piloted were the current NHL names Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Henri Jokiharju, Anton Lundell, Kaapo Kako and Eeli Tolvanen.
Now in Ottawa, the cornerstones of the Finnish team are the goalkeeper Petteri Rimpinenteam captain and defender Aron Kiviharju as well as the attacker Konsta Helenius.
Nättinen expects a lot from Helenius. The forward is a first-round pick of the Buffalo Sabers in last summer’s NHL draft. This season, Helenius has played in the farm series in the AHL in 28 games and scored 17 power points in them.
– In light of the power points, of course the expectations are high, but Helenius must also take on such a mental role as a game leader, Nättinen states.
Helenius already participated in the Junior World Championships a year ago. He also has experience in the men’s World Championships last spring.
– I hope that he trusts his own work and draws others into that positive work. If he starts hanging his head and swinging bats, then the team will easily go after their top striker.
On the other hand, Aron Kiviharju, who suffered from injuries, has long been considered the super promise of Finnish hockey. However, injuries have reduced the expectations of the promise.
Kiviharju was already selected for the World Youth Championships at the age of 16, but the playing time had not yet warmed up at that time (2023). Minnesota Wild’s NHL reservation missed the previous youth games due to injury.
Kiviharju has played for HIFK in the SM league in 32 matches this season. Ten power points have been accumulated.
– For Kiviharju, it is expected how he will be able to play under great pressure against the best players in his age group in the world. Nothing out of the SM league, but it’s a different matter when Canada plays against them in those games, Nättinen reminds.
Defense a concern
According to the expert, the biggest concern of the Young Lions in the upcoming World Cup is the team’s defense.
– Emil Pieniniemi (Kingston Frontenacs, OHL) is the only defenseman who has been able to score power points this season. He also has experience from last year’s games. In the direction of attack, this pack, especially after Pieniniemi, is really poor.
Nättinen also highlights the fact that Finnish defenders are exceptionally small.
– Half of the defenders are under 185 centimeters. It’s a really big question mark, what kind of hockey can be played upwards with these packs. And secondly, what is the defensive readiness like, because there aren’t too many players specialized in just defending.
No less than ten players from North America
According to Nättinen, who played as a forward during his playing career, Finland’s first two chains and the top are really strong.
– I would highlight the names Jesse Kiiskinen, Benjamin Rautiainen and Topias Hynninenwho have already been able to make a good result in the SM league.
Finland’s goalkeeper trio Petteri Rimpinen, Kim Saarinen and Noa Vali everyone has playing experience from this season in the domestic main league.
According to Nättinen, Rimpinen is Finland’s clear number one goalkeeper at the Games. 18-year-old Rimpinen has blocked pucks in Kiekko-Espoo’s goal in 29 matches already this season.
– In the first group, I would scare him in three matches and Saari in one match. If everything goes as hoped for Finland, Rimpinen will be at the finish line in the quarter-finals and from there until the end, says Nättinen.
What makes the Young Lions team exceptional is that no less than ten players play in the North American leagues. No less than eight of these are attackers.
– I hope that this year’s team will convey faith, courage, activity, enthusiasm and throwing themselves into the game. If you compare to last year’s games, both the players and the coaches were grimacing there, and they didn’t really even air the goals.
In its opening match, Finland will face host Canada on the night after Boxing Day.
– In the very first game against Canada, the cabin is full, so that would be the best place to strike. You don’t go to humble yourself and defend with just a turtle defense, says Nättinen.
The last time the Junior World Cup gold was contested in Ottawa was in 2009. At that time, Canada’s John Tavares.
In the upcoming games, the center of attention will most likely be the United States James Hagensof Canada Gavin McKenna and Sweden Axel Sandin Pellikka.