The U20 Men’s Ice Hockey World Championship will be held in Ottawa, Canada from December 26, 2024 to January 5, 2025.
Nuoret Leijonat took an easy 3-1 victory over Germany early on Saturday morning.
However, the victory did not come through the easiest formula. Germany was in the game for a long time and in the middle of the third period the game could have turned either way.
Head coach of the Young Lions Lauri Mikkolan according to Finland’s relaxation in the goal posts was exhausted.
– We were able to create places, but it wasn’t fireworks yet, Mikkola said.
If Finland’s game has not yet convinced in other respects, then Alivoima was back on its feet. Finland cleared all three of its understrengths against Germany.
Ylivoima, on the other hand, has a lot of room for improvement. In two matches, the team has had the upper hand nine times – resulting in zero goals scored.
On Sunday night, the Young Lions will face the reigning champion, the United States. According to the head coach, the team needs to improve in all areas.
– You have to get more speed and throw yourself into the game and let your instincts take you. Today we played well together, but the last squeeze was missing.
Sports expert Top Nättinen review the most important points and catch up on the upcoming match against the United States.
Rimpinen and four court as guarantors of victory
In last year’s World Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden, Germany surprised Finland with a 4–3 victory in the preliminary round. This time it was Finland’s turn to celebrate the victory.
– Without Petteri from Rimp this result would not have come. Goalkeeping is of course important for all teams, but yes, Finland is now relying too much on Rimpinen’s saves.
Finland’s winning goal against Germany was scored by the player representing Oulu Kärppi Arttu Alasiurua19. Kärppie’s attacker formed Finland’s best field together in the match Jesse Nurmen19, and awarded as the team’s best Tuomas Uronen19, with.
Alasiurua said in an interview that there is a good team spirit in the team despite the fact that the first two games of the games have been difficult throughout. Expert Nättinen has also noticed this, especially for the field formed by Alasiurua, Nurmi and Uronen.
– They have had a relaxed atmosphere with each other and have laughed in the changing shed. There has never been such extortion and coercion. In Finland, it is frowned upon a bit if someone laughs a little. Speed, passion and courage have been passed down from their work.
“Has Hemming even been playing?”
The expert expects more especially From Konsta Heleniuswho is the NHL’s first-round draft pick and the team’s most famous player. Helenius, who plays in the NHL’s farm series AHL, has caught only one assist in two games.
– With the upper hand, Helenius is the Maestro and gets the puck as much as he wants. However, his game has become a bit of a mess. It’s been pretty weak.
Nättinen also expects more from those who play in their other youth competitions From Emil Hemming and From Kasper Halttus.
– I’m not quite sure if Hemming has even been playing. You have to look very carefully to see if he is even there on the field. Possession can only be seen in it with superiority.
Finland’s worrying level
According to Nättinen, Finland’s playing in comparison to Germany’s level was worrying.
– Germany has players born in 2006 who played in the second-level under-18 World Cup last year. A year ago, the 2005-born beat Norway by one goal in the qualifying match for the Under-20 World Cup. So the level of the opponent was not very high. Finland didn’t really become the dominant side in the game in any way.
– Finland should be able to be much better as a team. At the moment, you can’t build solely on individual skill, when the age groups in Finland are not so good that individual skill would be able to solve matches.
A win will certainly unleash the lion pack, but in this game, even advancing from the group can be difficult.
– Of course, the points are liberating in that there is not the worst stake in the match against Latvia, which ends the group, that by winning it, we should fight for whether Finland can even continue from the group.
By what means can the United States be overthrown?
– The world of thought should be formed around defense. A maximum of two goals could be scored per game. Finland must try to hurt, annoy the United States, and thereby use their positions with better efficiency than in the first two matches.
– There is nothing against the United States on a personal skill level, but by defending closely as a team and boring the opponent, Finland can fight.
– A tough ride is coming against the United States. That’s the feeling at the moment, Nättinen thinks.
The meeting between the Young Lions and the United States starts at 21:30 Finnish time on Sunday.
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.