Finland’s under-20 national ice hockey team is heading to the World Cup with a very balanced trio of goalkeepers. The trio includes Aku Koskenvuo, Jani Lampinen and Niklas Kokko.
On Thursday, Nuoret Leijonat will travel to Canada with a very interesting group for the under-20 hockey world championships.
There is a lot of experience in the attack and defense in the SM league as well, but the goalkeeping department can be considered a question mark for the team in advance.
Finland’s goalkeeper trio is made up of the American university series that played in the NCAA Aku Koskenvuo and those who played in Mestis Jani Lampinen and Niklas Kokko.
The trio doesn’t have any league games under it. The situation is rarer compared to previous years, as Finland has often had goalkeepers who already have at least a single game’s worth of experience in the SM league.
Head coach of the Young Lions Tomi Lämsa considers the goalkeeper situation to be excellent.
– They are all young, forward-looking and hungry goalkeepers. I believe that we have a very good situation, says Lämsä.
You don’t see that as a weakness?
– Absolutely not.
In the video below, you can watch Tomi Lämsä’s thoughts on Finland’s next training matches.
Koskenvuo has played two games in the NCAA this season with a percentage of 87.5. Lampinen has played 14 matches in Kiekko-Espoo with a percentage of 90.9 and in Kokko Hermes 12 matches with a percentage of 90.4.
From the trio, Koskenvuo saved an 8–2 victory over the Czech U19 national team and a 6–1 victory over Sweden in the Czech five-nation tournament in November.
Lampinen, on the other hand, first saved a 3–2 victory in the competition for the winning goal in the challenger national team, but played a clean sheet against the Czech U20 team in the first team. During the rest of the year, Kokko played three games with a percentage of 88.2.
However, Lämsä does not want to reveal a more detailed plan regarding goalkeepers.
– We have three good goalkeepers on the trip. We have a short camp and two games before the games start. Together Rinne Pekan (goalkeeper coach) and I think about the plan during the camp, which pattern we will proceed with, says Lämsä.
Sports expert Top Nättinen can see that Finland does not have a clear number one goalkeeper, but that Koskenvuo and Lampinen share the responsibility for defense. The expert thinks it is likely that both will play one match when Finland meets the USA and Canada in practice matches before the Games.
For Koskenvuo, questions arise about his sense of the game. Lampinen, on the other hand, has been steadily given responsibility in Mestis.
– I don’t think that the feel of the game is that important at this point. If you get one or two games less at the beginning of the group, Koskenvuo can definitely be the number one goalkeeper. If that doesn’t happen, Lampinen is a good alternative, says Nättinen.
– This is a positive problem for the team. You can easily see who is on the better side of the game.
Lampinen says that he had victories and successes in Mestis during the early season. He considers his early season to be really good and goes to the World Championships with an expectant mood.
– It’s great to be able to play competitive games and see your own level. It’s also a great experience as a team, says Lampinen.
According to Lampinen, there has not yet been any discussion about roles with the trio of goalkeepers.
– During the week we will get to practice and then we’ll probably see how it goes.
– There is always a desire to play and that’s what we start with. Surely everyone puts their best foot forward and I try to give one hundred percent to the table. I believe it will work, says Lampinen.
The Under-20 Ice Hockey World Championships will be played in Halifax and Moncton, Canada, from December 26 to January 5. Before this, Finland will play practice matches on 20.12. United States and 24.12. against Canada.