Is this the Young Lions’ shot at World Cup gold? Head coach Tomi Lämsä has woven a plot by which the top countries fall

The Finnish under-20 national ice hockey team plays in Moncton, Canada under a new head coach.

After the Edmonton Games in August, he became a coach Tomi Lämsawho piloted the KHL club Salavat Yulayev Ufa for five seasons.

Lämsä told Urheilu during the games that under him, the playing of the Young Lions strongly shows the same elements as in the SM league and in previous years in the Finnish teams.

– We definitely want to believe and see that it is possible to succeed that way. It has been seen in history as well, Lämsä said.

Lämsä opened in the Finnish Sports Calendar program (you will switch to another service) hockey expert Petteri Sihvone in a little more detail about his plans. Lämsä said that he had studied the winning puck closely already in the KHL.

In August, Lämsä watched the World Youth Championships in Edmonton from the stands and analyzed in which areas Finland can be the best in the world. According to him, the difference can be made in playing with the puck.

– We can play the world’s best hockey on the puck. Puck control, switching with the puck, rebounds with the puck and offensive play in the offensive zone with the puck, Lämsä listed and also talked about running and tiring the opponent.

Lämsä believes that Finland will be able to overshadow the opponents’ coast-to-coast ice hockey with its own attacking play.

– We tire the guy. When we stay on the puck for a certain number of seconds at the right moments, we eat up more than 50 percent of the opponent’s attacking power, Lämsä calculated.

Other top countries, for example, do not change the puck, but instead give up the game tool for no reason and give the attack turn to their opponent. In Lämsä’s opinion, the level of the five defenses of the top countries has not convinced at the time of the changes in direction.

– This is an experience based on what I have studied the game. Here is a way to make playing five against five favorable for us, Lämsä said.

Sports expert Top Nättinen I don’t think Lämsä meant that Finland would start to change the familiar rhythm of our game into a counter-attacking team.

Instead, Finland wants to control the puck. Nättinen reminds that already Antti Pennanen during the training session, the puck was only given up when forced.

– Lämsä talks about things in slightly different terms, more energetically and strongly. He wants to emphasize that puck control is our strength, says Nättinen and continues:

– Before, the conversation may have been limited to talking about Our game and the team game. It is new that Lämsä says that Finland wants to be the best in the world in these matters.

Nättinen thinks of Lämsä as a lottery win for Nuorille Leijon. Lämsä has gained experience as a coach in the KHL, SM league and before that in juniors.

The challenge will probably be that Lämsä will move from professionals who have also played in A national teams back to youth. Nättinen wonders if Lämsä will have time to create a relationship with the players where there is mutual trust.

Nättinen reminds us that Lämsä is an unknown card to most.

– For many, he is a memory of Jokers and Pelicans. After that he disappeared Erkka Westerlundin in Russia and eventually became the head coach.

– However, he is one of the biggest names on the Finnish coaching market. He was the well-liked head coach of Ufa and spent five years at the same club. There must be good things in the background, Nättinen sees.

In Nättinen’s opinion, Finland has put together a well-rounded team. Attackers Brad Lambert and Verneri Miettinen and the goalkeeper Aku Koskenvuo have played in North America, but otherwise the team is full of big league players who have played in big roles.

– There are clear top stars such as Niko Huuhtanen, Joakim Kemell and Ville Koivunenbut also to the lower fields Top Rönni and Kalle from Väisä. A typical Finnish race team, Nättinen analyzes.

The attack has a lot of right wing forwards in particular, which is why Lambert has played in the middle of the second chain. As Finland’s number one center, it’s cool in the middle of Huuhtanen and Koivunen Oliver Kapanenwho has scored 7+7 points in the SM league.

Kapanen performed positively already at the World Championships in August. Now the attacker can surprise many viewers.

– I have also thought about whether Kapanen is enough to be the number one center. Kapanen can be the team’s best player when he gets Flow on and confidence from coaching.

Finland’s defense is also played by the duo who were effective in the SM league Topias Vilén and Aleksi Heimosalmi. Also Kalle Ervasti and Otto Salin have had a good season.

In defense, there is a youngster playing with the right hand down for each pair. Finland is certainly able to implement its ice hockey based on puck control. The defensive play of the defensive zone is a small question mark beforehand.

– It will be interesting to see how these skilful players, Vilen, Heimosalmi, Salin and Ervasti, who played positively in light of the power points, will play comprehensively against the world’s top players.

In defense, attention is also drawn to the 16-year-old Aron Kiviharjuuwho has reserved for the NHL in the future at the top of the first round.

Goalkeeping is Finland’s biggest question mark. Aku Koskenvuo hasn’t gotten to play much in the USHL. Jani Lampinen and Niklas Kokko have been on goal in Mestis.

– Finland has also had goalkeepers in the past who were not necessarily big names beforehand. For example, in autumn Juha Jatkola took the position of first keeper from the box. I fully trust the goalkeepers, but on paper it is a small challenge for Finland, Nättinen says.

Nättinen expects a place in the finals from the Finnish team. In August, Finland lost to Canada 2-3 in the overtime of the World Cup final after dramatic stages.

– Once again, it is a privilege to say that only a place in the finals is enough. I’m not saying that only the championship is enough, because in the fall we saw how 20 cents can separate a team from the world championship.

– I definitely expect a high level of performance in terms of results. The game doesn’t have to be in order, but the result has to be.