The Lions’ last match before the start of the World Cup ended in an overtime loss to Sweden. The WC group will be announced at the end of the week. Several experts have hesitated to include Kasperi Kapanen, who is counted as NHL help.
Samu Saatsi,
Johannes Oikarinen
The Finnish men’s national ice hockey team lost to Sweden in the EHT tournament in the Czech Republic in overtime with goals 4–3. At the same time, the opportunities for players wishing to join the Lions team at the World Cup ended.
The Ice Hockey World Cup starts next Friday. The Lions’ World Cup group will be announced at the end of the week, according to the national team’s management, either on Sunday or Monday.
The Finnish team is expected to largely consist of the head coach Jukka Jalonen credit players. Finns playing in the NHL have also been included in home games. A total of seven Finns from North America’s top league have signed up to join the team.
Joel Armia, Kasperi Kapanen, Sakari Manninen and Olli Määttä have already been with the Lions in the Czech Republic. Patrick Laine is willing to come to the games, but his fitness is still a mystery. Mikko Rantanen and Kaapo Kako will join next week.
Among the seven NHL players, Kasperi Kapanen has, however, collected criticism before the World Cup selections, and his naming to the competition team has been questioned. The smooth-moving Kapanen has been given a lot of responsibility in the Lions’ matches before the games, but his game moves have been marked very sluggish and even reluctant (you switch to another service).
Finland’s attack has several high-quality players, which makes the competition for playing spots tight. Kapanen also knows this and says that if a place on the competition team becomes available, the role does not matter.
– In the end, it doesn’t really matter what my role would be. A role after a role. In that team, we are together in spirit and try to reach the same destination. Whether that role is more attacking or defensive, I think I can handle it, Kapanen tells Urheilu by phone.
– Whether there is superiority or inferiority, they work, just like my playing style anyway. Skating and speed have always been my strengths, they are definitely needed in those games as well, he enthuses.
Cracking and looking for chemistry
However, Kapanen, who moved to the St. Louis Blues in the middle of the season, knows that his own game must improve. In the matches of the Czech tournament, Finland was not at its best as a team either.
– There’s still a lot to crack, at least I have it myself. It was a bit difficult at times, but it will still get there and get used to the environment. I know it comes when you play with certain players together and find that chemistry on the field. Hopefully, when the first World Cup game starts, I will be ready for it, he reflects.
The Kuopio native emphasizes that in the matches played before the Games, it is mostly about preparation and getting used to the Finnish way of playing. He also finds them important precisely because of that.
– We really have to see what comes next in terms of the Games. It wouldn’t be a surprise if my role wasn’t in top chains or number one dominance. However, there are so many tough guys in the team that it’s completely understandable.
The Lions’ management team can name three goalkeepers and 22 field players for the final competition team. The games start for Finland on Friday next week, when the Lions face the United States in front of their home crowd in Tampere.