Lions, Lionesses, Young Lions and Little Lions. All out in the quarterfinals.
In the coming year, Finnish ice hockey will have a place to wash its face. The Young Lions will be the first to clean up their paws at the turn of the year at the World Championships in Gothenburg.
Finland’s position is completely different from previous years. After the 2019 World Championship, Finland played twice in the bronze medal match and once in the final before last year’s exit.
With the success of the various national teams, Finland was in a position where gold was expected from practically every puck tournament.
– It was a privilege and a matter of honor, but now there isn’t much left of it. Honor and privilege quickly disappear, Urheilu’s expert Top Nättinen says.
This has also been heard from the direction of the team. Finland starts as a challenger.
– At the same time, there is a place for washing the face. Is Finland going to the same old gray mass or is it going back to the top?
Nättinen feels that the Young Lions are under pressure to succeed. However, the pressure has changed form, because before the pressure developed from winning the championship.
– Now the pressure comes from a slightly different direction: are we in the middle caste, do we get to the finals or four teams. It’s more the fear of missing out.
– This is now a different pressure than one of the champion favourites, but I think it’s part of the point and it should be that way. If it didn’t exist, we’d be in the wrong place.
New head coach Lauri Mikkola is in a tough spot. He was already part of Tomi Lämsä’s coaching group in the last games, but now he takes responsibility for the whole team.
Mikkola coached the youth championship team in Kärpi for a long time. He rose from assistant coach of the national team to head coach for the 2021–22 season, but was fired in February Lauri Marjamäki to jump on sticks.
– Mikkola is in a really tough place. He has gotten by with very little attention before these games and now he will be the focal point. He has to do interviews and a media test. It will be interesting to see how he reacts to all this.
Mikkola told Urheilu at a media conference about the cornerstones of the Young Lions’ play.
The Young Lions team does not have the strongest stars of the tournament in advance, although many players have shown their abilities in the SM league.
For example, Finland has no first-round reservations, while Canada has ten of them. In addition, the team is targeted by povattu as the number one reservation for next summer Macklin’s Celebrini.
– Succeeding as a team is a Finnish mantra, but now it is actually being measured. Finland has players who have played really well in the SM league, but now we are playing against the best in the world, i.e. Canada and the United States. Finland doesn’t really have a top, so you have to be able to relate your enthusiasm to it.
According to Nättinen, Finland’s goalkeeper duo is really good and strong. Noa Vali has played 13 matches in the SM league in TPS with a save percentage of 89.5. Niklas Kokko has played 10 matches in Kärpi with a percentage of 90.6.
– Both will get their chance and it’s better to play in the quarter-final match. The goalkeeper duo is really good.
The biggest question mark is the defense, because really Otto Salin is the only defender who has played longer in the SM league.
– Kasper Kulonummi has played mainly in small minutes and Emil Pieniniemi is playing his first season. League experience is really thin.
– In defense, everyone has to play at their own upper limit, so that Finland can succeed. Interesting to see the style of play, as this is a more puck-based defense.
In attack, Finland has Jani Nymanin, Oiva Keskinen, Konsta Helenius, I flew to Hämeenahon and Jere Lassilan under the leadership of top-level expertise from the SM league.
– The top five is really tough. With the exception of Lassila, they have been able to make really strong performances. Lassilaka hasn’t done badly, but he’s more of a balancing center.
According to Nättinen, the interesting thing is whether Helenius, who will be booked with a small number next summer, will be placed in the middle or on the wing. If Helenius is out, Finland gets to build two tougher chains.
– I’m not taking anything away from Nyman, who has improved his overall playing. He is still one of the best, but for Finland’s success, it is vital how Helenius is placed in the team and with whom he gets to play.
According to Nättinen, it is Helenius who is the game changer for Finland. The expert considers how the young person reacts to the expectations placed on him on a mental level.
– It seems that, especially in North America, too much emphasis is placed on the U20 championships when it comes to the draft. I don’t think he needs to take pressure from them, because there are a lot of leagues below him and he has been able to show his skills.
Against the background of strong top-level expertise, a question mark arises as to how the coaching management gets the best out of it Emil Hemming’s, Kasperi Halttunen and Aleksanteri Kaskimäki of such players.
– Finland’s really strong top can carry in individual games, but the balance is a question mark for me.
Urheilu follows the games closely in the application and on its website. Moods are also conveyed on Urheilurutu and Urheiluradio. The match program can be found here.