Patrik Lainet was not selected for the national team – here is the Lions’ team for the World Cup

Head coach Jukka Jalonen has selected his World Cup team for the World Ice Hockey Championships starting next Friday. In addition to Patrik Laine, among others Markus Granlund was left out of the team.

The Finnish men’s national ice hockey team has been selected for the upcoming World Championships in Tampere and Riga. The head coach Jukka Jalonen announced their squad of three goalkeepers and 22 outfield players on Sunday after the Czech EHT tournament played over the weekend.

Columbus Blue Jackets’ Finnish star Patrick Laine is not in the team. Laine, who is recovering from an injury, did not participate in the EHT tournament played in the Czech Republic.

– Unfortunately, of the previously announced names, Patrik Laine is still not in full playing condition and therefore cannot participate in the World Cup, GM Jere Lehtinen said in the Jääkieckoliito’s press release.

– We have been in contact with Pate during the week and although this is of course a big disappointment for him, he sent the team a lot of cheers for the games.

The team chosen today will gather in Tampere on Tuesday. Lehtinen says that possible NHL confirmations are still being monitored “with a side eye”.

– The focus is on the players who have now been selected.

There are five NHL players in the group: a defenseman Olli Määttä (Detroit) as well as forwards Joel Armia (Montreal), Kaapo Kako (Rangers), Kasperi Kapanen (St. Louis) and Mikko Rantanen (Colorado). In addition, he has played in Vegas’ AHL team Sakari Manninen.

The 24-year-old defender of Porin Ässie, who made his debut in the national team this season, broke into the World Cup team Nikolas Matipalo. Tappara’s star defender Valtteri Kemiläinen could not join the team. He also experienced the same fate Markus Granlundwhich has formed a power chain together in recent years Sakari Manninen mixed Teemu Hartikainen with.

The head coach Jukka Jalonen stated in the announcement that choosing the team was particularly challenging this year.

– The most difficult choices during my own head coaching. We have a very competitive team and many skilled players who are also familiar from the national team were left out of the lineup this time, Jalonen said in the Jääkieksoliito’s press release.

Here is the Finnish World Cup team

Goalkeepers
HELJANKO Christian
LARMI Emil
STRAP Jussi

Defenders
FRIMAN Niklas
KOIVISTO Miika
LEHTONEN Mikko
MATIN POLO Nikolas
MISS Olli
OHMATA Atte
POKKA Ville
BLACKSMITH Mikael

Attackers
ANTTILA Marko
ARMY Joel
BJÖRNINEN Hannes
HARTIKAINEN Teemu
TWO Kaapo
KAPANE Kasperi
POND Juho
MANNINE Sakari
MERELÄ Walter
OKSANEN Ahti
PESONEN Harri
RANTANEN Mikko
ALLOWED Jere
FINLAND Antti

The Lions’ tournament starts next Friday, when Finland meets the United States in its opening game in Tampere.

Updated at 19:24: Added Jere Lehtinen’s comments.