Lions’ GM Jere Lehtinen welcomes Mikko Lehtonen, who played in the playoffs of the SKA in St. Petersburg in the KHL playoffs, to “warmly welcome the journey of the Lions”.
Defender who played in the playoffs of the SKA hockey league in the KHL league Mikko Lehtonen joins the Lions World Cup camp group. The national team announces on its website that it has also played the World Cup gold captain in Ilves Marko Anttila joins the team in next week’s Czech EHT tournament.
Lehtonen, who won Olympic gold in February, also played in the KHL group finals as a member of the Olympic team. Leo Komarov with. According to the lions, Komarov is not in full play and the striker will not be seen at the World Championships in May.
Lehtonen and Komarov’s possible participation in the World Cup has sparked much debate since Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine. Lions GM Jere Lehtinen says he discussed things with Lehtonen.
– We have had discussions with him and we know the facts. Based on these, we warmly welcome Lehtonen to the Lions’ journey, Lehtinen says in a press release.
Finland will face the Czech Republic, Sweden and Austria in Ostrava’s EHT tournament next week. Austria and France were promoted to the spring World Cup to replace Russia and Belarus.
Injured in the Finland-Norway match played on Thursday this week Hannes Björninen is on the sidelines of the team next week. Björninen will return to the team possibly in the fourth week of camp, when the Swedish EHT tournament is on the program.
The Men’s World Championships in Tampere and Helsinki will start on May 13.