Leijonat opens the last EHT tournament of the season against the host.
Kasperi Kapanen scored a goal in the Lions’ training match against Sweden. EPA / AOP
The Finnish national ice hockey team starts its last Euro Hockey Tour tournament of the season on Thursday evening. It will face tournament host Brno, Czech Republic at the 7,700 capacity Winning Group Arena.
The match starts at 19:20.
Leijonat released its strengthened lineup from the last time. Those who play in North America have joined Sakari Manninen, Olli Määttä and Joel Armia. NHL help Kasperi Kapanen played last week in Sweden training matches and is the head coach again Jukka Jalonen in hand.
The fresh Swedish champion saves with the goal Emil Larmi. The winner of the Finnish championship works as the second keeper Christian Heljanko. Continues as captain Marko Anttila.
Those who jumped into the World Championship race machine on Wednesday Kaapo Kako and Mikko Rantanen are not included in EHT.
NHL star Patrik Laine also had to participate in EHT, but the goalkeeper is injured on the sidelines for the entire tournament. The Ice Hockey Association says that Laine’s participation in the spring World Cup will be decided during the weekend.
Finnish fielders
1:
Granlund Markus – Manninen Sakari – Merelä Waltteri
Mikko Lehtonen − Atte Ohtamaa (A)
2:
Pesonen Harri – Suomela Antti – Kapanen Kasperi
Määttä Olli (A) – Waltteri Kemiläinen
3:
Lammikko Juho – Ruohomaa Mikael – Armia Joel
Seppälä Mikael – Pokka Ville
4:
Oksanen Ahti – Björninen Hannes – Anttila Marko (C)
Friman Niklas − Koivisto Miika
On the finish line:
Larmi Emil
In reserve:
Heljanko Christian