There is still an extra player in Finland’s under-20 World Cup group. One will be leaving soon.
The under-20 hockey World Cup tournament starts on Boxing Day in Ottawa. The Finnish team has held a week-long camp in the city of Cornwall in Eastern Ontario.
Young Lions still have an extra player in the ring. One player will have to go home soon, and he won’t be able to see the ice hockey of Canada’s capital.
– It is true that we have to drop one player. There are some health concerns in the team, it might affect this matter, says the general manager of the young national teams Kimmo Oikarinen For Iltalehti.
After the USA game
Head coach Lauri Mikkola has to drop one team from the World Cup round. PDO
Finland already played one training game in Cornwall. In the game, Slovakia fell by a score of 6–0.
Late on Monday evening, Finland will face the United States in the second and last training game. After that match, the gong goes to one youngster.
– After the USA game or the morning after, we eliminated one player. The final team (25 players) must be stamped on December 25th. A relegated player will not be sent home on Christmas Eve. He spends Christmas with the team and flies home on Christmas day, says Oikarinen.
One young person will be sorely disappointed?
– That is the spirit of the game at this level.
Helenius joins
Last season, Konsta Helenius played in the under-20 World Championships and the men’s championships. PDO
Konsta Helenius, who plays for Buffalo Sabres’ farm team Rochester Americans, will join the team on Monday.
The Tappara-bred was still playing for the Americans team on Tuesday, when it beat the Cleveland Monster 3-2.
Helenius shot three times towards the opponent’s goal, but did not get power points to his account.
18-year-old Helenius has scored 6+11 power points in 28 AHL games.
In the opening game of the tournament, Finland will face Canada, led by 17-year-old Gavin McKenna. In last year’s tournament, Nuoret Leijonat finished fourth.
The reigning world champion in the age category is the United States.
Finnish team
Goalkeepers:
Kim Saarinen, HPK
Noa Vali, TPS
Petteri Rimpinen, Kiekko-Espoo
Defenders:
Mitja Jokinen, TPS
Kalle Kangas, HPK
Sebastian Soini, Lynx
Daniel Nieminen, Pelicans
Emil Pieniniemi, Kingston Frontenacs, OHL
Veeti Väisänen, Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL
Aron Kiviharju, HIFK
Arttu Tuhkala, Lulea
Attackers:
Joona Saarelainen, KalPa
Tuomas Uronen, Kingston Frontenacs, OHL
Rasmus Kumpulainen, Pelicans
Konsta Helenius, Rochester Americans
Tom Leppä, Michigan Tech, NCAA
Topias Hynninen, Jukurit
Kasper Halttunen, London Knights, OHL
Roope Vesterinen, HPK
Jesse Nurmi, London Knights, OHL
Julius Miettinen, Everett Silvertips, WHL
Heikki Ruohonen, Dubue Fighting Saints, USHL
Arttu Alasiurua, Kärpät
Emil Hemming, Barrie Colts, OHL
Benjamin Rautiainen, Tappara
Jesse Kiiskinen, HPK