On Thursday, Finland will face Slovakia in the quarterfinals of the Under-20 World Championships. The players of the Young Lions believe in the world championship.
Jesse Kiiskinen fanning the goal. Finland advanced to the under-20 World Championships. PDO
Finland wrapped up the preliminary series in the World Cup tournament with a 3–0 win over Latvia. Nuoret Leijonat won three of their four preliminary round games. Germany, the United States and Latvia fell, especially the United States match was great from Finland.
The jacket came from Canada in the opening game of the tournament.
The head coach Lauri Mikkola didn’t want to do a deeper analysis of the initial series at this stage.
– The tournament had a difficult start, bit by bit we improved. After the Germany game, a clear step was taken in our own game.
It was Christmas in Finland, it will face Slovakia on Thursday. Sweden and Latvia are playing for a semifinal spot, as are the United States and Switzerland, as well as Canada and the Czech Republic.
I liked it
Lauri Mikkola reminds that Finland must beat every team in the World Cup tournament if it wants to be successful. Bjorn Larsson Rosvall
The Latvian game was perhaps a little difficult from the start. Finland already had a place in the next round and behind them was a great game against the United States.
The match was tight. The guy broke and hung around, played half-ugly from time to time.
– It was pretty much the type of game we expected. We played well, were able to keep the rhythm going all the time and go into the Latvian territory. We played tight, there wasn’t much left for Latvia in the game, such top positions.
– The tendon held, it didn’t hurt. It was a good experience for us, Mikkola thought.
It doesn’t matter
Finland’s tournament continues on Thursday with the quarterfinals. The plot of the couplet is simple: with a win, the team advances to the semi-finals, and with a loss, the longest journey begins, i.e. the journey home.
So Finland’s opponent is Slovakia.
– You have to win everything here if you want something from this tournament. The good thing is that Thursday’s game is not only big for us, but it is also big for the opponent. They are great games, Mikkola reminded.
The faith of the players
Petteri Rimpinen has played all four games in Finland. PDO
Finland’s only AHL player, Konsta Helenius of the Rochester Americans, even sees champion material in the Finnish team.
– We have to put aside the little mistakes when the really big games start. This team has potential even up to the world championship. I know that there are more guys, the center of the first court assured.
Petteri Rimpinen has played all of Finland’s matches. Against Latvia, the 18-year-old man from Espoo played the first clean sheet of his career at the World Cup level.
– It felt good. The guys played well in that front.
Rimpinen also believes in the Finnish championship.
– Yes, I think we have potential for just about anything.
The United States defeated Canada 4-1 in the final game of the opening series.