Goals are expected from Emil Hemming in the World Cup tournament.
Emil Hemming throws the pen at last year’s WC tournament in Gothenburg. AOP / TOMI NATRI
- Emil Hemming chose the Canadian Junior League instead of the SM League.
- The striker wants to silence the Canadian public on Boxing Day.
The Dallas Stars booked Emil Hemming in the first round of last summer’s draft with number 29. The NHL team wanted their golden nugget to immediately develop in North America.
The striker, who shoots from the right, is one of the players who must take a big responsibility for making a result in the under-20 World Cup.
Finland opens the tournament with a thriller against Canada.
– I think that game is a late Christmas present. You can play such a match here in Canada on December 26th. The cabin is full, and everything there is on the Canadian side.
– Everyone hates us in the hall. What could be nicer than beating Canada in that very game. I’ve been waiting for these games for a year, Hemming says confidently in an interview with Iltalehti.
However, the attacker wants to keep emotions and expectations under control.
– They are really fun games. You have to keep calm and not think too much about that match. Then when it’s game time and the puck drops on the ice, we’ll see where we go. Of course we have the skills to beat Canada, thinks the winger born in Vaasa.
In the Junnuliiga
Emil Hemming belongs to the group that needs to make a difference in Ottawa if Finland is going to succeed. PDO
Hemming played 40 games in the SM league in a TPS shirt last season. Then the Dallas Stars reserved another knee puck player and took the forward out of Finland.
Hemming has played this season in the Barrie Colts team of the junior league OHL.
– Very fast puck is played there. There’s not a lot of trap or delay noises. They play all the time. It’s really different compared to Finland.
– It’s good for me. I know how the Canucks and the Americans handle things on the ice. I can read their game better. That’s one strength I can bring to the team.
In the direction of the NHL
Hemming admits that it took a while to adapt to the straightforward game of the train league. The coaches helped.
The 18-year-old striker believes that the Canadian style of play suits him well.
– Well, yes, when you learn to play their puck. At first it was a bit strange. In Änär, however, they play a similar game. I’m trying to adapt to that early on. It makes it easier to move to the AHL or NHL in time.
Medal to Finland
Hemming believes in the medal seam of the Young Lions in the WC tournament starting on Boxing Day.
– We have a goal for the medal games. We have a really good team together again. The group plays fast-paced puck. Why don’t we even have a chance at gold.
What do you bring to the team?
– Leadership on the game side, I am responsible for results. I want to score goals in tight spaces. I try to lead the team on the ice, Hemming enthuses.
The World Cup ends on January 5. All games of the tournament will be played in Ottawa.
Finland’s lineup for the Canada match
At the goal:
30 Petteri Rimpinen
In reserve:
1 Kim Saarinen
1:
37 Benjamin Rautiainen – 19 Konsta Helenius – 38 Jesse Kiiskinen
10 Emil Pieniniemi – 33 Aron Kiviharju
2:
15 Tuomas Uronen – 28 Heikki Ruohonen – 22 Kasper Halttunen
7 Daniel Nieminen – 2 Mitja Jokinen
3:
18 Rasmus Kumpulainen – 27 Julius Miettinen – 32 Emil Hemming
13 Veeti Väisänen – 35 Arttu Tuhkala
4:
24 Jesse Nurmi – 29 Arttu Alasiurua – 12 Joona Saarelainen
3 Kalle Kangas
13. striker:
23 Roope Vesterinen