Finland–Canada at the World Cup: NHL boss cheers for the Young Lions

Ruben Rafkin will face his good friend Will Cuylle in the Canada game on Tuesday morning. AOP

Finland will be in a really tough spot the night before Tuesday. The host country of the World Youth Championship, a high-level Canadian team, will meet.

Former Calgary Flames general manager Craig Button trusts the Finnish team. Because of three elements.

– In Finland, the team is always bigger and more important than individuals. And the players know it. And act accordingly.

– Finland is probably the best problem solver in the puck world. When Finland has problems in the game, they are solved. Nothing is expected there.

– In addition, Finland has really good players in every position. Goalkeepers, defenders and forwards. But without these first two elements, the third doesn’t matter that much, says Button, who works as an expert on the TSN channel.

Nine missing

On paper, Canada is not the same team as it was in December when the 2022 tournament was attempted.

– Nine players from December’s team are out. Really good players are missing now. If this team has weaknesses, it’s the defense, says the TSN reporter Mark Masters.

– There are no big stars in our defense now. There are 6-7 relatively anonymous defenders, Masters continues.

– The defense might be a question mark, it might be a bit thin in Canada because of the absences. There is enough skill in Finland, Button says.

Second chain out

Canada beat the Czech Republic 5-1 on Saturday. The team’s second chain emerged Kent Johnson–Logan Stankoven–Tyson Foerster.

– The second chain finally looked good. As if they announced that “hey we are in the tournament”. This was the team’s biggest and most important development in the third game, Masters says.

– Mason McTavish and Connor Bedard need support.

Johnson hit a stunning aerial curler into the Czech net at the end of the opening set. In Canada, the goal has two names: the lacrosse goal or the Michigan goal.

Finland challenges

The Canadian journalist does not underestimate the Young Lions.

– Finland has the talent to challenge Canada. Previous opponents have blocked the central area and fueled counterattacks. Finland knows and dares to play. Its skill level and know-how are sufficient, Masters thinks.

– The game will be interesting. Canada will be properly tested for the first time in this tournament.

Interesting encounters between good friends also take place in the Youth World Cup games. One such is that of Ruben Rafkin and Canada Will Cuyllen meeting on Tuesday morning.

– We played in Windsor (Canadian Junior League) together. We spent a lot of time together in our free time. We were really good friends, says Rafkin.

Cuy is booked by the New York Rangers. The 195-centimeter colossus was the captain of his team in the Windsor Spitfires last season. The man scored 43 goals and a total of 80 power points in 59 matches.

– That’s a really good player, Rafkin thinks.