The under-20 national team started the WC camp in Cornwall already on December 16.
Nuoret Leijonat starts the WC tournament on Boxing Day against rock-hard Canada. The team moved to Canada already on Monday, December 16, and is camping in the city of Cornwall, with a population of about 50,000, in Eastern Ontario, where it was over 20 degrees below zero on Sunday.
– Everything has gone quite well here in Cornwall. We haven’t faced any problems, says the head coach Lauri Mikkola For Iltalehti.
– The volunteers have helped us very well. Among other things, maintenance has received help with laundry and other everyday tasks. The arena is good for this kind of camping, a suitable size. The hotel is a five-minute drive away, says the team leader Markus Lindström.
– In the big picture, everything is fine here in Cornwall. You can clearly see that the under-20 World Cup tournament is a big deal for the locals, Lindström continues.
Kiiskinen enjoys himself
The Finnish team has good training conditions in Ontario. Timo Kunnari
Vice-captain Jesse Kiiskinen has also enjoyed himself in the small town.
– There is nothing to complain about under the circumstances. The hotel is good and the hall is ok. It’s been a really good camp for us.
The man from HPK didn’t waste any more time in the victorious practice game against Slovakia.
– We were good in that game. The opponent had nothing to lose.
– The conditions have been right. The ice is good and so are the cabins. The framework is good. There is nothing wonderful about the city in itself, but it doesn’t need to be, says captain Aron Kiviharju.
The cabin is full
Jesse Kiiskinen is already waiting for the start of the tournament. AOP / TOMI NATRI
Nuoret Leijonat trains and plays two training games in the Civic Complex, which holds around 5,000 spectators. In their first training game, Finland beat Slovakia 6–0.
The second practice game is on the eve against the United States. For that match, the Civic Complex has already been sold out for days.
After the match, the team moves to the tournament city of Ottawa, about an hour’s drive, and therefore plays the first tournament match against the host Canada. 27 December in the morning Finnish time.
Finland was fourth in the World Championships last year. The defending age group champion is the United States.
The World Cup final will be played in Ottawa on January 5. TV5 will show the matches of the tournament.
Noa Vali (right), Mitja Jokinen and partners in training in Cornwall. Head coach Lauri Mikkola in the background. TIMO KUNNARI
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