Urho Vaakanainen received a cancellation site for the 4 Nations Face -off tournament.
Urho Vaakanainen was traded in early December from Anaheim to New York. The defender’s game rose to a new level, and the Joensuu was selected for the national team 4 Nations. Aop
The Lions cannot reach the best possible team 4 Nations. Defenders Miro Heiskanen and Jani Hakanpää had to get aside. The national team leadership invited Henri Jokiharju and Urho Vaakanainen.
Vaakanainen is an interesting player among the slightly more well-known NHL stashes. The man has played 163 NHL matches on teams in Boston, Anaheim and New York Rangers.
– It’s a great thing to get there. In the early part of the season I did not play much and there were injuries, and there was no choice. It is good to get involved in the spare, says the 188-cent Voakanainen.
The New York Rangers kit immediately reminds us that injuries are always a very miserable thing for the athlete.
– Injuries are a pity, of course. Never wish anyone.
In the Lions 4 Nations Tournament
Goalkeepers:
Lankinen Kevin (Vancouver Canucks)
Luukkonen Ukko-Pekka (Buffalo Sabers)
Saros Juuse (Nashville Predators)
Defenders:
Jokiharju Henri (Buffalo Sabers)
Lindell Esa (Dallas Stars)
Mikkola Niko (Florida Panthers)
Määttä Olli (Utah Hockey Club)
Ristus Rasmus (Philadelphia Flyers)
Horizontal Urho (New York Rangers)
Välimäki Juuso (Utah Hockey Club)
Attackers:
Aho Sebastian (Carolina Hurricanes)
Armia Joel (Montréal Canadiens)
Barkov Alexander (Florida Panthers)
Granlund Mikael (Dallas Stars)
Haula Erik (New Jersey Devils)
Hintz Roope (Dallas Stars)
Kakko Kaapo (Seattle Kraken)
Laine Patrik (Montréal Canadiens)
Lehkonen Artturi (Colorado Avalanche)
Lundell Anton (Florida Panthers)
Luostarinen Eetu (Florida Panthers)
Rantanen Mikko (Carolina Hurricanes)
Sharp Teuvo (Chicago Blackhawks)
World champion
Vaakanainen, who has struggled from Joensuu to the hockey world, is the world champion of the under 18 and 20.
– There are only great memories of the national team. I got a lot of good friends from the junior path. I played a lot with those born in 1998, including those born in 1999. For example, with Henri Jokiharju, a lot was played together. We were in room buddies at the under-20s. Eeli Tolvanen is also a good guy from the junior teams.
Vaakanainen played three times in the Under-20 World Championships in 2017, 2018 and 2019. In the last year, he was a deputy skipper when Finland applied for a gold medal from the Vancouver Games.
Fierce tournament
Urho Vaakanainen (left) has never played before Antti Pennanen. Aop
4 Nations is a special tournament. It is like a pre -tournament for the 2026 Winter Olympics. It is played with NHL rules.
In addition to Finland, Sweden, the United States and Canada are also involved. There are few games and even less preparation for them.
– It’s a pretty intense package. There are not many days to prepare for hard games. I just have a couple of workouts. Certainly there will be a fast -paced and fun spit on the viewers because there are many stars in every team, Vaakanainen thinks.
Vaakanainen does not yet know who he plays in the tournament.
– Nothing has been said about the role yet. Antti Pennanen has never had a coach before. We have met yes.
In front of the puck
Mikko Rantanen is one of the largest stars in the Lions in 4 Nations. Aop
Finland starts games in Montreal. The opening opponent is the United States. The puck drops to ice Finnish time on Friday morning at 03 pm on February 14th.
Immediately after Saturday, there will be a real reel bead when Finland and Sweden meet in the match starting at 8pm.
– We have a pretty good chance in the tournament to achieve anything. Every game is important there. And you always have to remember that anything can happen in these games. Finland has a great gang together, the 26-year-old Vaakanainen thinks.
The Lions’ Starter Series will be in the package on Monday, February 17, when there is a rock hard Canada in the game starting at 8pm.