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Team Finland 2023 U20 WJC roster talk

Great news. I was bit worried that Pennanen and Marjamäki swaps seats. I guess KJ brings his good old boys as assistant coaches, Mikko Haapakoski and Kai Rautio. Mikko Koivu likely remains as team spirit coach, like Tuomo did for 3 consecutive tournaments. Sakke Lindfors or Jan Lundell for a goalie coach? Or a return of Fredrik Norrena, Ari Hilli or Ari Moisanen?
 
SantosHalper said:
Great news. I was bit worried that Pennanen and Marjamäki swaps seats. I guess KJ brings his good old boys as assistant coaches, Mikko Haapakoski and Kai Rautio. Mikko Koivu likely remains as team spirit coach, like Tuomo did for 3 consecutive tournaments. Sakke Lindfors or Jan Lundell for a goalie coach? Or a return of Fredrik Norrena, Ari Hilli or Ari Moisanen?
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I wouldn't be surprised if Ville Peltonen is one Kari's assistant coaches in U20 national team.
Peltonen has already worked with K Jalonen in men's national team and Switzerland.

Jan Lundell would good option for goalie position.
Somehow i don't see Jan staying for HIFK forever now when he's older son ( Anton ) is playing NHL.
Of course Jan has younger son Kasper who plays HIFK's U20 team so lets see what Jan decides to do.
 
I wonder who's the assistant coaches going to be? Mikko Koivu most likely remains as a "team spirit"-coach.

Kimmo Kuhta and Marko Kauppinen were assistant coaches in 2-Nations Tournament 12.-14.11.2021, Kauppinen is currently U16 head coach and next year he's the U17 head coach. So maybe him as "defense coordinator" and a tournament experience trip for his upcoming U18 head coaching gig. And Kuhta's responsibilities would forwards and power play.
Kimmo Kuhta at eliteprospects.com
Marko Kauppinen at eliteprospects.com

Lämsä doesn't really have a right hand guy, Tomek Valtonen is very unlikely choice and Hantta Virta is ancient. I would say that Toni Pasuri is a strong candidate for a goalie coach, him and Lämsä have history and Pasuri has worked in junior national team before.
Toni Pasuri at eliteprospects.com

Couple other candidates would be Ville Mäntymaa, he's been a U20 assistant coach for last two years and also U16, U17 & U18 assistant before. Saku Martikainen is a 2nd candidate, he was the assistant coach at the last U18 Worlds and doesn't have job for next year. Mäntymaa, d-men & PK and Martikainen, forwards & PP.
Ville Mäntymaa at eliteprospects.com
Saku Martikainen at eliteprospects.com
 
Finland roster to 4-nations tournament 25-27.8. Notably Aron Kiviharju missing:confused:

Goalies:
1 Kohonen Paavo, Tappara Tampere
30 Kokko Niklas, Kärpät Oulu
31 Leinonen Topias, JYP Jyväskylä

Defenders:
2 Suomi Jimi, TPS Turku
3 Juusola Viljami, IF Björkloven SWE
4 Hellman Verneri, Ässät Pori
5 Salin Otto, HIFK Helsinki
6 Ruotsalainen Ville, KalPa Kuopio
7 Malinen Aleksi, JYP Jyväskylä
8 Laakso Elmeri, SaiPa Lappeenranta
10 Vilén Topias, Pelicans Lahti

Forwards:
9 Miettinen Verner, Fargo Force USHL
11 Matikka Miko, University of Denver NCAA
13 Päivärinta Sami, Lukko Rauma
14 Kaskimäki Aleksanteri, HIFK Helsinki
15 Korhonen Joona, Ilves Tampere
18 Kapanen Konsta, KalPa Kuopio
22 Rönni Topi, Tappara Tampere
23 Hämeenaho Lenni, Ässät Pori
25 Nyman Jani, Ilves Tampere
26 Tuomaala Samu, Jukurit Mikkeli
27 Knihti Feetu, Ässät Pori
28 Ruusunen Rasmus, SaiPa Lappeenranta
29 Huuhtanen Niko, Jukurit Mikkeli
 
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Erikfromfin said:
Finland roster to 4-nations tournament 25-27.8. Notably Aron Kiviharju missing:confused:

Goalies:
1 Kohonen Paavo, Tappara Tampere
30 Kokko Niklas, Kärpät Oulu
31 Leinonen Topias, JYP Jyväskylä

Defenders:
2 Suomi Jimi, TPS Turku
3 Juusola Viljami, IF Björkloven SWE
4 Hellman Verneri, Ässät Pori
5 Salin Otto, HIFK Helsinki
6 Ruotsalainen Ville, KalPa Kuopio
7 Malinen Aleksi, JYP Jyväskylä
8 Laakso Elmeri, SaiPa Lappeenranta
10 Vilén Topias, Pelicans Lahti

Forwards:
9 Miettinen Verner, Fargo Force USHL
11 Matikka Miko, University of Denver NCAA
13 Päivärinta Sami, Lukko Rauma
14 Kaskimäki Aleksanteri, HIFK Helsinki
15 Korhonen Joona, Ilves Tampere
18 Kapanen Konsta, KalPa Kuopio
22 Rönni Topi, Tappara Tampere
23 Hämeenaho Lenni, Ässät Pori
25 Nyman Jani, Ilves Tampere
26 Tuomaala Samu, Jukurit Mikkeli
27 Knihti Feetu, Ässät Pori
28 Ruusunen Rasmus, SaiPa Lappeenranta
29 Huuhtanen Niko, Jukurit Mikkeli
Click to expand...
And Samu Salminen is missing too.
 
Erikfromfin said:
Finland roster to 4-nations tournament 25-27.8. Notably Aron Kiviharju missing:confused:

Goalies:
1 Kohonen Paavo, Tappara Tampere
30 Kokko Niklas, Kärpät Oulu
31 Leinonen Topias, JYP Jyväskylä

Defenders:
2 Suomi Jimi, TPS Turku
3 Juusola Viljami, IF Björkloven SWE
4 Hellman Verneri, Ässät Pori
5 Salin Otto, HIFK Helsinki
6 Ruotsalainen Ville, KalPa Kuopio
7 Malinen Aleksi, JYP Jyväskylä
8 Laakso Elmeri, SaiPa Lappeenranta
10 Vilén Topias, Pelicans Lahti

Forwards:
9 Miettinen Verner, Fargo Force USHL
11 Matikka Miko, University of Denver NCAA
13 Päivärinta Sami, Lukko Rauma
14 Kaskimäki Aleksanteri, HIFK Helsinki
15 Korhonen Joona, Ilves Tampere
18 Kapanen Konsta, KalPa Kuopio
22 Rönni Topi, Tappara Tampere
23 Hämeenaho Lenni, Ässät Pori
25 Nyman Jani, Ilves Tampere
26 Tuomaala Samu, Jukurit Mikkeli
27 Knihti Feetu, Ässät Pori
28 Ruusunen Rasmus, SaiPa Lappeenranta
29 Huuhtanen Niko, Jukurit Mikkeli
Click to expand...
Not that special of a roster in my opinion. Not nearly as good as our top6 in this years tournament.
Only players i can see in a final roster with enough talent (today that is), are Malinen, Rönni, Leinonen, Matikka, Kaskimäki, Kiviharju (missing), Nyman, Huuhtanen and Tuomaala.
Perhaps Suomi or another defender as well.
 
Jukurit said:
Is Salminen just not that good?
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Hard to say for sure.
But Salminen should be in the team he's been captain all events what 2003 age group has had.
It would be odd / weird leave Salminen out of next U20 WJC's.

But it is Lämsä so i wouldn't hold my breath to see Salminen playing U20 WJC's this December.
 
ChicagoBullsFan said:
Hard to say for sure.
But Salminen should be in the team he's been captain all events what 2003 age group has had.
It would be odd / weird leave Salminen out of next U20 WJC's.

But it is Lämsä so i wouldn't hold my breath to see Salminen playing U20 WJC's this December.
Click to expand...
This team also has some pretty weak center depth. If Salminen can't crack that, he's probably not very good.
 
Jukurit said:
This team also has some pretty weak center depth. If Salminen can't crack that, he's probably not very good.
Click to expand...
True.
In 2021 U18 WJC's Salminen won 70% of all his faceoffs what he was taken.
That skill is absolutely needed if the goal is win something in December's U20 WJC.
Also Salminen's leadership would be important Finland's team.

Yes Salminen would be most likely 3rd line Center but so what.
If i was Lämsä i would try something like this.

1st line Koivunen Lambert Tuomaala
2nd line Hämeenaho Kaskimäki Kemell
3rd line Nyman Salminen Halttunen ( if Halttunen cracks HIFK's liiga roster or plays well in OHL )
4th line Matikka Rönni Huuhtanen

Defence pairs
Kiviharju Kulonummi
Vilen Heimosalmi
Malinen Salin
Juusola Suomi

Goalies
Leinonen
Kokko
Koskenvuo

Captains
C Salminen
A Kaskimäki
A Koivunen
 
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ChicagoBullsFan said:
True.
In 2021 U18 WJC's Salminen won 70% of all his faceoffs what he was taken.
That skill is absolutely needed if the goal is win something in December's U20 WJC.
Also Salminen's leadership would be important Finland's team.

Yes Salminen would be most likely 3rd line Center but so what.
If i was Lämsä i would try something like this.

1st line Koivunen Lambert Tuomaala
2nd line Hämeenaho Kaskimäki Kemell
3rd line Nyman Salminen Halttunen ( if Halttunen cracks HIFK's liiga roster or plays well in OHL )
4th line Matikka Rönni Huuhtanen

Defence pairs
Kiviharju Kulonummi
Vilen Salin
Malinen Laakso
Juusola Suomi

Goalies
Leinonen
Kokko
Koskenvuo

Captains
C Salminen
A Kaskimäki
A Koivunen
Click to expand...
I would believe Kapanen, Väisänen and Päivärinta also would make the team since they already been in the WJC.
 
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Jukurit said:
So, what kind of coach is Tomi Lämsä? I know very little about him.
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Good question, it's going to be intresting to see how much the years in Russia has changed him.

Erkka Westerlund is Lämsä's mentor and Lämsä is also a teacher like Westerlund. 10 years ago Westerlund chose Lämsä to be his assistant coach in Jokerit, and couple years later Lämsä was promoted to head coach. If i remember it right the main reason why Lämsä was promoted to head coach, despite his slim experience and young age, was that his coaching style and game system is very similar to Westerlund's.

But Lämsä failed in Jokerit and in his next job in Pelicans, he took couple years off from hockey. Then Westerlund hired him again to assist him in Russia, Lämsä spent 3 years as a assistant coach and 2 years as a head coach in Ufa. And he didn't get fired in Russia, i think that's quite impressive record.
 
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SantosHalper said:
Good question, it's going to be intresting to see how much the years in Russia has changed him.

Erkka Westerlund is Lämsä's mentor and Lämsä is also teacher like Westerlund. 10 years ago Westerlund chose Lämsä to be his assistant coach in Jokerit, and couple years later Lämsä was promoted to head coach. If i remember it right the main reason why Lämsä was promoted to head coach, despite his slim experience and young age, was that his coaching style and game system is very similar to Westerlund's.

But Lämsä failed in Jokerit and in his next job in Pelicans, he took couple years off from hockey. Then Westerlund hired him again to assist him in Russia, Lämsä spend 3 years as a assistant coach and 2 year as head coach in Ufa. And he didn't get fired in Russia, i think that's quite impressive record.
Click to expand...
That does seem very impressive. LOL
 
Jukurit said:
That does seem very impressive. LOL
Click to expand...
Yeah and i believe Lämsä was the first coach, who was supposed to coach one age group('96 born's) through the first three years of "Leijonapolku". But that was cut short when he became a head coach of Jokerit. But they did win the Youth Olympic Games gold in 2012.

I wouldn't expect lot of success in upcoming tournament, i think Lämsä is going to drive his system in first. In 2024 Finland will most likely have a better chance to win under Lämsä.
 
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Jukurit said:
So, what kind of coach is Tomi Lämsä? I know very little about him.
Click to expand...
Nothing special.
Hasn't won much as a national team coach.
I afraid Lämsä will be total failure in U20 head coach.
But what you can do when all better candidates like Ahokas etc are hired somewhere else.

f***ing Czech's what they did
they stole our U20 head coach and now we have total nobody taking responsibility of U20 national team.

If Lämsä cannot coach us TOP4 spot next U20 WJC's he should be fired immediately.
Only thing how i remember Lämsä was that he had backround role '
Finnish hockey's ugliest incident Autumn 2012.

Yeah im talking Peltonen vs Ben Amor case do you remember that?
 
Early impressions:
- Weak center depth (I wonder if Lambert ends up playing center because of this?)
- Weak defense
- Pretty good wingers (a lot of RW though)
- 2 high drafted goaltenders (I have some question marks about both of them though)
- Lämsä a bit of a question mark as a coach

Obviously, a lot can change until December, but right now, I don't think this team looks very impressive.
 
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Observations from 4 Nations tournament:
- Liked the mobility on defense by Malinen, Suomi and Salin
- Huuhtanen is good (Hopefully he doesn't dive anymore)
- Nyman is good
- Verner Miettinen is good. After 2 bad seasons, is Miettinen bouncing back? This Finnish team could use some good centers.
- Tuomaala underwhelming
 
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