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Team Finland 2023 U20 WJC roster talk

king89 said:
Yeah this is probably the weakest team we have had in a while for the reasons you mentioned. Defence is thin and while guys like Vilen, Heimosalmi and Salin are solid it gets bad really quick after that. Centre depth might be even worse if someone doesn't step up behind Kapanen. Wingers looks good tho and hopefully Lambert decides to play. All in all a team with some good players but that lacks depth in important positions. But we'll see how it goes.
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I think Kalle Ervasti is quite good.
 
Updated lineup after 5 nations:

Koivunen - O. Kapanen - Nyman
Huuhtanen - Rönni - Kemell
Hämeenaho - Miettinen/Marjala - Lambert
K. Kapanen - Päivärinta - Väisänen
Kaskimäki

Vilen - Heimosalmi
Malinen - Salin
Kiviharju - Ervasti
Juusola

Koskenvuo
Kokko
Leinonen
 
It seems like Matikka did not play at all in this tournament, neither for the challenger team or the A team. What's up with that?
 
king89 said:
It seems like Matikka did not play at all in this tournament, neither for the challenger team or the A team. What's up with that?
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Finland's coaching decided not bring North American players to Europe in this situation.
And probably that's why also Salminen and Lambert weren't into team.
 
SantosHalper said:
It does, this is the D-corps in my prediction.
Vilen(186 cm) - Heimosalmi(181 cm)
Malinen(183 cm) - Salin(180 cm)
Juusola(179 cm) - Ervasti(183 cm)
Kiviharju(178 cm) - Suomi(179 cm)

And these are the ones who got cut:
Verneri Hellman 190 cm/96 kg
Arttu Kärki 187 cm/80 kg
Sisu-Petteri Lehtonen 186 cm/83 kg
Elmeri Laakso 185 cm/84 kg
Kasper Kulonummi 185 cm/81 kg
Ville Ruotsalainen 176 cm/75 kg
Valtteri Viirret 173 cm/85 kg

The first problem here is that all the big d-men in this age class still plays in the U20 league and if the player ain't going to college, it would definitely indicate that the player ain't ready for higher level yet. Kärki, Kulonummi and Laakso are '04 born's, so it's understandable for them still being in the junior league most of the time.

The second problem here is that who could you cut from the team? Many of those who made it in the prediction team are 2nd or even 3rd year pro's already, it's hard cut a player from the team who's already competed against men. You could cut Kiviharju & Suomi and say we didn't find a role for them, but who you gonna replace them with Lehtonen & Hellman? D-pool just ain't deep enough.

I don't see the NCAA route as a bad move, hockey career could end in a blink of an eye and im quite sure no one wants to end up like Jantunen. College degree is nice insurence policy to have. And it looks like that they train and practice a lot over there, so it must be a good place to work on you're weaknesses as well.

But why he is not on the team is bizarre but i gave two of my best guesses, maybe it's one of those and maybe it's not. Salminen is the best center in this age class, he could get selected even without any practice tournaments.
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This is merely conjecture and I don't have any source for this.

But after COVID college players in all sports were granted an extra year of eligibility (whether their teams played during the 2020-21 season or not).

As a result many teams are filled with fourth or even fifth year players that are 23 or 24 years old.

Not sure if that is the case at UConn but the team is off to its best start since joining Hockey East.

Salminen has played seven games so far with 1 goal and 1 assist.

This past weekend he played in both games against Massachusetts-Lowell.

ChicagoBullsFan said:
Finland's coaching decided not bring North American players to Europe in this situation.
And probably that's why also Salminen and Lambert weren't into team.
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Lambert has also been sick and only recently returned to the AHL lineup for the Moose.

Not sure how that will effect his availability for the tournament.
 
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I would go this. Some good options left out but that is the case these days.

Ville Koivunen - Oliver Kapanen - Joakim Kemell
Jani Nyman - Topi Rönni - Brad Lambert
Lenni Hämeenaho - Viljami Marjala - Niko Huuhtanen
Miko Matikka - Verner Miettinen - Kalle Väisänen
Aleksanteri Kaskimäki
Kasper Halttunen

Topias Vilén - Aleksi Heimosalmi
Aleksi Malinen - Otto Salin
Aron Kiviharju - Kalle Ervasti
Jimi Suomi
Elmeri Laakso

Topias Leinonen
Niklas Kokko
Aku Koskenvuo
 
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Center depth is so bad. Wingers are pretty good. Defense has some potential. Goaltending question mark (who's the #1 goaltender?).

Salminen has 3 points in 9 games in NCAA, so I guess he's just not that good.

I hope Konsta Kapanen makes the team. Fast guy. Would also be fun to have cousins play on the same team.
 
Jukurit said:
Center depth is so bad. Wingers are pretty good. Defense has some potential. Goaltending question mark (who's the #1 goaltender?).

Salminen has 3 points in 9 games in NCAA, so I guess he's just not that good.

I hope Konsta Kapanen makes the team. Fast guy. Would also be fun to have cousins play on the same team.
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Vilen and Heimosalmi will need to play 25+ minutes in the elimination games lol cuz they look like the only good defenders we have apart from maybe Salin.

Personally I'm not that excited about this years team. Feels like something is missing. Maybe it's the lack of a clear cut leader/captain i dunno.
 
king89 said:
Vilen and Heimosalmi will need to play 25+ minutes in the elimination games lol cuz they look like the only good defenders we have apart from maybe Salin.

Personally I'm not that excited about this years team. Feels like something is missing. Maybe it's the lack of a clear cut leader/captain i dunno.
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I think Malinen has looked pretty good in U20 NT games this season. Really good skater. Also Ervasti is OK too, I think. I don't think defense is that bad. Center depth is way worse.
 

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Anything to see in Pori's Valtteri Viirret? Playing regular minutes in Liiga as a 19-year-old though I haven't heard much of him prior to this season.

Does that have more to do with the depth of Assat than it does with his abilities?
 
I suppose camp roster is out then. Something like 3 goalies, 10 defensemen and 16 forwards, before extra D and F will be ditched just before the tourney.
 
I want to see Samu Salminen on the team. He got off to a slow start in NCAA but has now scored 5 points in the last 6 games. His leadership qualities would be much needed.
 
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