Team Finland 2023 U20 WJC roster talk

[Jersey Fan 12]

Samu Salminen was supposed to play in Denver this season but apparently he had some visa issues, so his move to USA was delayed and then he was released by Denver. Now he plays in the University of Connecticut and he played 1 in Jokerit U20 team. Salminen was probably trying to deal with his visa issues earlier this year, so could not attend the first practice game tournament. Now Salminen has played 1 game for the U Conn, so he is in the USA right now. So my guess is that he probably declined to attend this tournament, since it took lot of time to get over the big water.

Now it remains to be seen if Lämsä selects him, even if he hasn't played any practice games this year. I don't know how many games he get's to play before the U20 Worlds and is that enough time to shake the off-season rust away and impress Lämsä at the same time.

I had one open roster spot in my prediction and i would definitely select Salminen. Shame if he doesn't get selected and also a shame Tuomaala is having a bad season. I would have love to see Koivunen - Salminen - Tuomaala line again in action.

Saw this article...

Salminen Makes an Impact For Surging UConn

After visa issues forced his season to start late, UConn's Samu Salminen has made an impact for his new team.

www.collegehockeynews.com

 

[SantosHalper]

Tomi Lämsä avasi Nuorten Leijonien puhutuimman pelaajan tilannetta: "Näillä näkymin Lambert tulee joukkueeseen"

Lambert is in and i guess it's easy to read between the lines. O.Kapanen, Vilen, Hämeenaho and Koivunen are in as well. Goalies are coming from Liiga and Mestis, so no Koskenvuo? Lampinen, Leinonen, Kokko as goalies then. Stupid journalist didn't ask about Salminen, how do they get their jobs?

Matikka - Miettinen - Lambert
Nyman - Lassila - Kemell
Koivunen - Kapanen - Hämeenaho
Väisänen - Päivärinta - Huuhtanen
Rönni, X*

X*= Knihti, Savolainen, Tuomaala, Ruusunen, Korhonen

Vilen - Heimosalmi
Malinen - Salin
Juusola - Ervasti
Kiviharju - Suomi

Koskenvuo
Lampinen
Leinonen

This what i would expect to see, personally i would select the "underaged" team what i posted earlier. Offense is decent, 3 potential scoring lines and a rugged 4rth line. Hard to say who's the second extra forward, depends a lot what kind of hockey Lämsä wants to see.

Defense and goalies are weak, i see many mobile d-men who can move the puck but i also see lot goals scored in front of our own net. Unfornate Q-final loss looming in the future, that's why i would select the underaged team. Let them have a educational trip first and they will be ready to win the gold in 2024.

 

[king89]

Tomi Lämsä avasi Nuorten Leijonien puhutuimman pelaajan tilannetta: "Näillä näkymin Lambert tulee joukkueeseen"

Lambert is in and i guess it's easy to read between the lines. O.Kapanen, Vilen, Hämeenaho and Koivunen are in as well. Goalies are coming from Liiga and Mestis, so no Koskenvuo? Lampinen, Leinonen, Kokko as goalies then. Stupid journalist didn't ask about Salminen, how do they get their jobs?

Nice to see Lambert but I hope it's not at the expense of Matikka.

 

[Jukurit]

I'm very interested to see how Lämsä handles Lambert. Short leash? Long leash? Does he put Lambert at center?

 

[king89]

Kapanen got injured in yesterdays game against Kookoo, crashed into the boards quite hard. Hopefully he is OK and back before the tournament start.

 

[JJTT]

What is going on with Kemell? Only one game in the last month.

 

[Statsy]

What is going on with Kemell? Only one game in the last month.

Looks like he missed seven games with an injury but just returned to the lineup this weekend.

 

[karhukissa]

Excited for this tournament, but if this team isn't in top-4, Lämsä should go immediately. Finland has a really good batch of players coming from 2006 born players, probably the best since 98 born guys. So they should have a good coach right off the bat.

 

[Fintastic]

What is going on with Kemell? Only one game in the last month.

Kemell was at first sick with the flu, then a minor upper body injury that was told to require 1-2 weeks off from the line up.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Excited for this tournament, but if this team isn't in top-4, Lämsä should go immediately. Finland has a really good batch of players coming from 2006 born players, probably the best since 98 born guys. So they should have a good coach right off the bat.

I agree the most with your post.
But the problem is that if Lämsä fails in this years U20 WJC's
and finnish hockey association decides get rid of Lämsä who's gonna replace him?.

All best possible options like Ahokas, Pennanen,Niemelä for replacing Lämsä are all signed by liiga teams.
Or would like see some freaking Jarno Pikkarainen, Lauri Mikkola, Jukka Rautakorpi or Tero Lehterä
coaching U20 team Karri Kivi would be good candidate if he's available and Lämsä will be history
but he's once already coached U20 team so he even interested.

If you think some future coaching names like Olli Jokinen, Maso Lehtonen and Ville Peltonen
all those might be all good options for U20 head coaching position some day but not yet.

So most likely scenario is that Lämsä will be U20 head coach 2024 too.
And yes even i think signing Lämsä for U20 head coach is a mistake but he truly was only option
so it is what it is at least for now.

 

[king89]

When the f**k are we announcing our roster lol.

 

[Erikfromfin]

When the f**k are we announcing our roster lol.

wednesday 14th was said in some Lämsä interview and they have media availability of players on morning of 15th thursday before flying to north america

 

[illone84]

Here we go ladies and gents! Cool to see Kiviharju make it!

Tässä on Nuorten Leijonien MM-joukkue – TPS:n huippulupaus mukana

Maalivahdit/Goalies:

Kokko Niklas, Kärpät Oulu

Koskenvuo Aku, Harvard University NCAA

Lampinen Jani, Kiekko-Espoo

Puolustajat/Defense:

Ervasti Kalle, Lukko Rauma

Heimosalmi Aleksi, Ässät Pori

Kiviharju Aron, TPS Turku

Malinen Aleksi, JYP Jyväskylä

Ruotsalainen Ville, KalPa Kuopio

Salin Otto, HIFK Helsinki

Suomi Jimi, TPS Turku

Vilén Topias, Pelicans Lahti

Hyökkääjät/Forwards:

Huuhtanen Niko, Jukurit Mikkeli

Hämeenaho Lenni, Ässät Pori

Kapanen Konsta, KalPa Kuopio

Kapanen Oliver, KalPa Kuopio

Kaskimäki Aleksanteri, HIFK Helsinki

Kemell Joakim, JYP Jyväskylä

Koivunen Ville, Kärpät Oulu

Lambert Brad, Winnipeg Jets

Lassila Jere, JYP Jyväskylä

Miettinen Verner, Fargo Force USHL

Nyman Jani, Ilves Tampere

Päivärinta Sami, Lukko Rauma

Rönni Topi, Tappara Tampere

Väisänen Kalle, TPS Turku

 

[king89]

Here we go ladies and gents! Cool to see Kiviharju make it!

Tässä on Nuorten Leijonien MM-joukkue – TPS:n huippulupaus mukana

Maalivahdit/Goalies:

Kokko Niklas, Kärpät Oulu

Koskenvuo Aku, Harvard University NCAA

Lampinen Jani, Kiekko-Espoo

Puolustajat/Defense:

Ervasti Kalle, Lukko Rauma

Heimosalmi Aleksi, Ässät Pori

Kiviharju Aron, TPS Turku

Malinen Aleksi, JYP Jyväskylä

Ruotsalainen Ville, KalPa Kuopio

Salin Otto, HIFK Helsinki

Suomi Jimi, TPS Turku

Vilén Topias, Pelicans Lahti

Hyökkääjät/Forwards:

Huuhtanen Niko, Jukurit Mikkeli

Hämeenaho Lenni, Ässät Pori

Kapanen Konsta, KalPa Kuopio

Kapanen Oliver, KalPa Kuopio

Kaskimäki Aleksanteri, HIFK Helsinki

Kemell Joakim, JYP Jyväskylä

Koivunen Ville, Kärpät Oulu

Lambert Brad, Winnipeg Jets

Lassila Jere, JYP Jyväskylä

Miettinen Verner, Fargo Force USHL

Nyman Jani, Ilves Tampere

Päivärinta Sami, Lukko Rauma

Rönni Topi, Tappara Tampere

Väisänen Kalle, TPS Turku

So no Salminen or Matikka, that's a bit disappointing. Matikka I can understand they went with Lambert instead, but Salminen? Is he really a worse player then Päivärinta? Or Miettinen?

Otherwise good.

 

[illone84]

So no Salminen or Matikka, that's a bit disappointing. Matikka I can understand they went with Lambert instead, but Salminen? Is he really a worse player then Päivärinta? Or Miettinen?

Otherwise good.

100% agreed about Salminen. Guy always shows up in the blue and white jersey - not to mention his size, can play both center and lw, having a decent season on the other side of the pond and strong leadership skills. I guess the usual, always going to be at least one omission that us fans will raise our eyebrows at, c'est dommage.

 

[Jukurit]

This is definitely a very mediocre roster. Wingers are pretty good, but everything else is bad or mediocre. Only way they win gold is if Lämsä is a tactical genius.

I'm sad Matikka didn't make it, but otherwise good with the choices.

 

[SergeConstantin74]

Is Marjala really that bad?

 

[illone84]

Button said Finland will be the toughest competition for Canada. Now Finland is officially doomed lol Which country will be the stiffest competition for Canada at the World Juniors?

 

[FinPanda]

Not a strong team but just feels like a Finnish tram that will do anything for each other. Will be fun to watch Kiviharju.

If we make it to semis, thats already a massive win.

 

[Number 57]

Seems to be missing some key names like Salminen, Marjala, Leinonen, Halttunen, Nurmi, Tuomaala

 

[JabbaJabba]

Is Marjala really that bad?

Not really, there's just a lot of quality wingers available. Hämeenaho, Koivunen, Kemell, Nyman, Huuhtanen and Lambert were pretty much locked for top 9 winger positions as they all play in Liiga or in the AHL. I don't think Marjala is suited for 4th line winger role so there's just not a place for him on the team.

 

[Jukurit]

Seems to be missing some key names like Salminen, Marjala, Leinonen, Halttunen, Nurmi, Tuomaala

None of these are key names except maybe Halttunen.

Not really, there's just a lot of quality wingers available. Hämeenaho, Koivunen, Kemell, Nyman, Huuhtanen and Lambert were pretty much locked for top 9 winger positions as they all play in Liiga or in the AHL. I don't think Marjala is suited for 4th line winger role so there's just not a place for him on the team.

Marjala plays center though.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Was wondering about the Flyers' prospect Tuomaala. Scored ot gamewinner for U19 team last month and has also been scoring in Mestis.

Is he just a year away or are there other factors?

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Button said Finland will be the toughest competition for Canada. Now Finland is officially doomed lol Which country will be the stiffest competition for Canada at the World Juniors?

I say Sweden and USA.

It'll very tough task for Finland to knock Canada out of gold medal game or semifinals.
Also Slovakia and Czech- Rebuplic can surprise.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Not a strong team but just feels like a Finnish tram that will do anything for each other. Will be fun to watch Kiviharju.

If we make it to semis, thats already a massive win.

That roster absolutely has some big weaknesses.

1 Center Depth and game
2 Physical toughness and overall grit and compete level
3 Goaltending.

Semifinals is this Team Finland's medal this year and that's a huge plus if it happens.
Finland needs to avoid Canada and Sweden in quarterfinal if we wanna have even small medal chance.