WJC: Team Finland 2025 U20 WJC roster talk

[SantosHalper]

That's no mean feat. Only two other Finnish coaches in the history of the tournament have achieved the same - Erkka Westerlund and Antti Pennanen.

Hannu Aravirta and Raipe have two WJC semifinal berths on their belts as well, but they didn't come on consecutive years.

Tournament system was different but Jortikka also won B2B medals '87 gold & '88 bronze. Great achievement by Mikkola anyways and i wouldn't be surprised to see him re-signed.

 

[FiLe]

It was more to say that I'm surprised we did because I don't have a massive fate on him as a coach.

That's kind of what makes this funny. On this list, you have these names everyone recognizes, and then you have... Lauri Mikkola.

I admit, I didn't have much faith in him either after last year's performance, but... he actually seems to have grown into the job. Somewhat.

 

[Jukurit]

Have to remember that there's no Russia. Making past quarter-finals is easier now. But still, positively surprised by Mikkola. Seems like he's a lot better coach than what people thought.

 

[Svedu]

Have to remember that there's no Russia. Making past quarter-finals is easier now. But still, positively surprised by Mikkola. Seems like he's a lot better coach than what people thought.

True. I think Demidov could've toyed with our D's just like Dvorsky. With the difference that Russia would have a lot more depth too.

With Russia not participating I won't be as forgiving as you guys because the way we lost that bronze game was miserable in a historical fashion. I'll join you guys if he can win against Sweden even if we are big underdogs. For me, he needs to compensate for last year. And... I think you guys are being a bit generous. Mostly because of? Rimpinen. With last years Kokko we wouldn't have been in the semis this year... We wouldn't have won against the US with that goaltending and could've faced Sweden in the quarters.
Also, I'm not sure Slovakia was a lot better than Latvia this year and we struggled badly. And how come it reminded me of that bronze game last year? Is that a Mikkola thing? When losing momentum, lose it all? There is a valid question there. Especially when the Slovaks lacked heavily on the depth department this year. Rimpinen still needed to save our asses.
They mostly had two individuals toying with whole our team when on ice. Let's not forget that. And during the game I didn't feel Mikkola had a recipe against them. Dvorsky even had a shot on the rim. And both guys both scored and really dominated. Same Slovaks had a tough time against the weakest nation and team in tournament, Kazakhstan.

Hope he proves me wrong tonight!

 

[king89]

Have to remember that there's no Russia. Making past quarter-finals is easier now. But still, positively surprised by Mikkola. Seems like he's a lot better coach than what people thought.

He's better than Lämsä at least. Under Lämsä nothing worked now we at least have a BP that works and a system that seems to have gotten better. PP is still dogshit but that's mostly because Helenius plays on of the off wing. That screws everything up.

 

[king89]

WE ARE THROUGH TO THE FINALS

Yet again no one believed in us but we keep on grinding and grinding and in the end we are victorious

 

[FinPanda]

I can't believe it. I am sooo happy, I didn't know this team had what it takes. We taking home a medal wooooo!

 

[SantosHalper]

Here we go again and i love it!

 

[behemolari]

WE ARE THROUGH TO THE FINALS

Yet again no one believed in us but we keep on grinding and grinding and in the end we are victorious

they never learn, and its so much fun

 

[Past Considerations]

Have to remember that there's no Russia. Making past quarter-finals is easier now. But still, positively surprised by Mikkola. Seems like he's a lot better coach than what people thought.

When Russia was playing Czechia wasn't seen as a gold medal contender so in a way the amount of so called big nations has remained the same.

 

[Eye of Ra]

Please win the final. So boring with north Americans always winning.

 

[danisonfire]

Finland is once again going to be one of the teams "with the grrreeastest placement avvvvveragggge". The song holds true to this day.

 

[JJTT]

Didn't even realise how young this team is. 13 players could be back next year.

 

[FinPanda]

Didn't even realise how young this team is. 13 players could be back next year.

Rimpinen is one of them too, so we are set for goaltending.

 

[Svedu]

I hoped for Czechia against us because I like them more. Also felt we would've been underdogs, but only with say 40-60.
But against USA I feel like it's 20-80. They are so damn much faster. Leonard and Hutson just flies out there and Hagens is a rollercoaster and moves and changes directions like a magician. Both with his skates and stickhandling, very fluid.

It worries me because they've only lost one game and it was against us. I just can't see us beating them twice in the same tournament. Is that possible against them?
Rimpinen, has that guy any energy left? Is it even possible after that OT? No matter what, I love you. What a young guy.
I actually often root against the US mostly because of various reasons, so if they could deliver the biggest upset ever and win a gold against them? No, will not happen. It would be too big to even dream about.

We had a tougher game yesterday. I'm thankful and proud over the guys. How they got through the third period is a sport mystery. And then a 4 vs 3 PP against the best PP in the tournament in OT? No, you can't even write that. But Rimpinen oh Rimpinen, I would probably shed a tear if you and your team could win the gold medal. Because if anyone deserves it in this tournament it sure hell is you.

Peukut pystyyn!

 

[Erikfromfin]

Didn't even realise how young this team is. 13 players could be back next year.

Thats why I mentioned back to back gold is reality. 13 players back as 19 year old good luck rest of the teams. Top3 centers the same including 5 defenders and Rimpinen. I doubt Helenius will be cancelled because NHL duties next season.

 

[Svedu]

Thats why I mentioned back to back gold is reality. 13 players back as 19 year old good luck rest of the teams. Top3 centers the same including 5 defenders and Rimpinen. I doubt Helenius will be cancelled because NHL duties next season.

Helenius is playing as a first center for Rochester. Buffalo have been horrendous as well. Could be up for some trades.
I think there is a possibility he plays top9 for Buffalo next year. Even if he's under Kulich, Peterka and others he's a smarter player than say Krebs and so on. I mean if Benson can get so much ice time then wouldn't be surprised if Helenius could as well. Nothing against Benson btw. Besides Tage Thompson, Tuch, Peterka and Kulich there really isn't that much competition.
Their fans seem to hate Cozens and wish to trade him already. Helenius is able to play wing as well.

But, I hope you are right of course. He will be needed next year when a couple of this years teams best players won't be able to participate. (Kiiskinen, Kumpulainen, Rautiainen, Alasiurua, Uronen, Hynninen, Halttunen, Nurmi, Pieniniemi).
And imo Kumpulainen and Alasiurua have been our best players so far in this tournament. With perhaps Kiiskinen being on third and Rautiainen with a good semifinal game.

I mean Westergård, Kotajärvi and Boelius are the only 2007's I see having a chance making the roster lol. Personally I hope Westergård leaves Sweden for a Canadian junior league or Liiga next year. With his ability to skate and shoot he could become a important piece if he takes big steps next year.

 

[SantosHalper]

Team that had QF exit written all over it, comes home with a silver medal. Kiitos Leijonat and that "Lion" title is well deserved. Truly a team full of Lions. Dominant USA was better with only 1 goal and needed couple lucky bounces to get back in game.

We can be proud but hopefully FIHA took notes, that pace, it didn't last until end of the game. If it would have lasted, Finland would have won. We did quite well in the boards battles, so i think we have improved there or at least this age group did. Hopefully we continue on that path but that skating, nearly there so to speak. Get pace going for 60 minutes and Finland will be in the medals every year.

Until next time and im optimistic, this team had 10(?) '06 born players. Team core is there already and coach Mikkola is on the right level. Next year we beat USA's diving team in the finals.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

This team was full of winners.
They exceeded all expectations to making this far and winning U20 WJC silver.

The best one.
13 guys of this team will be back next year.

 

[FinPanda]

Good tournament but silver feels diappointing now. But there is a big issue on conditioning, just just can't run out of gas in 3rd period.. hockey game lasts 60 mins not 40.

 

[Jukurit]

Very good tournament for this team. Most people didn't expect anything from them and they were 1 goal away from winning gold.

 

[FiLe]

Yeah, no matter how nice it would have been to see them overachieve a tiny bit more, this result was a considerable overachievement.

This also builds an interesting foundation for the next year. Both of our goalie tandem and five d-men will be eligible to return. And although we also have six '06 born forwards, unfortunately most of the heavy hitters up front will be gone. But a year is a long time for players of this age to go forward.

It'll also be interesting to see how Mikkola improves. There were times when his inexperience from situations like this shone through, but on the other hand, a work-in-progress coach like him rarely turns himself into a "this is fine" meme. I'm sure he'll analyze all the data available to him when he gets home and picks up on what he can do better.

 

[just a hockey fan]

After seeing how much shit the team got from everyone basically, this was a great tournament for Finland. Personally I expected the goalie to be the best, was weird to see people questioning Rimpinen afer seeing some of his games this year. For me there were a good amount of players who were successful and definitely showed that they have even more to give. The 06 group definitely is strong enough for Finland to win IMO.

Big question for next year is the coaching of the 2nd and 3rd periods. It goes back to last year's bronze game, completely shutting down and just trying to defend hasn't worked in 4 consecutive elimination games now. I think it's safe to say that a medal should be expected next year, so many returnees and a year for players to develop more and for some players to maybe take big and unexpected leaps in their development.

 

[king89]

Great tournament from the boys but I can't help to feel that we could have done a little more. Like in the OT we could had pushed more and maybe played the players who had the energy more. Like Hynninen, Alasiurua Nurmi etc. But it is what it is just sucks to lose when we were so close but i'm proud of the boys they showed sisu and fought to the end. Many will be back next year and then we go again!

 

[Svedu]

Great tournament from the boys but I can't help to feel that we could have done a little more. Like in the OT we could had pushed more and maybe played the players who had the energy more. Like Hynninen, Alasiurua Nurmi etc. But it is what it is just sucks to lose when we were so close but i'm proud of the boys they showed sisu and fought to the end. Many will be back next year and then we go again!

Agreed. The way we lost and against a team where the captain was easy to dislike. Let's not even discuss their domestic or foreign politics, or f*ck it let's go... I can for sure say I will root against USA in every WJC. Czechs and Latvia will get my support firstly after Finland, then Sweden and Canada and the rest. Always Canada before USA here after. And it has nothing with being a sore loser.
I just feel like a lot of their fans seem entitled and I have a big feeling many of them have that naive black or white perspective on the current situation in the world because of their countries way of censuring the net, media and so on. It truly is like a second world country in so many ways. But many of themselves don't recognize it. Or they get censured and silenced, who knows.
Don't get me wrong, I will never judge an individual in a rash way from anywhere before I can see their own actions and so on. I just get the feeling that if i was an American I would be the biggest and loudest pacifist there is but I don't get the impression many of them are. Always saluting their military in sports games and so on, it's like a propaganda apparatus and tragicomical charades if anything.
No disrespect against individuals who fought, but to fight for such a country and the reason behind them are nothing else than getting fooled by your leaders and selling your life imho.
It's not like the Finnish perspective of defending something. It's always attacking to make a profit on others and nothing else. Quite baffling that some people close their eyes for that fact.

Lastly, besides Rimpinen being the clear number one MVP in this tournament he was followed by Hutson as a second.
No way in hell did that filthy little weasel deserve that price. Even if the gold medal was the most important I really do think it's a disgrace to praise a player who easily was not as good as those I mentioned but also his demeanor. What a shame.

Next year will be just as tough as this one. Those 2005 born players were pretty important and shouldn't be underestimated. 2007 born players are our worst in ages.
Also, the Americans will have most of their roster coming back as well. And we all know they have back2back golds. And I would be surprised if Canada don't come hungry next year.
Czechs will have Mrtka, Jiricek, Fibigr and other prospects just as good as this year. Stacked on D. Add Jecho, Cihar, Kos, Novotny, Sikora, Benak, Titlbach, Curran. I'm pretty sure the Czechs and Canada will medal next year, question is if the US or Finland joins them.
Latvia will have Osmanis, Murnieks and a lot of their players coming back as well. Both of those players can become really good.

Also, I hope liitto really checks up the skating and stamina aspect. We are clearly after the other top nations in that department. That is a issue and has been for a while. It's easy to forget when they fought and performed so well like true brave lions. They players did well but I hope that doesn't make the rulers comfortable because they shouldn't. Even if Finland can compete their weaknesses are almost easier to spot than others. Both 3rd periods and OT we were so gassed it was scary to even watch haha.

Please, give us a classic final between Finland-Canada next year. If Canadians are in it for a while the buzz will be higher. But, Sweden or Czechia works as well.