Team Finland WC 2023

[The Cannon of Tesoma]

As a typical Finnish pessimist, I have a bad feeling about this, because of circumstances.

- Finland certainly is not any kind underdog on paper
- Home tournament, with extra home tournament publicity pressures, and expectation hype
- As @Ippenator pointed out, there can be a time limit when casual J. Jalonen's battle hardened Euro-cast veterans arrive to their inevitable, eventual 'date of expiration' (particularly against fast skating NA teams)
- While I have overall trust to Jukka Jalonen's (who wouldn't have) ability to form competitive, successful rosters, it is mainly due his genius to build Teams with spirit, and certain wholesomeness; I have some difficulties to see that in this year's team (can't exactly point why I feel that way).
- Ages old default conundrum that whatever comes from NHL across a pond, doesn't automatically mean better team
- Only Gold medal can be assigned as measure of success for this tournament

Of course, I hope being proved wrong. I hope that my native bias to pessimism, will fail me and these reasonings. Good Luck.

 

[Mestaruus]

Yes, there is a chance. I think Jalonen will start with 13+7, so there would still be 2 spots open.

Yep, maybe the second game vs Germany is when we will really see if Jalonen is planning to wait for any more NHL players and if he does wait for more NHL players, is the number 0, 1 or 2. I'm guessing 1, but Dallas might very well lose that series so we'll see. It might depend also on if some player in USA game gets a minor injury. Dallas @ Seattle game 4 is tonight. If that series goes to 3-1 in Seattle's favor, that will make things real interesting.

I imagine that Heiskanen plays in the next game. I don't know if he got a concussion from the puck or not, but I'm guessing he didn't. If it's just a dental problem, that would just mean he puts on a bigger helmet that protects his teeth and keeps on playing. Broken cheek bone is another possibility. Heiskanen playing of course would increase Dallas' chances to win that series.

 

[illone84]

As a typical Finnish pessimist, I have a bad feeling about this, because of circumstances.

- Finland certainly is not any kind underdog on paper
- Home tournament, with extra home tournament publicity pressures, and expectation hype
- As @Ippenator pointed out, there can be a time limit when casual J. Jalonen's battle hardened Euro-cast veterans arrive to their inevitable, eventual 'date of expiration' (particularly against fast skating NA teams)
- While I have overall trust to Jukka Jalonen's (who wouldn't have) ability to form competitive, successful rosters, it is mainly due his genius to build Teams with spirit, and certain wholesomeness; I have some difficulties to see that in this year's team (can't exactly point why I feel that way).
- Ages old default conundrum that whatever comes from NHL across a pond, doesn't automatically mean better team
- Only Gold medal can be assigned as measure of success for this tournament

Of course, I hope being proved wrong. I hope that my native bias to pessimism, will fail me and these reasonings. Good Luck.

Just drink some piña colada and cha cha cha

 

[The Cannon of Tesoma]

Just drink some piña colada and cha cha cha

Aaaargh. I'm sick and tired that cha cha cha BS. Very bad and uncatchy tune, annoying performance, and ugly costume. Played everywhere ad nauseum. I can't get why it is a thing, hype even less. Drink isn't that good either.

I prefer beer. A'le Coq in cans and in volumes.

 

[illone84]

Aaaargh. I'm sick and tired that cha cha cha BS. Very bad and uncatchy tune, annoying performance, and ugly costume. Played everywhere ad nauseum. I can't get why it is a thing, hype even less. Drink isn't that good either.

I prefer beer. A'le Coq in cans and in volumes.

Agreed but you can bet dollars to donuts that that song will be played out even more if Finland wins the Skoda cup. Not to even mention if Finland wins Eurovision hahaha

 

[Mestaruus]

Agreed but you can bet dollars to donuts that that song will be played out even more if Finland wins the Skoda cup. Not to even mention if Finland wins Eurovision hahaha

Speaking about songs reminded me that they should replace Finland's goal scoring song already. The one with tarzan sounds that sounds something made for 10 year olds. Even Käärijä's song beats that. Does anyone even like Finland's current goal scoring song? I'd be very curious to know if someone knows how that particular song was chosen as Finland's permanent goal scoring song?

 

[FiLe]

I'd be very curious to know if someone knows how that particular song was chosen as Finland's permanent goal scoring song?

It was initially used in the 2016 WJC. The men's team adopted it in the same year for their silver run. But it was actually not the goal song in many of the U20 and men's tournaments in 2017-2018. And those years were... well, not so good for us.

So, since then... it's been a bit like a charm. A talisman.

 

[BB88]

Really should have given the C to Rantanen.

Would have liked to see him take the team on his shoulders 100%

 

[illone84]

Speaking about songs reminded me that they should replace Finland's goal scoring song already. The one with tarzan sounds that sounds something made for 10 year olds. Even Käärijä's song beats that. Does anyone even like Finland's current goal scoring song? I'd be very curious to know if someone knows how that particular song was chosen as Finland's permanent goal scoring song?

I don't mind the current song but definitely time to replace it. Would die from laughter if they were to change it to the cha cha song.

 

[FinPanda]

Really should have given the C to Rantanen.

Would have liked to see him take the team on his shoulders 100%

I'm fine with the choices, but I hope this will be the last tournament for Anttil.a

(Anttila C, Rantanen & Määttä A)

 

[Mestaruus]

I'm fine with the choices, but I hope this will be the last tournament for Anttil.a

(Anttila C, Rantanen & Määttä A)

If we get gold again I don't hope that Anttila quits. He may not be the main reason for us winning this much lately if we exclude 2019, but as File talked about the silly goal song of our's being some kind of good luck charm, then Anttila is a good luck charm as well. My personal guess is that Anttila calls it quits in the NT after this tournament regardless of the result.

BTW, shame about Dallas winning. That series is 2-2 now so anything is possible still. Dallas has now 2 homes games and Seattle has just 1, but if I'm not mistaken in these playoffs there's been a lot of away/road game wins. Heiskanen is back with a bigger visor now, but if Dallas would get eliminated I wouldn't be surprised if he wouldn't join the WHC tournament because of this small injury. It's about his teeth I'm guessing. So I see the chance to get Heiskanen pretty low at the moment. However getting just Hintz or Hintz and Lindell would be amazing. In the morning of FIN-USA game that Seattle-Dallas series could be at 3-2 if we get lucky and that could make Jalonen think hard if he should leave 2 player slots unstamped instead of using 1-2 of those slots for the Germany game. The Germany game comes on Saturday, right after the FIN-USA game. So a back to back game.

Today must be the day when we hear about Rantanen's line mates. The practices should be in full motion today.

 

[mattihp]

Hintz and Lindell would be what the doctor ordered and getting Heiskanen would be a treat.

 

[CameronNeely]

I don't feel good about this team. If I look at only the forwards..To me the issue is down the middle. First & foremost. Björninen might be able to take care of defensive duties in the 4th but Lammikko is a dead turkey. By no means is he a legit nr 3 center for this level. No offensive upside whatsoever and so and so defensively. Don't like this choice one bit. It all comes down to Suomela performing and getting good chemistry with his linemates. Manninen needs to step up a gear or two from EHT games. He's a smart player so I am sure he will. Maybe Rants gets Suomela going. I would probably try Suomela with old linemate Oksanen on LW and Rantanen as RW and see how it goes. I also have issues with Kapanen. Always had. Don't know how to use him. He has some surprise potential, but lacks consistency and feels lazy at times. And not best fit for the disciplined system. Kakko on the other hand is also a mystery. Where to put him? Pesonen on the other hand can do it all. Really like his game. He could fill in holes and be the glue guy if line doesn't work. Sallinen as well. Very predictable and reliable guy with good presence. My lines would be:

Pesonen-Manninen-Hartikainen
Oksanen-Suomela-Rantanen
Kakko-Sallinen-Armia
Anttila-Björninen-Merelä

Lammikko & Kapanen healthy scratches

 

[jonlin]

Kapanen has been straight out bad and looks luckluster on the ice. I would have completely left out Anttila and Björninen. I think Savinainen should have been on the team. He is a unique player who cant be pushed away from infront of the opponents crease.

 

[Mestaruus]

I don't feel good about this team. If I look at only the forwards..To me the issue is down the middle. First & foremost. Björninen might be able to take care of defensive duties in the 4th but Lammikko is a dead turkey. By no means is he a legit nr 3 center for this level. No offensive upside whatsoever and so and so defensively. Don't like this choice one bit. It all comes down to Suomela performing and getting good chemistry with his linemates. Manninen needs to step up a gear or two from EHT games. He's a smart player so I am sure he will. Maybe Rants gets Suomela going. I would probably try Suomela with old linemate Oksanen on LW and Rantanen as RW and see how it goes. I also have issues with Kapanen. Always had. Don't know how to use him. He has some surprise potential, but lacks consistency and feels lazy at times. And not best fit for the disciplined system. Kakko on the other hand is also a mystery. Where to put him? Pesonen on the other hand can do it all. Really like his game. He could fill in holes and be the glue guy if line doesn't work. Sallinen as well. Very predictable and reliable guy with good presence. My lines would be:

Pesonen-Manninen-Hartikainen
Oksanen-Suomela-Rantanen
Kakko-Sallinen-Armia
Anttila-Björninen-Merelä

Lammikko & Kapanen healthy scratches

Those are valid points and decent lines. However I'd give Kapanen a chance in the first game vs USA and if he isn't good enough, then later I'd make him a healthy scratch. Kapanen had the best chemistry with Suomela so far so I'd keep them together. Inserting Rantanen with this duo or with Manninen & Hartikainen both sound like good ideas to me. Problem with testing Kapanen though is in the tournament schedule. Our tournament really starts with a bang. We can't afford much experimenting early, because our main opponents are in the 1st and 3rd games vs USA & SWE. If we don't perform well in those games we don't win the group. So it's a tough puzzle for Jalonen. I think today we hear something about practice lines.

 

[mattihp]

I've always been suspicious about Kapanen's ability on a Jalonen team with adults. He isn't good enough offensively to be counted on as an offensive weapon and his two-way play is inconsistant at best. Our hope is that he goes on a tear offensively.

 

[David OSullivan]

I think Kapanen will have an excellent tournament. Calling it here and now.

 

[mattihp]

I think Kapanen will have an excellent tournament. Calling it here and now.

Really hope he does. I thought he'd at least be flashier, so that he could draw the attention of opponents.

 

[illone84]

Really hope he does. I thought he'd at least be flashier, so that he could draw the attention of opponents.

I wouldn't look too much into the exhibition games regarding Kapanen. Although he is inconsistent like Armia in the NHL, I have no doubts that Jalonen will put him in a position to succeed for the team. He will be ready against USA. And especially once we get to the qf.

 

[FiLe]

Lines in practice:

Lehtonen - Ohtamaa
Määttä - Koivisto
Seppälä - Pokka
Friman - Matinpalo

Rantanen - Manninen - Hartikainen
Kakko - Suomela - Armia
Sallinen - Lammikko - Kapanen
Oksanen - Björninen - Anttila

Pesonen and Merelä as extras. Gotta say, Pesonen seemingly outside the regular lineup is a bit unexpected.

PP1:
Sallinen, Hartikainen, Manninen, Rantanen, Lehtonen

PP2:
Armia, Kakko, Suomela, Kapanen, Määttä

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Lines in practice:

Lehtonen - Ohtamaa
Määttä - Koivisto
Seppälä - Pokka
Friman - Matinpalo

Rantanen - Manninen - Hartikainen
Kakko - Suomela - Armia
Sallinen - Lammikko - Kapanen
Oksanen - Björninen - Anttila

Pesonen and Merelä as extras. Gotta say, Pesonen seemingly outside the regular lineup is a bit unexpected.

PP1:
Sallinen, Hartikainen, Manninen, Rantanen, Lehtonen

PP2:
Armia, Kakko, Suomela, Kapanen, Määttä

I do not like that top 6, at all.

The fact that our best, most hard working forward past months for team Finland; Harri Pesonen isn't even in the playing line up
is very much of a shock.. In Jukka Jalonen we trust but............ i dunno....

Suomela as the 2C scares the shit out of me. Dude just not good enough at international level.

It should be Rantanen 1C Manninen 2C

 

[Mestaruus]

Lines in practice:

Lehtonen - Ohtamaa
Määttä - Koivisto
Seppälä - Pokka
Friman - Matinpalo

Rantanen - Manninen - Hartikainen
Kakko - Suomela - Armia
Sallinen - Lammikko - Kapanen
Oksanen - Björninen - Anttila

Pesonen and Merelä as extras. Gotta say, Pesonen seemingly outside the regular lineup is a bit unexpected.

PP1:
Sallinen, Hartikainen, Manninen, Rantanen, Lehtonen

PP2:
Armia, Kakko, Suomela, Kapanen, Määttä

Yeah I didn't expect Pesonen out at all. As expected Jalonen really likes Sallinen. He really loves Sallinen on a PP unit. We've seen that countless times. The absence of Pesonen kind of made room for Sallinen to be in a PP unit so it was hard to predict that Sallinen would be used on PP. All 3 of Lammikko, Sallinen and Oksanen are in and I expected only 1-2 of these to be in the line up originally and before MaG was cut. Again Pesonen out made room for one of them.

I saw Rantanen - Manninen - Hartikainen coming when he cut MaG. Jalonen probably knew he would do this line combination for many days now. It's just that most of us didn't know that he would cut MaG.

Kakko - Suomela - could've had Kapanen there as well. Probably not a big difference if it's Armia or Kapanen. I assume both players got around the same potential to work on that line.

MTV3's reporter also assumed that Larmi is the starter vs USA based on the practices, which is not surprising if true.

I love to see Määttä on the PP2 unit. Not a big surprise that Määttä got that spot after Kemiläinen got cut.

I like the lines overall and I'd imagine that Pesonen will be back in the line up by the time the real games begin, that is of course if his spot isn't being taken by another NHL reinforcement player. It wouldn't surprise me if Pesonen gets his tournament pass stamped vs Germany, because it's a back to back game and cycling players is not a bad thing. I'm kind of afraid that Jalonen does that, because that could mean that we loose a chance to get one really good player from overseas. Hintz + Lindell are our best shots. Not sure about Heiskanen's willingless with the small injury. So what I'm trying to say is I got mixed feelings about the Pesonen situation and I wish Jalonen had just put him inside the active line up and let someone else eat popcorn. Pesonen is good but if we can get Lindell and Hintz over him, I take those guys over him in heart beat. They will have bigger impact even without much practice with the team.

Our first two opponents GER & USA just played a practice game together and USA won it 3-6, so that's really interesting.

 

[mattihp]

Any forward would be better on the PP than Sallinen. Which skill can he use there? Some cycling and holding onto the puck?

 

[MatBarzal]

Finland won Russia in 2016 in the semifinal. 2012 semifinal and 2017 bronze medal games are the only times in recent history when Russia defeated Finland fair and square in the important games.

2014 gold medal game was proof of massive corruption in the IIHF. Motive for favouring the Russia in the gold medal game, was because Finland humiliated Russia in Sochi few months prior in their home tournament and Belarus is basically in their backyard, they wasn't going to allow it to happen again.

Rene Fasel is extremely pro-russian, it's no secret. He doesn't even try hide it even in 2014 gold medal game, Fasel was watching the game with Putin and Lukashenko in the same skybox. Fasel also celebrated every goal what Russia scored in that game, and also when Russia "won" the game.

The referee was an american from NCAA league and after the tournament he became KHL referee. Russian head coach Oleg Znarok was suspended from the gold medal game, but he was in contact with the assistant coach with radio phone. Which was against the rules. Rene Fasel did everything in his power to see Russia succeed after the Sochi tournament.

Excellent video proof of corrupted IIHF officials helping Russia to win the world championship:

Let's not forget that at the last World Cup all the referees' decisions were in your favor, and it's not just about the final. Is it because there have been personnel changes in the IIHF. In addition to the president, the General Secretary was replaced, this post was taken by Matti Nurminen (executive director of the Finnish Ice Hockey Federation), in addition, many believe that Kalervo Kummola has a huge influence on Tardif. Wasn't it with his submission that the championship was moved from Russia to Finland? Where did you suddenly get such support from the IIHF? You hold home world championships, the refereeing authorities get a lot of places at tournaments, and refereeing mistakes are always in your favor. is it just a coincidence?

 

[Mestaruus]

Any forward would be better on the PP than Sallinen. Which skill can he use there? Some cycling and holding onto the puck?

I think back up faceoffs, mask man and hitting pucks in the net from close. Jalonen just loves him in that role. I trust on Jalonen's vision with this although I wouldn't have done that myself.