U18: WJC 2019: Finland

[MattiasSnall]

After our recent success in the U20’s we could take a look at the upcoming U18 WJC which is the next major IIHF competition this year. It will be held in Örnsköldsvik and Umeå, Sweden between 18-28 April.

From last years champions we have 4 returning players in Kaapo Kakko, Anton Lundell, Leevi Aaltonen and Mikko Kokkonen.
Otherwise the 01 team seems to be very talented and with great depth. Even though there are other strong contenders this year (especially USA) we shouldn’t have any other aim than to make our way to the final and defend the title.

Here is a wiew of how the team might look like:
Kakko-Lundell-Simontaival
Heinola-Kokkonen

Aaltonen-Nikkanen-Puistola
Räsänen-Loponen

Kallionkieli-Saarela-Miettinen
Tuomisto-Puutio

Aku Räty-Pärssinen-Aatu Räty

Piiroinen (Taponen)

Other candidates: Mäntykivi, Petman, Tieksola, Myllyllä, Intonen, Hirvonen, Hatakka, Holtinkoski, Lehtinen, Rafkin, Sedoff, Blomqvist.

Feel free to add your own rosters and other comments that has something to do with the upcoming tournament.

Click to read more...

 

[1OApick]

After our recent success in the U20’s we could take a look at the upcoming U18 WJC which is the next major IIHF competition this year. It will be held in Örnsköldsvik and Umeå, Sweden between 18-28 April.

From last years champions we have 4 returning players in Kaapo Kakko, Anton Lundell, Leevi Aaltonen and Mikko Kokkonen.
Otherwise the 01 team seems to be very talented and with great depth. Even though there are other strong contenders this year (especially USA) we shouldn’t have any other aim than to make our way to the final and defend the title.

Here is a wiew of how the team might look like:
Kakko-Lundell-Simontaival
Heinola-Kokkonen

Aaltonen-Nikkanen-Puistola
Räsänen-Loponen

Kallionkieli-Saarela-Miettinen
Tuomisto-Puutio

Aku Räty-Pärssinen-Aatu Räty

Piiroinen (Taponen)

Other candidates: Mäntykivi, Petman, Tieksola, Myllyllä, Intonen, Hirvonen, Hatakka, Holtinkoski, Lehtinen, Rafkin, Sedoff, Blomqvist.

Feel free to add your own rosters and other comments that has something to do with the upcoming tournament.

I doubt that Kakko would come. He plays in good team and even if he couldn't he could tryout for mens national team given how much Jalonen likes these youngsters.

 

[MattiasSnall]

I doubt that Kakko would come. He plays in good team and even if he couldn't he could tryout for mens national team given how much Jalonen likes these youngsters.

Well there certainly is a possibility that he will play with men’s national team but i still believe he will come to this event just depending on how TPS plays in the playoffs.

We’ve seen the recent years as some of the most talented players have played U20 and in some occasions in the men’s national team in their U18 year, recently these are Sebastian Aho, Jesse Puljujärvi, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and still played in the U18 WJC the same year. Kaapo also seems like a guy that would not decline to participate in the U18s even though he later would play with the men’s national team. But let’s see how it goes and hopefully he will be available for this tournament as well.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Finland U18 National team talk 2018-2019.
There's already Finnish U18 team thread.
No need to use two threads of same topic.
Can some moderator put these threads together.

 

[MattiasSnall]

Finland U18 National team talk 2018-2019.
There's already Finnish U18 team thread.
No need to use two threads of same topic.
Can some moderator put these threads together.

Good, I was searching for that one but didn’t find it.

 

[FinPanda]

Finland U18 National team talk 2018-2019.
There's already Finnish U18 team thread.
No need to use two threads of same topic.
Can some moderator put these threads together.

Good, I was searching for that one but didn’t find it.

That is in the Finland section though.. There wasn't one in the International tournaments section. Its fine.

It gets a lot more attention here than there. Always the same thing, every tournament and I prefer this thread being here a lot more than the one there. Every other team has one here too, no matter how much they talk about in on their own countrys section. Or do you want to talk about this team on the Finnish board where there almost no one goes and when others are talking about their team here during the tournament?

Glad you made this thread. Sometimes we have had a thread about Finnish U20 on the Finland board and one here. It's not a problem.

 

[Jussi]

I doubt that Kakko would come. He plays in good team and even if he couldn't he could tryout for mens national team given how much Jalonen likes these youngsters.

Not really. TPS could easily be knocked out in the first round of the playoffs.

 

[FinPanda]

This will be one hell of a team even if Kakko doesn't come.

 

[MattiasSnall]

This will be one hell of a team even if Kakko doesn't come.

Yes indeed, usually there are just a few guys that have made their debut in Liiga in their U18 season, and they are usually the key players. But this time there will probably be guys that have played in Liiga left out of the final team, because the competition is just that hard.

 

[Boonk]

Looking like another Finland-USA gold medal final. Very good 01 class from Finland and im sure there will be some 02s in there.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Kaapo Kakon agentti valaisi superlupauksen kevään maajoukkuesuunnitelmia – "Poikien kisat eivät mene ammattilaiskiekkoilun edelle"

 

[wings5]

Looking like another Finland-USA gold medal final. Very good 01 class from Finland and im sure there will be some 02s in there.

Most likely prediction , but just the trio of Holtz, Raymond, Gunler could rip up the tournament themselves despite depth of other teams. They also have Grewe and Nybeck so Swedes could be good, until the metal rounds.

 

[FinPanda]

We can hope now that Kakko will play right?

 

[LoveHateLeafs]

It seems that barring injury, Finland will have its best-possible U18 roster. My guess is

Puistola-Lundell-Kakko
Simontaival-Saarela-Tieksola
Mantykivi-Hirvonen-Miettinen
Aaltonen-Raty-Raty
Petman

Heinola-Kokkonen
Loponen-Tuomisto
Rasanen-Lehtinen

I'm including Lundell as the #1C given that HIFK will probably lose to Karpat in the next round. Saarela hasn't played centre in the Liiga, but I'm pretty sure he has everywhere else. I think Simontaival is injured, but he may be ready for the tournament, which starts April 18th. Even though the lower lines have 2002-born centres, they could benefit from preexisting chemistry.

 

[Mysteric1000]

We would definetly get a high end scorer from Kakko to our roster if he decides to join, but even if not we are still going to look good at paper with players that have liiga, Mestis and A-junior experience. Especially the depth is on top of the contenders.

One interesting thing are players that playing abroad. F.ex Marcus Kallionkieli culd have a shot to make the team if he impresses in camp and pretournament. Another one I'll keep an eye on is our younger guys (Simontaival, Aa.Räty) if/when they will be chosen and given a fair chance to show what they got right now.

 

[Pardus]

No Lambert, I had my hopes but im not surpriced

First camp started yesterday and Lambert was still playing playoffs today. So there is still hope to see him at least on the second camp.

 

[fr9dd9]

First camp started yesterday and Lambert was still playing playoffs today. So there is still hope to see him at least on the second camp.

oh, didnt know.. Live in sweden so.. xD How is he doing at the playoff?

 

[FinnishSniper]

oh, didnt know.. Live in sweden so.. xD How is he doing at the playoff?

He did alright, didn’t get much of a role though. And yeah he wasn’t named to the final camp roster either...

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Finland's newest ( updated) U18 WJC training camp roster.
Maalivahdit:
1 Taponen Roope, HIFK Helsinki
30 Piiroinen Kari, Winsdor Spitfires OHL
31 Blomqvist Joel, Kärpät Oulu

Puolustajat:
2 Kokkonen Mikko, Jukurit Mikkeli
3 Loponen Kalle, Kärpät Oulu
4 Räsänen Iivari, Tappara Tampere
5 Niemelä Topi, Kärpät Oulu
6 Hatakka Santeri, Jokerit Helsinki
7 Tuomisto Antti, Ässät Pori
9 Koskenkorva Samu, Kärpät Oulu
23 Lehtinen Atso, HPK Hämeenlinna
25 Heinola Ville, Lukko Rauma

Hyökkääjät:
10 Aaltonen Leevi, KalPa Kuopio
12 Nikkanen Henri, Jukurit Mikkeli
15 Saarela Antti, Lukko Rauma
18 Petman Mikko, Lukko Rauma
19 Miettinen Veeti, Blues Espoo
20 Lundell Anton, HIFK Helsinki (Liigan välierissä)
21 Räty Aku, Kärpät Oulu
22 Simontaival Kasper, Tappara Tampere
24 Räty Aatu, Kärpät Oulu
27 Hakanen Santtu, HPK Hämeenlinna
28 Hirvonen Roni, Blues Espoo
29 Kiviniemi Joona, Swift Current Broncos WHL
32 Tieksola Tuukka, Kärpät Oulu
33 Mäntykivi Matias, SaiPa Lappeenranta
34 Intonen Aarne, TPS Turku
35 Pärssinen Juuso, TPS Turku
36 Puistola Patrik, Tappara Tampere

 

[David OSullivan]

No kakko, yet lundell named. Is kakko out?

 

[Porky]

No kakko, yet lundell named. Is kakko out?

Kakko is with the men's team. He's decided to skip U18s to focus on the world championship.

Lundell is obviously named because he's a top 2001 player. (Though he's still playing in Liiga semifinals.)

 

[JJTT]

Looks good.

Piiroinen
Blomqvist

Heinola-Tuomisto
Kokkonen-Loponen
Räsänen-Niemelä
Hatakka

Puistola-Lundell-Simontaival
Aaltonen-Nikkanen-Miettinen
Saarela-Räty-Tieksola
Mäntykivi-Pärssinen-Räty

Lots of options for every position.

 

[FiLe]

No kakko, yet lundell named. Is kakko out?

Kakko is with the men's team. He's decided to skip U18s to focus on the world championship.

There's still a chance Kakko joins if he's booted from the men's camp roster. Not that I think it'll happen.

 

[Star Ocean]

Kakko should focus on whc instead of u18s.

 

[FiLe]

Kakko should focus on whc instead of u18s.

That's what he's doing right now, and it's absolutely the right choice. However, Kakko doesn't select himself, it's Jalonen who decides who makes the team and who doesn't. And if Kakko doesn't, then he should join the U18 group.

Of course, I don't think anyone here sees Kakko mailing it in so bad that he won't get selected. And if it does happen, he'll be among the very last cuts.