Finland arrives with a veteran roster

2017.04.04. 16:20 |

There will be a number of familiar faces on the Finland roster that has travelled to Hungary to take on Hungary.

There are six players back from last years A-Pool World Championship roster, 4 defenseman and 2 forwards are back. The team will be coached by Lauri Marjamaki who has spent the past four seasons with the senior but this is his first year as a head coach, he took over the team for the World Cup.

In the net they have Joni Ortio who played three seasons in the NHL along with two KHL netminders in Harri Sateri and Juha Metsola, regardless who is in the cage it will not be easy to put the puck into the back of the cage.

The defensive unit is stong as well not only because there will be four players from last years World Championships. Lasse Kukkonen is not only an NHL veteran but has also won two Olympic medals, he was been a staple of the blueline for a number of years. Anssi Salmela is another veteran D-man who has NHL experience and is also a World Champion.

Scoring could came at easy for this team, the two most experienced players are Antti Pihlström and Tomi Sallinen. Pihström not only played in the NHL but has won the World Championships and also picked up an Olympic Bronze during his career as well. Sallinen “only” has two World Championship silver medals to his name but has been a prolific scorer where ever he has played like most of this roster.

Jukka Kontsas, Goalie Coach: The Finish team usually plays a disciplined and organized style of hockey, which moves together as a five man unit. They are very compact with the five guys playing together and executing the game plan very well. With the Head Coach they have in Lauri Marjamaki I am sure they will have a very disciplined team. They have a pretty strong roster, with a number of KHL players with SHL and SM Liga players. They have a nice mix of young and old where the younger players will be able to learn from the older veterans.

# Pos Name Club
30 GK SÄTERI Harri HK Vitjaz, KHL
31 GK METSOLA Juha Amur Habarovsk, KHL
32 GK ORTIO Joni Skellefteå AIK, SHL
4 D KIVISTÖ Tommi Avtomobilist Jekaterinburg,KHL
5 D KUKKONEN Lasse Kärpät Oulu
6 D JAAKOLA Topi Jokerit, KHL
21 D VIRTANEN Jesse Lukko Rauma
28 P SALMELA Anssi Linköpings HC, SHL
36 D JÄRVINEN Joonas Kunlun Redstar, KHL
47 D LAJUNEN Ville Jokerit Helsinki, KHL
55 D KOIVISTO Miika Jukurit Mikkeli
12 F ANTTILA Marko Jokerit Helsinki, KHL
13 F JUNTTILA Julius Luleå HF, SHL
15 F AALTONEN Miro HK Vitjaz, KHL
20 F OJAMÄKI Niko Ässät. Pori
23 F KEMPPAINEN Joonas Sibir Novosibirsk, KHL
25 F JORMAKKA Pekka Jokerit Helsinki, KHL
27 F ERKINJUNTTI Antti Pelicans Lahti
34 H PALOLA Olli Växjö Lakers, SHL
37 F PYÖRÄLÄ Mika Kärpät Oulu
41 F PIHLSTRÖM Antti Jokerit Helsinki, KHL
51 F SALLINEN Tomi Kunlun Redstar, KHL
61 F HUHTALA Tommi Jokerit Helsinki, KHL
70 F HARTIKAINEN Teemu Salavat Julaev Ufa, KHL