With the World Junior Hockey Championships fast approaching, hockey fans are all preparing to watch their national junior teams face off as they represent their home country at a chance for international glory.
This year Team Finland is looking to earn their first medal since their Bronze in 2006 with their strong lineup of 23 strong young Finns, including 6 of which that participated in the World Juniors last year.
The lineup as of now:
Forwards
| No. | Player | 2012-13 Team | Draft Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Miro Aaltonen | Espoo Blues | Undrafted |
| 10 | Joel Armia | Assat Pori | BUF 2011 |
| 16 | Aleksander Barkov | Tappara Tampere | 2013 |
| 11 | Markus Granlund | HIFK Helsinki | CGY 2011 |
| 13 | Markus Hannikainen | Jokerit Helsinki | Undrafted |
| 19 | Ville Järveläinen | Peliitat Heinola | Undrafted |
| 24 | Matti Lamberg | Jokerit Helsinki | Undrafted |
| 28 | Artturi Lehkonen | KalPa Kuopio | 2013 |
| 26 | Robert Leino | HPK Hämeenlinna | Undrafted |
| 21 | Thomas Nykopp | HIFK Helsinki | Undrafted |
| 23 | Saku Salminen | Jokerit Helsinki | 2013 |
| 22 | Miikka Salomaki | Karpat Oulu | NSH 2012 |
| 20 | Teuvo Teräväinen | Jokerit Helsinki | CHI 2012 |
Defence
| No. | Player | 2012-13 Team | Draft Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Henri Auvinen | JYP-Akatemia Jyväskylä | Undrafted |
| 4 | Petteri Lindbohm | Jokerit Helsinki | STL 2012 |
| 2 | Olli Maatta | London Knights (OHL) | PIT 2012 |
| 12 | Ville Pokka | Karpat Oulu | NYI 2012 |
| 3 | Juuso Riikola | KalPa Kuopio | Undrafted |
| 5 | Rasmus Ristolainen | TPS Turku | 2013 |
| 27 | Juuso Vainio | HPK Hämeenlinna | Undrafted |
Goaltenders
| No. | Player | 2012-13 Team | Draft Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Janne Juvonen | Pelicans Lahti | 2013 |
| 30 | Joonas Korpisalo | Jokerit Helsinki | CBJ 2012 |
| 1 | Eetu Laurikainen | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) | Undrafted |
Players returning to the lineup are Teuvo Teravainen, Artturi Lehkonen, Ville Pokka, Juuso Vainio, Janne Juvonen, Olli Maatta, Aleksander Barkov, and Rasmus Ristolainen. These players are joined by many talented young prospects, 10 of which, including Ristolainen, have already been drafted into the NHL.
(Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)
Two players expected to be skating for Team Finland were missing from the selection camp but have added to the roster, defenseman Olli Maatta of the Pittsburgh Penguins and center Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers.
Team Finland’s roster looks strong so far, but that is only to be proven through gameplay, which officially begins for the Finns on Friday, December 27 against Team Norway at 11:30AM (Eastern Time).
Brendon Carlton
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