Four hockey players who spent the past season in the National Hockey League will play for the Finnish national team in the 2024 World Championship – defenseman Olli Mātā from the Detroit Red Wings, forwards Jese Puljujarvi and Valteri Pūstinen from the Pittsburgh Penguins, as well as the experienced San Jose Sharks forward Mikael Granlund. He was also the most productive of those mentioned last season, accumulating 60 productive points – 12 goals and 48 assists.
The teams of the Swiss top league will also be widely represented in the Finnish national team. There are three teammates of Oskar Lapinski in Langnau – defenders Vili Sariarvi and Jūso Rīkola, and forward Saku Meanalanen. Experienced goalkeeper Hari Sateri and defender Miko Lehtonen of champion Zurich “Lions” have also joined the national team from Swiss championship clubs.
Seven hockey players in the Finnish national team represent Swedish top league clubs, while another nine hockey players are from local championship clubs.
The Finnish national team led by Jukas Jalonen will face the host Czech Republic in the opening match of the tournament in Prague on May 10 in subgroup A, and in the continuation of the competition they will play matches against Great Britain, Norway, Austria, Canada, Denmark and Switzerland.
Finland national team
| Position | Player | Born year | Club | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Harry Sutter | 1989 | Biel (Switzerland) | 43 (91.99%) |
| Lassi Lehtinen | 1999 | MoDo (Sweden) | 41 (90.18%) | |
| Emil Larmi | 1996 | Vaxjo (Sweden) | 34 (91.24%) | |
| Defender | Rasmus Risanen | 1991 | Orebro (Sweden) | 51 (2+17) |
| Olli in Mata | 1994 | Red Wings (NHL) | 72 (4+14) | |
| Miko Lehtonen | 1994 | Lyon (Switzerland) | 51 (4+26) | |
| Oliver Caskey | 1995 | HV71 (Sweden) | 39 (8+12) | |
| Vili Sariarvi | 1997 | Langnau (Switzerland) | 50 (8+29) | |
| Veli Mati Vitasmäki | 1990 | Tappara | 58 (3+17) | |
| Your Rikola | 1993 | Langnau (Switzerland) | 43 (3+14) | |
| Jespers Matila | 1997 | KalPa | 58 (6+10) | |
| Attacker | Jere Innala | 1998 | Frolunda (Sweden) | 42 (16+12) |
| Jesse Puljujarvi | 1998 | Penguins (NHL) | 22 (3+1) | |
| Juha in Jaska | 1998 | HIFK | 57 (10+20) | |
| Consta Helenius | 2006 | Yukurit | 51 (14+22) | |
| Patrick Puistola | 2001 | Yukurit | 54 (19+26 | |
| Hannes Bjerninen | 1995 | Orebro (Sweden) | 52 (6+19) | |
| Pek Jormak | 1990 | Yukurit | 54 (19+20) | |
| Oliver Kapanen | 2003 | KalPa | 51 (14+20) | |
| Valteri Pūstinen | 1999 | Penguins (NHL) | 24 (5+8) | |
| Artu Hiri | 2001 | Carpathians | 55 (14+17) | |
| Mikael Granlund | 1992 | Sharks (NHL) | 69 (12+48) | |
| Ahti Oksanen | 1993 | Oskarshamm (Sweden) | 40 (10+15) | |
| I say Meenalanen | 1994 | Langnau (Switzerland) | 44 (11+9) | |
| Iro Pakarinen | 1991 | HIFK | 59 (18+12) |
Resources used:
https://www.leijonat.fi/index.php/m…
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