WJC: Team Finland 2019 U20 WJC Roster Talk

[ChicagoBullsFan]

IS: Pikkuleijonien päävalmentaja valmentaa ensi kaudella Liigassa | Leijonat
Jussi Ahokas isn't U20 head coach next year.
Kouvolan KooKoo sm liiga team has hired Ahokas new head coach according to iltasanomat.fi.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Finland's U20 team in Czech Republic's tournament.

Goalies
Annunen Justus, Kärpät Oulu
Lehtinen Lassi, Rauman Lukko

Defencemans
Heinola Ville, Rauman Lukko
Honka Anttoni, JYP Jyväskylä
Kokkonen Mikko, Jukurit Mikkeli
Laaksonen Oskari, Ilves Tampere
Latvala Otto, HPK Hämeenlinna
Riekkinen Joona, KalPa Kuopio
Utunen Toni, Tappara Tampere

Forwards
Engberg Teemu, HIFK Helsinki
Heponiemi Aleksi, Kärpät Oulu
Kakko Kaapo, TPS Turku
Kivenmäki Otto, Ässät Pori
Klemetti Aleksi, KalPa Kuopio
Kupari Rasmus, Kärpät Oulu
Lundell Anton, HIFK Helsinki
Moilanen Sami, Tappara Tampere
Nordgren Niklas, HIFK Helsinki
Pajuniemi Lauri, TPS Turku
Vainionpää Samuli, Ilves Tampere
Virtanen Santeri, SaiPa Lappeenranta
Ylönen Jesse, Pelicans Lahti

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

U19 team in Czech Republic games

Goalies
1 Huhtamaa Jere, Jokerit Helsinki
30 Patrikainen Jasper, Pelicans Lahti

Defencemans
2 Nousiainen Kim, KalPa Kuopio
3 Isiguzo Bernard, TPS Turku
4 Ketola Juuso, Ässät Pori
5 Laitamäki Elias, Ilves Tampere
6 Salmela Santeri, KooKoo Kouvola
7 Seppälä Peetro, KooKoo Kouvola
9 Torikka Kasperi, SaiPa Lappeenranta

Forwards
10 Hirvonen Konsta, HIFK Helsinki
12 Immonen Severi, KalPa Kuopio
13 Jokinen Janne, HPK Hämeenlinna
15 Killinen Lenni, Ässät Pori
18 Nevasaari Arttu, TPS Turku
19 Nyman Linus, Lukko Rauma
20 Oden Joonas, KooKoo Kouvola
21 Petman Ville, Lukko Rauma
22 Puustinen Valtteri, HPK Hämeenlinna
23 Seppälä Erkka, HPK Hämeenlinna
24 Siikanen Patrik, Blues Espoo
25 Tanus Kristian, Tappara Tampere
27 Ylitalo Niklas, Lukko Rauma

Any potential U20 WJC players in this team.

 

[ES]

I don't think so. Recently we've seen sometimes goalie from challenger team to get in - not only because these tournaments have two and WJC itself has three, but also because some coaches want some goalies to have two games. In title-winning 2016 for example Kähkönen played in challenger team for that reason, while Vehviläinen and Larmi were in the first team. At that point it was pretty obvious that VV and KK were going to be two playing goalies in WJC as it ended up.

 

[JJTT]

Pajuniemi is out with injury.

Virtanen blocked a shot and left the game today.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Two changes for Finland's U20 4 nations tournament team in Czech Republic.
Lauri Pajuniemi and Anton Lundell won't play in the tournament due to injuries.
Replacing players are Linus Nyman ( Lauri Pajuniemi) and Valtteri Puustinen ( Anton Lundell).

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Possible Centers: ( i could think of only 4 names)

Rasmus Kupari, Kärpät, Sm-Liiga (he is a lock as a 1st line center)
Aarne Talvitie, Penn State, NCAA (gotta be our 2nd line center, 1.22 ppg this season)
Anton Lundell, HIFK, Sm-Liiga (has not played much as a center this season, might be too young,
but also we might not have a choice) (playing tonight for HIFK's first line)
Santeri Virtanen, Saipa, Sm-Liiga (perfect to 4th line?)

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Vesalainen is a lock, not sure would i take this seasons Tolvanen,
even if Preds made him available, he seems to be a complete mental mess.

|

Heponiemi-Kupari-Kakko
Vesalainen-Talvitie-Nyman
Klementti-Lundell-Nordgren
Killinen-Virtanen-Ylönen
Engberg

Sami Moilanen (Tappara, Sm-Liiga)
Valtteri Puustinen (HPK, Sm-Liiga / HPK U20, A-Sm-Liiga)
Samuli Vainionpää (Ilves, Sm-Liiga)
Marcus Kallionkieli (Sioux City Musketeers, USHL)
Matias Maccelli (Dubuque Fighting Saints, USHL)
Joona Kiviniemi (Swift Current Broncos, WHL)

Kokkonen-Laaksonen
Vaakanainen*-Honka
Anttalainen-Thomson
Räsänen

Ville Heinola (Lukko, Sm-Liiga)
Olli Kaskinen (TPS, Liiga)
Otto Latvala (LeKi, Mestis / HPK U20, A-Sm-Liiga)
Jesper Rannisto (B-B Armada, QMJHL)

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

* if Vaakanainen is available

 

[FinPanda]

Possible Centers:


Anton Lundell, HIFK, Sm-Liiga (has not played much as a center this season, might be too young,
but also we might not have a choice) (playing tonight for HIFK's first line)

Actually Lundell has played the whole season as a center in Liiga. This is the first game he is not. 14 Liiga games and 9 games in A-juniors isn't much? All he has played this year is center.

I would pick him to the WJC as a center.

 

[cg98]

Vesalainen is a lock, not sure would i take this seasons Tolvanen,
even if Preds made him available, he seems to be a complete mental mess.

|

Heponiemi-Kupari-Kakko
Vesalainen-Talvitie-Nyman
Klementti-Lundell-Nordgren
Killinen-Virtanen-Ylönen
Engberg

Sami Moilanen (Tappara, Sm-Liiga)
Valtteri Puustinen (HPK, Sm-Liiga / HPK U20, A-Sm-Liiga)
Samuli Vainionpää (Ilves, Sm-Liiga)
Marcus Kallionkieli (Sioux City Musketeers, USHL)
Matias Maccelli (Dubuque Fighting Saints, USHL)
Joona Kiviniemi (Swift Current Broncos, WHL)

Kokkonen-Laaksonen
Vaakanainen*-Honka
Anttalainen-Thomson
Räsänen

Ville Heinola (Lukko, Sm-Liiga)
Olli Kaskinen (TPS, Liiga)
Otto Latvala (LeKi, Mestis / HPK U20, A-Sm-Liiga)
Jesper Rannisto (B-B Armada, QMJHL)

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

* if Vaakanainen is available

Theres absolutely no way the Fins arent taking Tolvanen if hes available. Youre overexagerrating his 'weak performance' this season, hes doing alright.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Actually Lundell has played the whole season as a center in Liiga. This is the first game he is not. 14 Liiga games and 9 games in A-juniors isn't much? All he has played this year is center.

I would pick him to the WJC as a center.

Well...my Sm-liiga following this season has been pretty poor.
- Ive only followed few players, i just presumed.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Theres absolutely no way the Fins arent taking Tolvanen if hes available. Youre overexagerrating his 'weak performance' this season, hes doing alright.

3 goals in 17 games, is -7, barely avg 2 shots per game, his ppg avg either isn't something you should be proud of
but yeah....he is having a great season, oh-boy!. - the joy!!!

3 goals in the bus league for 17 games = pathetic performance.
Obviously, it's all about between his ears, there's just no way
someone who scores combined of 33 goals 28 assists, 61 points as a pro
while playing in the 2nd best league in the world, olympics and in the worlds, is this bad.

At this point it would be foolish to bring a player who has this many problems
to something as important as WJC's, i rather have players who will actually produce.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Actually Lundell has played the whole season as a center in Liiga. This is the first game he is not. 14 Liiga games and 9 games in A-juniors isn't much? All he has played this year is center.

I would pick him to the WJC as a center.

Me too.

 

[illone84]

Me too.

Indeed.

Otherwise, what's going on with Räsänen?

 

[LeafChief]

Will Eemeli Rasanen be healthy in time to play in this tournament?

 

[cg98]

3 goals in 17 games, is -7, barely avg 2 shots per game, his ppg avg either isn't something you should be proud of
but yeah....he is having a great season, oh-boy!. - the joy!!!

3 goals in the bus league for 17 games = pathetic performance.
Obviously, it's all about between his ears, there's just no way
someone who scores combined of 33 goals 28 assists, 61 points as a pro
while playing in the 2nd best league in the world, olympics and in the worlds, is this bad.

At this point it would be foolish to bring a player who has this many problems
to something as important as WJC's, i rather have players who will actually produce.

Hes about to turn 20 years old and is playing his first pro season in North America and his 2nd pro season overall. Its only 17 games into the season and Milwaukee isnt exactly a powerhouse either. But hey keep stat watching and ignoring the logistics, playing in a pro league isnt as easy for some 19 year olds

Youd also be stupid not to bring a guy with 2 World Junior tournaments, an Olympic tournament, and a World Championship under his belt. Its probably a good thing youre not a GM.

 

[ikzu]

Heponiemi - Kupari - Kakko
Vesalainen - Talvitie - Tolvanen
Ylönen - Lundell - Nordgren
Moilanen - Virtanen - Engberg

This is the strongest attack we've had since the 2016 WJC.

Defence is a bit weakish. Vaakanainen and Räsänen would be very important to have on board.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Will Eemeli Rasanen be healthy in time to play in this tournament?

Really difficult to say for sure.
I'm not seen Jokerit's KHL games at all this season so i can't tell much.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

3 goals in 17 games, is -7, barely avg 2 shots per game, his ppg avg either isn't something you should be proud of
but yeah....he is having a great season, oh-boy!. - the joy!!!

3 goals in the bus league for 17 games = pathetic performance.
Obviously, it's all about between his ears, there's just no way
someone who scores combined of 33 goals 28 assists, 61 points as a pro
while playing in the 2nd best league in the world, olympics and in the worlds, is this bad.

At this point it would be foolish to bring a player who has this many problems
to something as important as WJC's, i rather have players who will actually produce.

If you really believe on that Tolvanen won't be U20 WJC team you are terribly wrong.
There's ain't no way Finland won't take Tolvanen in the team if / when he's available.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Is Pajuniemi out for the WJC's or will he be back in time?

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Is Pajuniemi out for the WJC's or will he be back in time?

Maybe he's maybe he isn't ( 50-50 chance).
A lot depends on that when Pajuniemi returns back to TPS liiga roster

 

[cg98]

Vesalainen officially loaned to Jokerit of the KHL.

 

[jalperi]

First 3 lines
Heponiemi-Kupari-Tolvanen
Nordgren-Lundell-Kakko
Nyman-Virtanen-Ylönen

Vesalainen not sure if he wants to go.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Suomi saamassa superjoukkueen nuorten MM-kisoihin - Eeli Tolvasta odotetaan ykköstähdeksi: ”aikataulussa mennään”

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Prospect Ramblings: Projecting Team Finland for the WJC