Embarrassing ending to the tournament, despite having couple of great comebacks we didn't deserve anything more than this. Finland just couldn't get rid of those defensive zone errors, those were way too costly. Congrats to Sweden, but worry we get the next one lillebror. This also should be valuable lesson to our players, you don't wanna lose the last game of the tournament. It's always better to go home with medals than without them.
Lions and lambs:
Lambs:
-Topias Vilen & Jimi Suomi
- they were supposed to be our leading d-men, but they were easily our worst two players. Mistake after mistake, how is that even possible? It's like they forgot all the basics how to play hockey. And how Vilen managed to play 35 games in Liiga this year?
-Rasmus Ruusunen - Sami Päivärinta - Joakim Kemell
- They couldn't greate any secondary scoring in this whole tournament, they didn't have any chemistry. And Kemell was the primary victim of that, he shot the puck thousand times and scored 3 goals. Päivärinta was almost invisible through out the tournament and Ruusunen 0+0 in 7 games. Most of the blame goes to Karjalainen, he's the one who kept this line together through out the tournament.
-Brad Lambert
- He must have been injured through the whole tournament, he couldn't get anything done. And Lambert didn't play as center, i only remember him having two shifts as center. Maybe they wanted to give him easier minutes. And just like Kemell, Lambert didn't have any chemistry with his linemates. Another failure by Karjalainen.
Bubbling under:
-Aleksi Heimosalmi
- Highlight reel defenseman, made some great plays but defensively he was weak. Intresting prospect nonetheless and he will have bright future ahead.
-Verner Miettinen
- Faceoff specialist, next Petri Pakaslahti at least. Won many important faceoffs, but he should have had bigger role in these last games.
Lions:
-Ville Koivunen - Samu Salminen - Samu Tuomaala
- 1st line played like the 1st line was supposed to play, they did everything what they could do. But unfortunately they were alone in scoresheets.
-Niko Huuhtanen
- Best player outside the first line, he also deserved bigger role in the end.
-Miko Matikka & Juho Järvelä
- Bottom-6 grinders who worked their asses off, they deserve some credit. I think Huuhtanen-Järvelä-Matikka could be very effective 4rth line in upcoming World Juniors.
I hope the U18 tournament returns to Europe soon, these game starting times hard.
Interesting to read your opinions, thank you.
Even if that line with Kemell was really bad I don't think Kemell himself was that bad. He tried at least and hade some courage to do something on the ice. The two others were alibis achieving nothing.
Suomi, sorry to break it but... His performances in these games were the worst I´ve ever seen by any defender in a Leijonat jersey. He was not bad, he was really bad in every game that mattered. I hope he'll recover because that was actually really difficult for me to witness, I felt sorry for him and I think Karjalainen should've benched him or something to make the team and especially Suomi himself a favor.
Vilén? Horrible just like Suomi. Fumbling, nonchalant and no intensity in his game what so ever. Scary that a guy like this get to play so much in Liiga when he's not even able to defend against juniors.
Almost get a feeling these two guys played themselves out of any future junior tournaments for the Finnish national team. Hopefully they learn something from this and become better and stronger.
The first line? The wingers were only good in the group stage. They achieved nothing in the playoffs. Salminen is a bit overhyped in my opinion. Mostly because these 2003 born players are a bit weaker. He's not on the same level as other Finnish forwards before him and I´m not even comparing with Laine,Pulju Aho etc. More like Vesalainen, Tolvanen, Heponiemi, Kupari, Lundell etc and no, I don't think he's as good as them at the same age.
He's good but I still expect him to take a top 9 or bottom 6 role in a Finnish u-20 team if they have the potential to win anything.
Miettinen? I think you are exaggerating a bit. He was good at faceoffs, but in the semifinal against Russia? I got the feeling he lost more or just as many faceoffs as he won?
Lambert? The biggest underachiever of all "Stars" in this tournament.
Matikka good? I´m actually disappointed with him. When I saw the intern game at Vierumäki he showed a whole lot more. Guess I was expecting a bit more than you then. But I do like your suggestion for the future fourth line. If they have some chemistry that could be interesting.
Huuhtanen? There is something I like about his game. Reminded me of Koivula and Tuulola a bit, but I do believe he can get even better if he works on his skating, stamina and shot. Seems to be calm with the puck, really strong.
Players that were okay this tournament: Heimosalmi & Huuhtanen, no one else can keep their head high.
Kemell good in some games just like Salminen. Koivunen was good in the beginning of the tournament, not when it mattered.
Don't think Tuomaala was that good. Didn't show up in the big games and didn't do much in 5 vs 5 to be honest. Kemell was a lot better in that aspect, even if he was egoistic. He played with two alibis so he tried himself, can't criticize him too much for doing that.
Tuomaala gets a free pass? Besides that nice assist in the PP I thought Tuomaala always tried to score himself, even when he had better linemates.
Karjalainen? Sorry mate, but you should get fired. Dude was dead behind the bench. No emotions what so ever. Active coaching? Never ever did he act or REACT to anything and try to tweak something to make it better.
His goalie selections? Never seen two bad goalies at the same Finnish roster.
I remember not liking Ortio and Similä back in the days. Aittokallio and later on Vehviläinen in one tournament. This was actually even worse to witness. At the same time they had the worst Finnish defense in front of them. 27 goals in five games? That there is unacceptable and Karjalainen deserves to get shit as well, no way around it.
Last but not least, these three goalies should not get the chance to represent Finland in the WJC`s and if they do? I will only blame the coach for giving them the opportunity.
Hopefully we have more talent in Lukkarinen, Noa Vali and Emil Vinni. Perhaps Kokko? When it comes to future WJC´s? After Blomqvist I would choose these youngsters before the 2003 born goalies without blinking.
Looking forward to see these goalies and some other talents such as: Kiviharju, Kasper Lundell, Kemell, Jesse Nurmi, Rönni, Hynninen, Elmer Laakso, Lassila, Hämeenaho, Hokkanen, perhaps even Järventie at next years u-18. The roster should be better on paper and hopefully we'll see a better coach.
Btw, what happened to Vuorio?
