WJC: Why did Finland win?

[Makar Goes Fast]

they won because they scored more goals then their opponents when it counted

 

[Lepardi]

Not won, but damn consistent.

1998 Olympics, Bronze (Big Rink)
2004 World Cup, Silver (Small Rink)
2006 Olympics, Silver (Big Rink)
2010 Olympics, Bronze (Small Rink)

You have to remember that Finland's roster was way stronger than now back in 2004 and 2006 when were close to winning. In Vancouver the core had already grown old, and Finland got absolutely demolished By both Sweden and USA. 2006 was Finland's moment, but we couldn't capitalize.

They never have any elite players in the NHL (not dor a long time anyway) but still poses a threat to all teams during Olympics.

So you wouldn't call Tuukka Rask and Antti Niemi elite players?

 

[Loffer]

They won because it was their turn.

 

[Zamuz]

They won because it was their turn.

Lol, why is there suddenly a finnish flag and RR as your avatar? All the time hoping and being sure that Finland would get blown out in every game.

Gloryhunter much

 

[Loffer]

Lol, why is there suddenly a finnish flag and RR as your avatar? All the time hoping and being sure that Finland would get blown out in every game.

Gloryhunter much

Actually they won because the Swedes couldn't contain Rasmus Ristolainen in OT.

Of course they got that far due to all those things already brought up.

I didn't see this coming though.

Edit: My avatar: I salute Team Finland and Ristolainen and admit I was didn't ever believe they could win this. My humble apologies. This opened my eyes.

 

[clevelandcane]

Hey I had a lot of fun watching this year's tourney. All the teams are so talented.

Congrats to Finland! Loved their play, their coach and those great Finnish names! Way to go!

 

[Caz]

I was smiling at some comments earlier on in the thread.
"Boring hockey" and "we were the best team" etc.

It sounds so familiar from a not too distant past
(end of 1900 and beginning 2000), when the FIN men's
team was controlling the puck, used their speed, had a
big medal streak several years in a row (also in the juniors),
made their way into consecutive finals... and it didn't take
us all the way.

Mainly because there were some other big teams
playing 1-1-3 or 1-2-2 (SWE and CZE).

So we embraced ourselves with statements like
"the other team played boring hockey" and
"we were still the best team" after our losses in the finals.

Because we used to think that winning is not winning
unless it's done in a "correct" way. Well, the only
"correct" way is to score more than the opponent does.
I hope we've started to learn that a bit.

The game plan needs to be adjusted to the opponents
and that's exactly what Kivi did this year.
It's not enough though, as the team needs to be
humble about it when necessary. This year the
U-20 did just that.

Also psychodad's comments earlier made me smile,
as I agree with him totally. It's so true that we're
constantly underestimated and that's just perfect.

I mean, it's already been determined a year ago
that we have no chance in the olympics

I'm happy that people think that way. We're always
flying under the radar and it suits us better than
being a favorite.

So, I think we'll be in the final in Sotchi. Certainly we'll
have a medal, if it goes a little bit like we're used to.
I'd say it would be a surprise if we didn't medal

 

[RorschachWJK]

I was smiling at some comments earlier on in the thread.
"Boring hockey" and "we were the best team" etc.

It sounds so familiar from a not too distant past
(end of 1900 and beginning 2000), when the FIN men's
team was controlling the puck, used their speed, had a
big medal streak several years in a row (also in the juniors),
made their way into consecutive finals... and it didn't take
us all the way.

Mainly because there were some other big teams
playing 1-1-3 or 1-2-2 (SWE and CZE).

So we embraced ourselves with statements like
"the other team played boring hockey" and
"we were still the best team" after our losses in the finals.

Because we used to think that winning is not winning
unless it's done in a "correct" way. Well, the only
"correct" way is to score more than the opponent does.
I hope we've started to learn that a bit.

The game plan needs to be adjusted to the opponents
and that's exactly what Kivi did this year.
It's not enough though, as the team needs to be
humble about it when necessary. This year the
U-20 did just that.

Also psychodad's comments earlier made me smile,
as I agree with him totally. It's so true that we're
constantly underestimated and that's just perfect.

I mean, it's already been determined a year ago
that we have no chance in the olympics

I'm happy that people think that way. We're always
flying under the radar and it suits us better than
being a favorite.

So, I think we'll be in the final in Sotchi. Certainly we'll
have a medal, if it goes a little bit like we're used to.
I'd say it would be a surprise if we didn't medal

I don't know about medalling...Mikko Koivu just got injured and will not be 100% in time for the Olympics, even if he is released to play by Minnesota. For Finland, he can not be replaced.

 

[toewsintangibles]

Teamplay this, teamplay that, but at the end of the day Finland also had the best goalscorer, best forward, best D-man and the best goalie in the tournament

 

[Caz]

I don't know about medalling...Mikko Koivu just got injured and will not be 100% in time for the Olympics, even if he is released to play by Minnesota. For Finland, he can not be replaced.

I agree it's completely possible that we don't get a medal.
We'll see how it goes. I'm just trying to make a point about
the shift in mentality there has been since from the 80's,
when we got our first ever medal, until now. (Yeah, I'm that old)

In the 70's we were happy to win a big team.
In the 80's we were frustrated with sometimes winning big teams,
but choking before the medal rounds and never getting any.
In the 90's we started medaling on average every year and
became one of the big teams (men, juniors, women combined)
In the 90's-00's we've been reaching different finals
on a more constant basis, but always choking in them.
In the 10's we've won 2 of the 3 finals we've been in.

See the trend?

I'm not trying to say that we're the favorite in every final we play.
I'm saying though, that there's a shift in mentality going on again
and I just love the fact that we can still fly under the radar.

I despise the old way of "pojat, se on nyt kuulkaas sillälailla
että me ollaan hävitty tää peli"

(Old FIN sketch about a hockey coach who tells his FIN team
BEFORE the game: "Boys, here's the thing. We've lost this
game already.")

I believe psychology is a key factor and that the mindset
helps steering towards self-fulfilling prophecies. It doesn't
mean that one always wins, but it makes it more probable.

In 2011 final we were trailing 0-1 to SWE in the late 2nd.
I was watching the game with my SWE colleagues and I made
a bet with them that a couple of minutes in the 3rd we'll have
changed the whole game. It happened. Maybe I was lucky.

This year, here on HF in the game thread I was confident
and stated that we'll win the game, and refused to blame
anything on the refs. Because in the end it comes to being
able to concentrate, leave the past and stick to the essential.
I was being mocked again. Ok, maybe I was lucky again.

Personally I've just left the old mentality of "yeah, but in the
end we'll lose anyways". Some people want to stick to the old
ways and I sometimes get mocked about it, which is fine
My honor can take the fact, that I can be wrong. No probs.

It seems to me, that our national sports teams are in a shift
(volleyball, basketball, I hope soccer gets infected too )
and I welcome that new way of thinking.

 

[TZM]

Teamplay this, teamplay that, but at the end of the day Finland also had the best goalscorer, best forward, best D-man and the best goalie in the tournament

Julius Honka or Ville Pokka, huh? Ristolainen wasn't Team Finland's best D-man, that's for sure. He stepped up in the big games but was rather horrible in the first three games he played in.

 

[EmeticDonut]

Julius Honka or Ville Pokka, huh? Ristolainen wasn't Team Finland's best D-man, that's for sure. He stepped up in the big games but was rather horrible in the first three games he played in.

Isn't that the thing that really matters in the end, stepping up in the big games?

 

[Jussi]

Trapasaurus Rex run to perfection.

The new age of hockey played to perfection.

Clog up the middle. Try hard. Skate fast. Clog up that middle.

Take puck to the net, you never know what will happen.

Skate fast.. limit teams time with the puck once they cross their blue line.

Clog up the middle... like Clog it up.

They played it great. Looked like the L.A kings out there.

Karri Kivi actually said he had 7 tactics for each 7 games. The assistant videos the opponents a lot they prepared the team before each game using clips to show how they play. There's basic tenets that Finnish teams are "supposed to use" against most teams, meaning puck possession, not allowing odd man rushes and making sure all attacks are controlled (no attacks "short handed") and end up in a shot on goal.