OHL Decade at the World Juniors: Finland
A country that has increasingly churned out high quality hockey players in recent years, Finland brings another quality group to Edmonton to compete for gold after last capturing World Junior supremacy two years ago in Vancouver.
The Finns will feature a pair of 2019-20 Windsor Spitfires teammates on the roster in returning goaltender Kari Piiroinen along with First OHL All-Rookie Team defenceman Ruben Rafkin on the back end. Both have spent the 2020-21 season playing on home soil with Piiroinen putting up solid numbers in Finland’s Mestis second division while Rafkin has recorded three points (1-2–3) in 10 games for TPS Turku in Finland’s top professional circuit.
Finland will compete in Group A alongside Canada, Switzerland, Germany and Slovakia. They’ll face the Germans on Christmas day to open their schedule.
Look for the Finns to be led by captain and 2019 gold medalist Anton Lundell, a 2020 first round pick of the Florida Panthers who missed last year’s tournament to injury. Winnipeg Jets top prospect Ville Heinola will be a fixture on the back end.
Here’s a look at the OHL’s Finnish World Junior footprint over the past decade:
OHL Decade at the World Juniors – Finland
2020, Ostrava & Trinec (4th): G Kari Piiroinen (Windsor Spitfires)
2019, Vancouver (GOLD): G Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (Sudbury Wolves), F Linus Nyman (Kingston Frontenacs)
2018, Buffalo (6th): F Janne Kuokkanen* , D Olli Juolevi*, G Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen*
2017, Montreal & Toronto (9th): F Janne Kuokkanen (London Knights), F Julius Nattinen (Windsor Spitfires), D Olli Juolevi (London Knights), F Petrus Palmu (Owen Sound Attack), D Vili Saarijarvi (Mississauga Steelheads)
2016, Helsinki (GOLD): D Olli Juolevi (London Knights), F Juho Lammikko (Kingston Frontenacs), F Julius Nattinen (Barrie Colts), D Vili Saarijarvi (Flint Firebirds)
2015, Toronto & Montreal (7th): D Alex Lintuniemi (Ottawa 67’s)
2014, Malmo (GOLD): F Henri Ikonen (Kingston Frontenacs), D Mikko Vainonen (Kingston Frontenacs)
2013, Ufa (7th): D Olli Maatta (London Knights)
2012, Calgary & Edmonton (4th): D Olli Maatta (London Knights)
2011, Buffalo (6th): D Olli Maatta*
*- denotes a year before or after the player competed in the OHL
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