2023 World Junior Championship Preview: Team Finland
The Pesky Finns used to be the most intriguing team at the World Junior Championship.
They had this weird trend of winning one year, and fighting for survival the next. That was the case throughout the 2010s, with the team even firing their coach midway through the tournament in 2017. But now, the Finns sit No. 1 in the men’s hockey rankings (the WJC isn’t counted) after building one of the most dangerous programs at all levels, and they’ve firmly established themselves as one of teams to beat at every event.
Finland was trailing against Canada in the gold medal game in August before forcing overtime. Had it not been for Mason McTavish’s improbable stick save midway through, the Finns likely would have snagged gold and continued building upon a calendar year that saw them win gold at the Olympics and World Championship.
So, how does Finland stack up this year?
Goaltenders
Finland is the only team in the tournament with two NHL-drafted prospects: Seattle’s Niklas Kokko and Vancouver’s Aku Koskenvuo. Both are big goaltenders with starter potential at this tournament, with Koskenvuo having the edge in age. I’d expect them to alternate starts throughout the tournament, with the starter against the United States on Dec. 31 being the No. 1 heading into the knockout stage.
Kokko has spent most of the season with Hermes in the second-tier Finnish league wtih decent numbers on a mid-pack team. He’s one of just two U-20 goalies to play at least five games this season – the other being Jani Lampinen, who’ll be Finland’s third goalie. Kokko, a second-round pick in 2022, appears to be Seattle’s best long-term goaltending prospect, so keep a close eye on him.
Koskenvuo was spectacular in U-20 tournament action in November, allowing just three goals over two games. The biggest issue for Koskenvuo, though, is his lack of playing time. He has played just two games for Harvard in the NCAA this year, with the two starts coming just under a month apart. He looked fine against USA in the pre-tournament game, but the American offensive attack just proved to be too dangerous. Koskenvuo has had some good showings over his career internationally and will be given ample opportunities to take the No. 1 spot, but he’ll have to be great right off the bat.
The Finns typically have solid goaltending, and that shouldn’t change this year. It’s not a bad thing to have multiple realistic No. 1 options, but they won’t want to waste too much time figuring out who the go-to option is.
Defensemen
The Finns will have four NHL-drafted prospects on the roster, and another that’s projected to go No. 1 in 2024. But one thing really stands out about this group: its lack of size. While some other teams are bringing a handful of bigger blueliners, the tallest is 6-foot-1 Topias Vilen, a New Jersey Devils draft pick.
The top defender is Aleksi Heimosalmi, a second-round pick by Carolina in 2021. A smooth skater with tremendous puck-rushing abilities, Heimosalmi is in his second full Liiga season with Assat. He’s starting to show his confidence moving the puck, and with four goals this season, he’s even taking chances with his shot selection. He can play all situations for Finland, so look for them to utilize him as much as possible.
Otto Salin, a Los Angeles Kings prospect, is in his first full season with HIFK and has already skated in eight U-20 games this year. He’s a good transitional defender that moves the puck and is always calling for a pass. He should play some heavy minutes this year after receiving significant ice time in Liiga action.
Vilen should add a nice offensive punch on the back end. He has six points in eight games with the U-20 national team and is playing at just under half a point per game in Liiga. With 107 games played in the top Finnish league already, there’s a good chance this will feel like a piece of cake for the Devils’ fifth-round pick in 2021.
The last drafted prospect is Aleksi Malinen, an explosive skater that’s looking for a big showing. He doesn’t play much when he’s in JYP’s lineup and already proved he can make noise at other levels. He doesn’t put up a ton of points, but he’s a solid playmaker that moves well and thinks the game at a high level.
The name most people will be watching is Aron Kiviharju, the lone 16-year-old. The top projected pick for the 2024 draft, Kiviharju has dominated every international level he has played in and was great in some exhibition play earlier in the fall. Few prospects think the game at the level he does, and his ability to take over a shift, no matter the competition, makes him so fascinating to watch. Kiviharju is one of the best young defensemen to come out of Europe in quite some time, and while he might not start that high in the lineup, you can fully expect he’ll make it hard to ignore him this year.
Forwards
The Finns should have decent depth, with various notable names putting points on the board internationally this year. Seattle prospect Jani Nyman has been the most prominent with seven goals and 13 points in eight games to go along with 10 points in 21 Liiga games this year. One of Finland’s most prominent U-18 scorers last year, Nyman is a tremendous finisher with a good release. He’ll be on Finland’s top line for sure.
Montreal Canadiens prospect Oliver Kapanen has also had a strong season, with the returning forward looking to build upon a solid season. A 2021 second-round pick, he’s been full-time with Kalpa this year and has a point-per-game in five exhibition contests with the Finnish U-20 team. The biggest thing that stands out about Kapanen’s play is his decision-making and ability to draw defenders near him before getting himself out of trouble and setting someone up. He makes players around him better, and he’ll live in Finland’s top six.
Ville Koivunen has also been excellent this year, with the Hurricanes prospect serving as captain already this year. Koviunen had a great four-point run in two games at the cancelled tournament last year before going pointless in six games when the tournament resumed in August. Koviunen has had a decent season in Liiga, but his national team play showed he looks very comfortable against his own age group.
After putting up 12 points at last year’s tournament, can Joakim Kemell up the stakes? He has been one of the best, if not THE best, Finnish forward nearly every single time he has played, and was Finland’s standout forward in the team’s exhibition action in November. He’s in his second season with JYP in the top Finnish league, and while he isn’t blowing things up offensively, his quick release has been quite useful. Kemell has one of the best shots among any prospect right now, and he’s ready to challenge for the scoring lead in Eastern Canada.
Perhaps the most intriguing name is Brad Lambert, once considered a star prospect for the 2022 draft. After putting a beating on everyone at the shortened tournament last December, Lambert fell flat with just one goal in five games before becoming a healthy scratch for the final two games in August. He looked great in pre-season action with the Winnipeg Jets and earned an entry-level contract to play with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose, but he has struggled mightily with no points in his final 10 games before heading east. When he’s vibing, he’s thriving. But that seems so inconsistent these days, which has prevented Lambert from going to the next level. The Finns need him to channel the energy that made him a projected top three pick heading the 2021-22 draft season.
Calgary Flames draft pick Topi Rönni hasn’t played much this season, but he’s been one of the best U-20 national team players in exhibition contests this year. Roni had 20 points in 21 games with the U-18 team last year, showcasing his creative passing abilities and quick hands. He’ll help create a robust scoring support system that includes Niko Huuhtanen and Jere Lassila, among others, with all four lines capable of putting pucks in the net.
NHL Draft watch
Lenni Hämeenaho is the lone 2023 draft prospect on this roster. Projected to go around the second or third round right now, the late 2004-born forward has had a solid season with Assat but played more of a minor role in U-20 national team games this year. He’s a hard worker that fights for every puck battle like his life depends on it. Hämeenaho mostly plays a simple game, but he’ll show flashes of creative brilliance occasionally.
Projection
Like always, expectations are high for the Finns. You can never count them out – even when they don’t have a true star player, they find ways to shine through. That’s the Finnish way: they’re workhorses, and everyone is in it to win it. I don’t think they have what it takes to win gold, but I like their chances at bronze. That game against the United States in the preliminary round will be the true tone-setter, though.
Schedule
Dec. 26 vs. Switzerland – 11:00 AM ET
Dec. 27 vs. Slovakia – 11:00 AM ET
Dec. 29 vs. Latvia – 11:00 AM ET
Dec. 31 vs. USA – 4:00 PM ET