After developing a sport wanting medaling within the 2024 World Junior Championship (WJC) and dropping the bronze medal sport to Crew Czechia, Finland seems to be to regain its medal place this 12 months on the 2025 event. A crew that shall be loaded with NHL prospects, who could possibly be representing Finland on the 2025 WJC?
Finland’s Forwards
| Left Wing | Heart | Proper Wing |
| Tobias Hynninen | Konsta Helenius | Kasper Haltunnen |
| Julius Miettinen | Rasmus Kumpilainen | Emil Hemming |
| Jesse Nurmi | Joona Saarelainen | Jesse Kiiskinen |
| Emil Kuusla | Lauri Sinivouri | Heikki Ruohonen |
| Tomas Uronen |
A top-six with a ton of firepower will probably headline the ahead group. With 5 of the six predicted gamers within the lineup being NHL draft picks, this grouping shall be relied upon closely. Returning gamers Konsta Helenius (Buffalo Sabres 2024 first-round choose), Kasper Halttunen (San Jose Sharks 2023 second-round choose), and Emil Hemming (Dallas Stars 2024 first-round choose), will all look to assist get Finland again right into a medal place after failing to take action up to now two WJC tournaments.
A handful of gamers, together with Jesse Nurmi, Jesse Kiiskinen, and Joona Saarelainen, all had robust showings at this summer season’s World Junior Summer time Showcase (WJSS); the center line shall be one that ought to present some important secondary offense. Kiiskinen, initially drafted by the Nashville Predators in 2023 earlier than being traded to the Detroit Purple Wings earlier than 2024’s draft, has carried the momentum he constructed on the WJSS (the place he wore the captain “C”) and has been one of many strongest gamers in Liiga this season, tallying 16 factors in 18 video games performed for a weaker HPK crew.
The fourth line of the ahead grouping will find yourself consisting of Emil Kuusla, who’s one other participant who had a robust displaying on the WJSS and opened the eyes of many earlier than heading again to Jokerit of the Mestis league for his second full season with the group and persevering with his robust play (9 factors in 13 video games performed). On prime of that is the ten factors he has tallied in 11 worldwide video games on the Underneath-20 stage this 12 months for his residence nation.
The final two spots within the ahead lineup go to gamers who’ve made their technique to North America to play junior hockey. Lauri Sinivouri moved to the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) after being chosen by the Oshawa Generals within the 2024 Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Import Draft. Whereas he has been extra recognized to be a bodily presence on the ice, his sport has translated effectively within the OHL. He has tallied 14 factors in 22 video games with the Generals and has proven off stable playmaking abilities that can assist him be a robust bottom-line participant for Finland. With Heikki Ruohonen (Philadelphia Flyers 2024 fourth-round choose) leaping from Finland to the Dubuque Combating Saints of the US Hockey League (USHL), he has made a robust impression in his first North American season. He’s one other participant who will assist carry some measurement and further physicality to the underside of the ahead lineup.
Associated: 2025 World Junior Championship Schedule Launched
The additional ahead is Tomas Uronen, a Vegas Golden Knights prospect, who has had a robust season with the Ottawa 67s of the OHL. Kasper Pikkarainen can be a certain choose for the Finnish crew if not for being restricted to 1 sport this season as a result of a lower-body damage.
Finland’s Protection
| Left Protection | Proper Protection |
| Aron Kiviharju | Emil Pieniniemi |
| Kalle Kangas | Sebastian Soini |
| Veeti Väisänen | Mitja Jokinen |
| Niklas Nykyri |
The defensive unit will rely closely on their prime pairing of Aron Kiviharju and Emil Pieniniemi. Kiviharju, a 2024 Minnesota Wild draft choose, shall be making his technique to the U-20 WJC after holding the captaincy for the U-18 crew final 12 months. He has already topped his level whole from final season with HPK of Liiga and shall be a driving drive offensively from the backend of the ice with Pieniniemi. Pieniniemi is one other Finnish-born participant who has made his technique to the OHL this season with the Kingston Frontenacs. The 2023 Pittsburgh Penguins draft choose is a quick riser inside the group’s prospect ranks and has showcased his playmaking talents with the puck on his follow the Frontenacs. He and Kiviharju ought to make for a robust duo on the top-pairing and feed off one another’s play types.
With Kalle Kangas (Penguins) and Sebastian Soini (Wild), the Finnish crew has two towering defensemen to deal with the second-pairing. Neither has lit up the scoresheet this season in Liiga, however they’d assist alleviate the stress off Kiviharju and Pieniniemi at occasions. The third pairing is a little bit of a toss-up. After being chosen within the 2024 Draft by the Utah Hockey Membership, Veeti Väisänen has had a gradual begin with the Drugs Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League (WHL), however his expertise on the worldwide stage with Finland, together with the U-20 WJC final 12 months, assist give him an edge. Mitja Jokinen has jumped to Liiga this season and has been stable sufficient to assist man the final pairing on the roster. The additional defenseman, Niklas Nykyri, earned a “C” grade (third-round grade) within the NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary gamers to observe and will earn himself a spot on the U-20 crew after taking part in with the U-18 WJC crew final 12 months.
Finland’s Goalies
| Eemil Vinni |
| Kim Saarinen |
| Visa Vedenpää |
Crew Finland Will Be Prime Heavy
General, this prediction for Crew Finland’s 2025 WJC roster closely depends upon their star-studded ahead grouping and the presumed prime defensive pairing. In the event that they need to get again into medal place after lacking out on the final two tournaments, they’ll want their stars and skilled gamers to step up in a giant approach.
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