Team Finland @ Vancouver 2010 Olympics

[Finnish Wing 110]

Here's the final OFFICIAL roster.

Goalies:

Miikka Kiprusoff Calgary Flames

Niklas Backstrom Minnesota Wild

Antero Niittymaki Tampa Bay Lightning

Defenders:

Kimmo Timonen Philadelphia Flyers (A)

Sami Salo Vancouver Canucks

Joni Pitkanen Carolina Hurricanes

Lasse Kukkonen Avangard Omsk

Toni Lydman Buffalo Sabres

Sami Lepisto Phoenix Coyotes

Janne Niskala Frolunda

Forwards:

Mikko Koivu Minnesota Wild

Tuomo Ruutu Carolina Hurricanes

Antti Miettinen Minnesota Wild

Teemu Selanne Anaheim Ducks (A)

Saku Koivu Anaheim Ducks (A)

Jere Lehtinen Dallas Stars

Niklas Hagman Toronto Maple Leafs

Olli Jokinen Calgary Flames

Valtteri Filppula Detroit Red Wings

Jarkko Ruutu Ottawa Senators

Niko Kapanen Ak Bars Kazan

Ville Peltonen Dynamo Minsk

Jarkko Immonen Ak Bars Kazan

According to the media the lines will look like this:

Valtteri Filppula - Mikko Koivu - Tuomo Ruutu

Jere Lehtinen - Saku Koivu © - Teemu Selanne (A)

Niklas Hagman - Olli Jokinen - Ville Peltonen

Jarkko Ruutu - Niko Kapanen - Antti Miettinen

+ Jarkko Immonen

Joni Pitkanen - Sami Salo

Kimmo Timonen (A) - Toni Lydman

Sami Lepisto - Lasse Kukkonen

+ Janne Niskala

Miikka Kiprusoff

Niklas Backstrom

+ Antero Niittymaki

Jalonen said the point was to make basically no checking lines at all. He wanted four lines that all can score. Every line has these pairs, guys who know each other very well (Ruutu&Koivu, Selanne&Koivu, Peltonen&Jokinen, Miettinen&Kapanen). Every line has two offensive players and one defensive player. Miikka Kiprusoff will be the clear number one, per Jalonen.

Edited December 30, 2009 by Finnish Wing

[Finnish Wing 110]

Official lineup:

Forwards

Valtteri Filppula, Detroit Red Wings

Niklas Hagman, Toronto Maple Leafs

Jarkko Immonen, Kazan, KHL

Olli Jokinen, Calgary Flames

Niko Kapanen, Kazan, KHL

Mikko Koivu, Minnesota Wild

Saku Koivu, Anaheim Ducks

Jere Lehtinen, Dallas Stars

Antti Miettinen, Minnesota Wild

Ville Peltonen, Minsk, KHL

Jarkko Ruutu, Ottawa Senators

Tuomo Ruutu, Carolina Hurricanes

Teemu Selänne, Anaheim Ducks

Defensemen

Lasse Kukkonen, Omsk, KHL

Sami Lepistö, Phoenix Coyotes

Toni Lydman, Buffalo Sabres

Joni Pitkänen, Carolina Hurricanes

Sami Salo, Vancouver Canucks

Kimmo Timonen, Philadelphia Flyers

Janne Niskala, Frölunda

Goalies

Miikka Kiprusoff, Calgary Flames

Niklas Bäckström, Minnesota Wild

Antero Niittymäki, Tampa Bay Lightning

Damn, too slow.

[FinWing 26]

Damn, too slow.

Well I didn't post the lines like you did.

[FinWing 26]

What is Niskala doing there? :S

He's a pretty good puck-moving defenseman and he's unlikely to be dressed for the games at all anyway. I'm just wondering if this defense is too soft.

Edited December 30, 2009 by FinWing

[FinRedWing 172]

What is Niskala doing there? :S

And he's the whipping boy too,gotta have one of those.

EDIT - F up spelling

Edited December 30, 2009 by FinRedWing

[swedishconnection 36]

I am an american observer of the Olympics, I really dont choose who to root for. This is a decent, physical hockey team that will be mind-numbingly annoying to play against. I mean that in a good way too... they will definitely play some excellent defensive hockey. Does anyone else feel that the smaller rink size will help the Fins overall due to they style of play (tight checking, physical on the boards?)

Side note, I have to say that reading this thread is refreshing. The Fins here and more importantly during all the international competitions always have a TON of pride. Its good to see that there is support out there and its visible, even if it feels some times as David v. Goliath (Canada or Ruskies)

[FinWing 26]

I am an american observer of the Olympics, I really dont choose who to root for. This is a decent, physical hockey team that will be mind-numbingly annoying to play against. I mean that in a good way too... they will definitely play some excellent defensive hockey. Does anyone else feel that the smaller rink size will help the Fins overall due to they style of play (tight checking, physical on the boards?)

Side note, I have to say that reading this thread is refreshing. The Fins here and more importantly during all the international competitions always have a TON of pride. Its good to see that there is support out there and its visible, even if it feels some times as David v. Goliath (Canada or Ruskies)

Thanks for that. I have confidence in this team and they will definitely fight tooth and nail for each other, thus giving us more reasons to be proud.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Thanks for that. I have confidence in this team and they will definitely fight tooth and nail for each other, thus giving us more reasons to be proud.

Who's that goofball in your avatar standing next to the "handsome" Fillpulla?

Edited December 30, 2009 by GMRwings1983

[FinWing 26]

Who's that goofball in your avatar standing next to the "handsome" Fillpulla?

The other Finn. Both of them really dressed up for the picture and put on their best game faces.

[Finnish Wing 110]

The other Finn. Both of them really dressed up for the picture and put on their best game faces.

I think Filppula doesn't somehow look himself there. That big body just doesn't work with that face. Leino looks like a painter or a doctor, not a hockey player.

[FinWing 26]

I think Filppula doesn't somehow look himself there. That big body just doesn't work with that face. Leino looks like a painter or a doctor, not a hockey player.

Flip does look a bit weird now that his body has filled out, he was so slender when he left Finland.

EDIT: Leino looks kinda like young Dr. House in this one.

Edited December 30, 2009 by FinWing

[Guest mindfly]

Has filppula played with the national team since world juniors?

[Finnish Wing 110]

Has filppula played with the national team since world juniors?

Nope. He's said to be on the 1st line, so that's quite a something.

[bonan78 1]

Anyone know when the jersey #s will be announced? I want to get a Team Finland Filppula jersey or T-shirt.

[FinWing 26]

s***. I hope this doesn't keep him out of the Olympics.

Selanne injured again

[FinWing 26]

Anyone know when the jersey #s will be announced? I want to get a Team Finland Filppula jersey or T-shirt.

They were just announced today. Flip will wear #51 in the Olympics too.

Goalies

30 Antero Niittymäki

33 Niklas Bäckström

34 Miikka Kiprusoff

Defensemen

5 Lasse Kukkonen

6 Sami Salo

18 Sami Lepistö

21 Janne Niskala

25 Joni Pitkänen

32 Toni Lydman

44 Kimmo Timonen

Forwards

8 Teemu Selänne

9 Mikko Koivu

10 Niklas Hagman

11 Saku Koivu

12 Olli Jokinen

15 Tuomo Ruutu

16 Ville Peltonen

20 Antti Miettinen

26 Jere Lehtinen

37 Jarkko Ruutu

39 Niko Kapanen

51 Valtteri Filppula

62 Jarkko Immonen

[Finnish Wing 110]

Hagman wears 10. Interesting. He has used 14 before, but I think that's retired now (Helminen).

[hak 21]

does anyone know who the starting goal keeper will be? kipper or backstrom?

[Finnish Wing 110]

does anyone know who the starting goal keeper will be? kipper or backstrom?

Kiprusoff is the starter and probably clear number one as well. Jalonen already named him as the starter. Backstrom hasn't been that good this season and Kiprusoff has been one of the best in the league. Dunno if Niittymaki will play any games.

[Konnan511 1,736]

Big blow for Finland with Salami out.

Glad to see Filppula on the first line, he's earned it. probably will have first line PK duties and second line PP duties.

Sucks he never got any international experience before this, but the Wings have been to the playoffs and have been going too deep recently for him to participate in them.

[Finnish Wing 110]

Big blow for Finland with Salami out.

Glad to see Filppula on the first line, he's earned it. probably will have first line PK duties and second line PP duties.

Sucks he never got any international experience before this, but the Wings have been to the playoffs and have been going too deep recently for him to participate in them.

Don't know about that. Jokinen, Hagman, Ruutu, Koivu, Koivu, Selänne(?), Miettinen(?). If he was a right-shooter it would be more likely, but we'll see.

[FinWing 26]

Big blow for Finland with Salami out.

Glad to see Filppula on the first line, he's earned it. probably will have first line PK duties and second line PP duties.

Sucks he never got any international experience before this, but the Wings have been to the playoffs and have been going too deep recently for him to participate in them.

If Selanne and Tuomo Ruutu are out, we're screwed. Who will score the goals?

[Konnan511 1,736]

If Selanne and Tuomo Ruutu are out, we're screwed. Who will score the goals?

Leino

[hak 21]

Kiprusoff is the starter and probably clear number one as well. Jalonen already named him as the starter. Backstrom hasn't been that good this season and Kiprusoff has been one of the best in the league. Dunno if Niittymaki will play any games.

okay, thanks.

S. Kouvi out with a lower body injury. Another big blow for the fins. Don't know how serious his injury is tho. Theres still a month to the olympics. It would be BRUTAL for the fins to loose Koivu..

Selanne should be ready to go in a week or two i guess? Any ETA on Selanne?

[FinWing 26]

okay, thanks.

S. Kouvi out with a lower body injury. Another big blow for the fins. Don't know how serious his injury is tho. Theres still a month to the olympics. It would be BRUTAL for the fins to loose Koivu..

Selanne should be ready to go in a week or two i guess? Any ETA on Selanne?

2-6 weeks so it hangs in the balance.

http://ducks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=513660

There should be more information on Koivu later today.