Is Mikko Lehtonen playing in the World Championships? A direct answer from Antti Pennanen
The Lions are preparing for the World Championships this week with two practice matches. On Wednesday, Finland experienced a 1-2 overtime loss against Latvia in their first test.
After the match, the head coach of the Lions, Antti Pennanen, spoke openly about the formation of the Lions’ World Championship team. Interest in the Lions is strong in the NHL.
– There is a strong pull, Pennanen says.
The tournament starts unusually late this spring due to the Olympic tournament. Therefore, the first round of the NHL playoffs will be over before the World Championships begin. The Finnish team is open to last-minute reinforcements.
– What happens in the first round will definitely affect our process as well. That’s why we are a bit cautious regarding these players. We need to see the first round through to the end, Pennanen explains.
After the Olympic Games played in the spring, many expected the World Championships to be a so-called interim tournament, where NHL stars would no longer be willing to participate. According to Pennanen, this is not happening.
– Especially those players who have not yet been in the men’s national team understand that the best play against the best every two years. That kind of eagerness has emerged. I haven’t asked the players, but I have a hunch that they want to join the national team, learn to play under the national team jersey, and through that, they want to compete for upcoming World Cup and Olympic spots, Pennanen says.
This year, the competition for spots is tough, and not many players from the current training group will necessarily be seen in the tournament. The competitive atmosphere is evident.
– There is a different vibe in this team as well. They know that the standards are high. Last week, they also participated in voluntary practices because they want to be ready and be part of the national team, Pennanen says.
Pennanen also made significant revelations regarding the World Championship roster. According to the head coach, Mikko Lehtonen will be seen in the tournament, even though he is not yet part of the training group, unless a veteran defenseman gets injured or something else unexpected happens.
Also from the Finnish quartet in Geneva, Jesse Puljujärvi, Markus Granlund, Sakari Manninen, and Vili Saarijärvi are likely to be seen as players in the World Championships, but not necessarily all of them.
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