The Finnish men’s ice hockey national team has to make a change in its goaltending department before the Milano-Cortina Olympics.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will not be able to participate in the tournament due to a lower body injury he sustained at the end of January. Buffalo Sabres’ goaltender will be replaced by Boston Bruins’ Joonas Korpisalo.

– It is always unfortunate when a player has to step aside at the last moment from a major tournament. On behalf of the whole team, we wish a speedy recovery to Ukko-Pekka and welcome Joonas aboard, says the A national team GM Jere Lehtinen in a statement.

For 31-year-old Korpisalo, this will be his first Olympic tournament. He played in the men’s World Championships in the spring of 2017.

NHL players will arrive in Milan on Sunday, February 8. Finland’s first match will be played on Wednesday, February 11 against Slovakia.

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