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Sochi 2014 Team Preview: Finland

Finland Finland Greatest Hockey Power

Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

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Capital City: Helsinki

National Population: approx. 5.4 million

Formation: December 6, 1917

Location:

Anthem

Team Nickname: Leijonat (Lions)

Current IIHF ranking: 2nd (Men's); 3rd (Women's)

Best Olympic Finish: Silver (1988, 2006) (Women: Gold '89, '91, '93, '95)

2010 Olympic Finish: Bronze (Women's and Men's)

2014 Olympic Team

Number Athlete Age Position Club
31 Antti NIEMI 30 Goalkeeper San Jose Sharks
32 Kari LEHTONEN 30 Goalkeeper Dallas Stars
40 Tuukka RASK 26 Goalkeeper Boston Bruins
3 Olli MAATTA 19 Defence Pittsburgh Penguins
4 Ossi VAANANEN 33 Defence Jokerit Helsinki
5 Lasse KUKKONEN 32 Defence Karpat Oulu
6 Sami SALO 39 Defence Tampa Bay Lightning
18 Sami LEPISTO 29 Defence Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg
38 Juuso HIETANEN 28 Defence Torpedo Nizhni Novgorod
44 Kimmo TIMONEN 38 Defence Philadelphia Flyers
45 Sami VATANEN 22 Defence Anaheim Ducks
8 Teemu SELANNE 43 Forward Anaheim Ducks
12 Olli JOKINEN 35 Forward Winnipeg Jets
15 Tuomo RUUTU 30 Forward Carolina Hurricanes
16 Aleksander BARKOV 18 Forward Florida Panthers
21 Jori LEHTERA 26 Forward Sibir Novosibirsk
23 Sakari SALMINEN 25 Forward Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
26 Jarkko IMMONEN 31 Forward Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
27 Petri KONTIOLA 29 Forward Traktor Chelyabinsk
28 Lauri KORPIKOSKI 27 Forward Phoenix Coyotes
36 Jussi JOKINEN 30 Forward Pittsburgh Penguins
41 Antti PIHLSTROM 29 Forward Salavat Yulayev Ufa
50 Juhamatti AALTONEN 28 Forward Karpat Oulu
64 Mikael GRANLUND 21 Forward Minnesota Wild
71 Leo KOMAROV 27 Forward Dynamo Moscow

Injured Players: Mikko Koivu (ankle), Valttetri Filppula (ankle), Saku Koivu (oldness)

Jerseys:

Other important songs: Because really.

I want to spend this space talking about how amazing Finland's womens' team goalie is, but I won't subject you all to my Noora Räty feelings so don't worry. Basically all you need to know is that the womens' team is the only thing even remotely close to challenging Canada and the USA in that sport and it's 99% because of her; she stopped something like 81/86 shots through two games and her team has only scored one goal. Bummer.

Finland's mens' team looks a little wobbly on paper. The loss of Koivus and Filppula will definitely have an impact on their chances to medal. Like their womens' team, it's very likely that a strong showing in net will define how they do in the standings - and with our own Tuukka Rask back there to start, fortune could favor the Finns. Of their whole team, 15 players are NHLers, eight are currently KHL players, and two play for the Sm-Liiga's Karpat Oulu.

Two young players, Olli Maatta and Mikael Granlund, really have an opportunity here to step up and showcase their talent as the non-goaltending future of Finland's national team. Aside from their last game against Canada, Finland should benefit from playing in the weaker group B.

Schedule:

Date Game Time (ET) Live TV
Thurs, Feb. 13 Finland vs. Austria 3:00 a.m. NBCSN
Fri, Feb. 14 Norway vs. Finland 12 p.m. MSNBC
Sun, Feb. 16 Finland vs. Canada 12 p.m. USA