The expert highlights three things about the Lions World Cup team

Super juniors Konsta Helenius the name is a hockey expert Raimo Summanen on his lips when he breaks down the player selections of the Lions World Cup team.

The head coach Jukka Jalonen on Sunday, the Finnish staff assembled and announced the Finnish team for the World Championships in the Czech Republic starting on Friday. Summanen highlights three things about the team.

“Brave choices, Konsta Helenius, Oliver Kapanen and Arttu Hyry. Young and first timers. There are nine players from the SM league, that’s a big and good number,” Summanen reflects.

“The third thing is Puustinen and Pulju. They have had very little playing time in the NHL, so what can they get out of themselves during the tournament,” Summanen continues, referring to the Pittsburgh Penguins Valtteri Puustinen and Jesse to Puljujärvi.

Helenius is only 17 years old, Kapanen is 20 and Hyry is 23 years old. Helenius’ performances in particular have been interesting throughout the season, and the youngster jumped straight from the under-18 World Championships to the adult crowd and the racing machine.

In addition to Helenius, head coach Jalonen made him shoot in the winning goal competition against Sweden in the final match of the EHT tournament on Sunday. Helenius showed his composure and swam the puck into the net with an elegant kick.

Summanen is also convinced that Helenius will make it to the Games.

“Tough trick from Helenius. It’s not yet known who has a certain place, and whether any of the young people are on a so-called familiarization trip”, Summanen thought about stamping race passes, but adds in the same breath:

“When I saw how he was played, it must have been in Jalonen’s plans from the beginning.”

Interesting Jesse Puljujärvi is also a player in the Lions’ WC group. The big winger had both hips operated on in the summer. In February, he got a two-year contract with Pittsburgh and had time to play 22 games in the NHL this season with an output of 3+1.

Puljujärvi said after the match against Sweden that he was satisfied with his performances and what he was able to bring to the team. He also succeeded in the winning shootout against Sweden.

Summanen sees that the player, who will turn 26 on Tuesday, has changed in recent years.

“The identity has changed a bit from the attacking player. He’s playing both ways more than five years ago, but you can tell from the lack of confidence when there haven’t been any goals. In the World Cup, every game is definitely a plus for playing.”

In Finland is not, as usual, the most famous team in the games, but Jukka Jalonen’s teams have been extremely successful as underdogs. Committed and properly roled players have brought great results.

“Yes, Jalonen has had good experiences from the fact that there are no stars in the gang. Probably, in the selections, they tried to see that the players fit the team concept and are hungry for pigs.”

Based on the name list, Finland is not one of the tournament’s biggest gold candidates. Sweden, Canada and the United States bring quite famous groups to the games.

Summanen relies on the basic laws of hockey in his success assessments, but also raises one field player as important in terms of medal aspirations.

“Even in this tournament, we saw that Finland is able to defend well and be patient in weak moments. The goalkeepers have also been really good.”

“The question mark is how to get the superiority game going. There Mikael Granlund will be really important. Playing in special situations makes a big difference.”

Granlund has won the world championship in 2011 and 2022. This season he played for the worst team in the NHL, the San Jose Sharks. He was by far the best scorer in his team after scoring 12+48 in 69 matches. Even in Leijon, eyes turn to the 32-year-old when the matches start to be decided.

Finland starts the World Cup tournament on Friday with a match against the host country, the Czech Republic. Summanen sees the match as very important, even though the tournament is long.

“It gives a signpost of toughness and striking ability.”