Team Finland publishes a list of World Championships
Patrik Laine, who is expected to be one of the first players selected in the 2016 NHL Draft, was one of seven players who were added to the Finnish team at the 2016 World Hockey Championships on Friday.
Laine, 2nd in the final ranking of the NHL Central Scouting International Skater, could be one of the top two players selected in the draft, which will be played 24-25. June at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo.
The strikers were also named to the Finnish team on Friday Erik Haula (Minnesota Wild) and Sebastian Aho (Carpathians, FIN); defenders Ville Pokka (Chicago Blackhawks), Sami Lepisto (Salavat Yulaev Ufa, Continental Hockey League) and Jyrki Jokipakka (Calgary Flames); and goalkeeper Mikko Koskinen (SKA St. Petersburg, KHL).
18-year-old Laine scored seven goals and 12 points at the 2016 IIHF World Championships, and was selected as the MVP of the Finnish tournament that won the silver medal. He was also selected as the MVP of the Finnish Professional League playoffs after helping Tappara’s championship.
He also helped Finland win a gold medal at the 2016 IIHF Youth World Championships, where, like the World Championships, he played with 18-year-old Carolina Hurricanes’ potential Aho. Aho scored 20 goals and 45 points in 45 games played in the League with Karpat.
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Haula, 25, has set this season’s NHL records in goals (14), assists (20), points (34) and games played (76). He also scored one goal and three assists in five Stanley Cup playoffs.
The river pack, 24, made six assists in 18 matches and played an average of 17:54 ice time with the Flames after being swapped out of the Dallas Stars on Feb. 29. Prior to the exchange, he had six points and an average of 2:30 p.m. Ice time.
The 21-year-old Pokka, who plays for the American Hockey League in Rockford, splits fourth among AHL defenders with 45 points in 76 matches.
31-year-old Lepisto scored 30 points in 60 regular season KHL matches and 13 points in 19 playoffs. He was selected by the Washington Capitals in the third round of the 2004 draft (No. 66) and played 176 NHL matches between the four teams from 2007-2012.
Koskinen, 27, was the best goalkeeper in the World Series, scoring 1.13 goals on average and 0.947 percent off. He also played 2.42 GAA and 0.915 rebounds in 41 KHL games. He was selected by the New York Islanders in the second round of the 2009 draft (No. 31) and played four games in the 2010-11 season. He returned to Europe in 2011-12.
The 2016 Ice Hockey World Championships will be played from September 17 to October 1 at the Air Canada Center in Toronto. All games would be televised by ESPN in the United States as well as Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada.
Here is the full list of Team Finland (in alphabetical order by location):
Ahead:
Sebastian Aho, Carpathians (FIN); Alexander BarkovFlorida Panthers; Joonas DonskoiSan Jose Sharks; Valtteri FilppulaTampa Bay Lightning; Mikael Granlund, Minnesota Wild; Erik Haula, Minnesota Wild; Jussi JokinenFlorida Panthers; Mikko KoivuMinnesota Wild; Leo KomarovToronto Maple Leafs; Lauri Korpikoski, Edmonton Oilers; Patrik Laine, Tampere (FIN); Jori LehteraSt. Louis Blues; Teuvo TeravainenChicago Blackhawks
Defenders:
Jyrki Jokipakka, Calgary Flames; Sami Lepisto, Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL); Esa Lindell, Dallas Stars; Olli Määttä, Pittsburgh Penguins; Ville Pokka, Chicago Blackhawks; Rasmus RistolainenBuffalo Sabers; Sami VatanenAnaheim Ducks
Goalkeepers:
Mikko Koskinen, SKA St. Petersburg (KHL); Tuukka RaskBoston Bruins; Pekka RinneNashville Predators