Team Finland has released their roster for the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship that will take place in Ottawa in the coming weeks. The roster is full of NHL draft picks (16 in total) and plenty of prior international experience.
*As of writing, the roster will still need to see one cut made before the tournament begins.
Forwards
Arttu Alasirua, Kasper Halttunen, Konsta Helenius, Emil Hemming, Topias Hynninen, Jesse Kiiskinen, Rasmus Kumpulainen, Tom Leppä, Julius Miettinen, Jesse Nurmi, Benjamin Rautainen, Heikki Ruohonen, Joona Saarelainen, Tuomas Uronen, Roope Vesterinen
The forward grouping, the most solidified group that Finland will have heading into this year’s tournament, has plenty of talent from top to bottom. It is led by Buffalo Sabres 2024 first-round pick Konsta Helenius. He started his professional career strong with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League (AHL), where he tallied 16 points in 26 games. Tagging along with him are the likes of Emil Hemming (2024 Dallas Stars first-round pick), Kasper Haltunnen, and a player that many hockey fans will get their first significant glimpse of, Jesse Kiiskinen. Haltunnen is back with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) after starting his season with the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL. He is one of seven players returning to represent Finland at the Under-20 tournament this year.
Kiiskinen, drafted by the Nashville Predators in 2023 before being traded to the Detroit Red Wings this past offseason, has been one of the strongest and most consistent players in the Liiga so far on a weaker HPK team and will undoubtedly be a player to watch for Finland throughout the tournament. Depth is one of the strong suits of the forward group, as they have a total of 10 players who are NHL-drafted players and that can all fill a role from the first line to the fourth line. This group will be one that could easily compete with the rest of the countries in the tournament if things can click for them.
Defense
Mitja Jokinen, Kalle Kangas, Aron Kiviharju, Daniel Nieminen, Emil Pieniniemi, Sebastian Soini, Arttu Tuhkala, Veeti Väisänen
A group that could have some questions outside of the top two defensemen on the roster in Aron Kiviharju and Emil Pieniniemi, the defensive corps Finland will be deploying this tournament will be put to the test. Pieniniemi, a Pittsburgh Penguins 2023 third-round pick, has had a really strong season…
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