The Ice Hockey World Cup starts in just over a week and now it is clear that Mikko Rantanen will join the Lions’ squad. The Finn has finished playing in the NHL playoffs after Colorado went out in the first round.
Onsdagen büdy på goda Nyheter för Finlands hockeyherrar. First, Kaapo Kakko became VM-klar and a few hours later Mikko Rantanen.
The ice hockey association writes on its website that Rantanen is part of the team that starts the tournament against the USA on Friday, May 12.
– Mikko has won a lot. The fact that he still wants to come to the home WC, to help the Lions in the hunt for a second straight WC gold, is fine, says general manager Jere Lehtinen.
– A world-class reinforcement.
Rantanen was by far Finland’s best offensive player during the past NHL season. In 82 regular season games, he was recorded for 55+50=105 points.
The production continued in the playoffs where Rantanen accounted for 7+3=10 points in 7 games. The reigning champions Colorado Avalanche still went out in the first round of the playoffs as the Seattle Kraken roared ahead with 4-3 victories.
Rantanen finished his first three NHL seasons with World Cup games: 2016, 2017 and 2018. Since then, Colorado has achieved success in the NHL playoffs and Rantanen has not been considered for the national team.
Six North American reinforcements
According to Ilta-Sanomat’s information, Colorados andra finländska attacker Artturi Lehkonen is still waiting for the WC.
This week Finland plays an EHT tournament in the Czech Republic and after that the first World Cup squad is nailed down. It may still be relevant with reinforcements from the second round of the NHL playoffs.
Finland now has six North American additions in forwards Joel Armia, Kaapo Kakko, Kasperi Kapanen, Sakari Manninen and Mikko Rantanen as well as back Olli Määttä. Patrik Laine has left ätterbud till EHT tournament på Grund av skada men är still aktuell för WC-spel.
The WC squad will consist of 25 players. Probably three goalkeepers, eight defenders and fourteen forwards.
The Lions’ squad for the EHT tournament
Goalkeepers (3):
Christian Heljanko, Tappara
Emil Larmi, Växjö
Jussi Olkinuora, Brynäs
Hills (11):
Niklas Friman, Brynäs
Valtteri Kemiläinen, Tappara
Miika Koivisto, Växjö
Mikko Lehtonen, ZSC Lions
Petteri Lindbohm, Frölunda
Nikolas Matinpalo, Aces
Olli Määtä, Detroit
Atte Ohtamaa, Kärpät
Ville Pokka, Färjestad
Juuso Riikola, Oskarshamn
Mikael Seppälä, Tappara
Strikers (15):
Marko Anttila, Kärpät
Joel Armia, Montreal
Hannes Björninen, Brynäs
Markus Granlund, Lugano
Teemu Hartikainen, Servette
Kasperi Kapanen, St. Louis
Juho Lammikko, ZSC Lions
Sakari Manninen, Henderson
Walter Merelä, Tappara
Ahti Oksanen, Oskarshamn
Harri Pesonen, Langnau
Toni Rajala, Biel
Mikael Ruohomaa, Leksand
Jere Sallinen, Biel
Antti Suomela, Oskarshamn
