Finland looking to Kick Ass at this years “Karjala Cup”

Finland has dominated the Karjala Cup for the vast majority of the tournament’s history. In the first 11 tournaments (there were two separate legs of the Karjala Cup during the 2002-03 season), the Finns have won nine times.

Last year, however, the host nation fell flat. Team Finland scored just four goals and won once in three games (a 2-1 victory over the Czechs), while finishing last in the four-team field. The disappointment was temporary, as the Finns later grabbed the silver medal at the IIHF World Championships while knocking off gold-medal favorite Russia.

This year’s Karjala Cup roster for Team Finland is loaded with players familiar to NHL fans, with 12 former NHL players on the Finns’ roster, including goaltender Jussi Markkanen, and starting defensemen Janne Niinimaa, Ossi Vaananen (Väänänen in Finnish), Antti-Jussi Niemi and Mikko Lehtonen.

Up front, the Finns will look for offensive contributions from the likes of former NHLer Jani Rita (32 goals for Jokerit Helsinki last season, seven goals and 14 points in 20 games this season), former Colorado Avalanche forward Riku Hahl (now with Timrå IK in Sweden, and third in Elitserien with 18 points in 14 games), European league veteran Ville Leino (29 points in 20 SM-Liiga games for Jokerit Helsinki), and ex-NHLer Tommi Santala (20 points in 20 games for Jokerit).

Nineteen-year-old Washington Capitals prospect Oskar Osala (fourth round, 2006 Entry Draft) is the only player under the age of 24 on Team Finland’s roster. Now with the Espoo Blues of SM-Liiga, the 6-foot-4, 222-pound left wing earned his way onto the veteran-laden roster by totaling six goals and 15 points in his first 18 games this season.

While former Edmonton Oilers goaltender Markkanen is the better-known of Finland’s goaltenders in the tournament, Pelicans Lahti keeper Antti Niemi has had a tremendous season so far. Not only has he helped backstop his club to first place, the 24-year-old goalie leads the SM-Liiga in save percentage (.946), and ranks near the top of most other major goaltending categories.

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