Finland Announces World Junior Selection Camp Roster

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Finland has announced their World Junior selection camp roster for the 2016 World Junior Championship to be held in Helsinki Finland starting December 26.

Head coach Jukka Jalonen has 27 players coming to camp (plus two more joining later, who will almost certainly make the team). All three goaltenders will be on the final team, though there is a battle for the starting job that will be had during camp. From the 29 players that will be a part of the selection process, the team will trim back to a 23-man roster with three goaltenders and 20 skaters.

Here’s the roster for Finland’s camp.

Goaltenders

  • Kaapo Kahkonen, Blues Espoo (Minnesota Wild, 2014)
  • Emil Larmi, Peliitat Heinola (undrafted)
  • Veini Vehvilainen, JYP Jyvaskyla (2016 draft eligible)



    • Defensemen

  • Olli Juolevi, London Knights (2016 draft eligible)
  • Miro Keskitalo, TPS Turku (undrafted)
  • Jesper Mattila, Ilves Tampere (2016 draft eligible)
  • Niko Mikkola, KalPa Kuopio (St. Louis Blues, 2015)
  • Sami Niku, JYP Jyvaskyla (Winnipeg Jets, 2015)
  • Vili Saarijarvi, Flint Firebirds (Detroit Red Wings, 2015)
  • Robin Salo, Vaasan Sport (2017 draft eligible)
  • Eetu Sopanen, Peliitat Heinola (undrafted)
  • Joni Tuulola, HPK Hameenlinna (Chicago Blackhawks, 2015)
  • Urho Vaakanainen, Espoo Blues (2017 draft eligible)



    • Forwards

  • Sebastian Aho, Karpat Oulu (Carolina Hurricanes, 2015)
  • Kasper Bjorkqvist, Espoo Blues (undrafted)
  • Roope Hintz, HIFK Helsinki (Dallas Stars, 2015)
  • Antti Kalapudas, Karpat Oulu (undrafted)
  • Patrik Laine, Tappara Tampere (2016 draft eligible)
  • Juho Lammikko, Kingston Frontenacs (Florida Panthers, 2014)
  • Miro Makinen, Jukurit Mikkeli (undrafted)
  • Julius Nattinen, Barrie Colts (Anaheim Ducks, 2015)
  • Jesse Puljujarvi, Karpat Oulu (2016 draft eligible)
  • Sebastian Repo, Pelicans Lahti (undrafted)
  • Aleksi Saarela, Assat Pori (New York Rangers, 2015)
  • Miska Siikonen, Pelicans Lahti (undrafted)
  • Jonne Tammela, KalPa Kuopio (Tampa Bay Lightning, 2015)
  • Patrik Virta, TPS Turku (undrafted)



    • Notable here for Finland is that there are a couple of 2017 draft eligibles at camp. We will see if any of them actually make the team, but you don’t often see players that young making it this far in the selection process. Most notable among them is 2017 draft eligible defenseman, the 16-year-old Urho Vaakanainen.

    Also worth noting is that competition will be fierce here and more fierce than it appears. Juha Hiitelä reports that Maple Leafs prospect Kasperi Kapanen, currently playing with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, will be joining camp next week as well. Additionally, Colorado Avalanche prospect and 2015 1st round draft pick Mikko Rantanen will join as well, flying to Finland following a San Antonio Rampage game on December 21.

    Finnish camp will begin on December 13, and the team will play to exhibition matches. One will be held on December 21 in Hameenlinna against Switzerland and then they’ll play against the U.S. squad the next day. The final roster will be announced after that.

    RELATED: Hockey Canada Announces WJC Selection Camp Roster
    U.S. Announces World Junior Selection Camp Roster

    More on Finnish Prospects:
    5 Potential Power Forwards in the 2016 NHL Draft
    Kasperi Kapanen Prospect Profile
    2015 NHL Draft: Colorado Avalanche Select Mikko Rantanen
    2014 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Kaapo Kahkonen