Team Finland announced its final roster today for the World Cup of Hockey, which will be held in Toronto this September. The country has added an additional seven players to the final roster. Among them is 18-year-old Patrik Laine from Tappara and Sebastian Aho from Karpat. Aho is a Carolina Hurricanes prospect and is likely to join the organization next season.
Laine, projected second overall pick at the upcoming draft, won the Finnish league with Tappara earlier this year. He had seven goals and twelve points at the World Championships, and was voted MVP of the tournament. He was also part of the gold-winning Finnish team at the WJC, along with Aho.
The only other two players not playing in North America are goaltender Mikko Koskinen and defender Sami Lepisto, who both play in the Kontinental Hockey League.
It has been an exceptional year for Finnish hockey. After winning the U-18 World Championship, U-20 World Junior Championship and the silver medal at the World Championship this year, Finland is looking to add another medal at the World Cup of Hockey.
Here is the full roster:
Goaltenders:
Pekka Rinne (Nashville Predators, NHL)
Tuukka Rask (Boston Bruins, NHL)
Mikko Koskinen (SKA St. Petersburg, RUS)
Defensemen:
Jyrki Jokipakka (Calgary Flames, NHL)
Sami Lepisto (Salavat Yulaev Ufa, RUS)
Esa Lindell (Dallas Stars, NHL)
Olli Maatta (Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL)
Ville Pokka (Chicago Blackhawks, NHL)
Rasmus Ristolainen (Buffalo Sabres, NHL)
Sami Vatanen (Anaheim Ducks, NHL)
Forwards:
Sebastian Aho (Karpat, FIN)
Aleksander Barkov (Florida Panthers, NHL)
Joonas Donskoi (San Jose Sharks, NHL)
Valtteri Filppula (Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL)
Mikael Granlund (Minnesota Wild, NHL)
Erik Haula (Minnesota Wild, NHL)
Jussi Jokinen (Florida Panthers, NHL)
Mikko Koivu (Minnesota Wild, NHL)
Leo Komarov (Toronto Maple Leafs, NHL)
Lauri Korpikoski (Edmonton Oilers, NHL)
Patrik Laine (Tappara, FIN)
Jori Lehtera (St. Louis Blues, NHL)
Teuvo Teravainen (Chicago Blackhawks, NHL)