Finland men's national ice hockey team

The Finnish men's national ice hockey team, or Leijonat / Lejonen (The Lions in Finnish and Swedish), as it is called in Finland, is governed by the Finnish Ice Hockey Association. Finland is considered a member of the "Big Six", along with Canada, Russia, the USA, Sweden, and the Czech Republic.

At the 2011 IIHF World Championship, Finland won a gold medal, beating Sweden in the final by a score of 6–1.

In the 2006 Winter Olympics, Finland won a silver medal, coming close to winning in the final but losing 3–2 to Sweden. Finland's goaltender Antero Niittymäki was named the MVP of the tournament (only 8 goals against in the whole tournament) and Teemu Selänne the best forward of the tournament.

Doug Shedden coached the team in the 2007–08 season. Under Shedden, Finland won bronze. His then-assistant coach Jukka Jalonen succeeded him as the head coach after the tournament.

The national team has retired Raimo Helminen's #14 and Jari Kurri's #17 jerseys. They currently hang in Hartwall Areena in Helsinki. Kurri is currently the general manager of the team.

Olympic record

• 1952 - Finished in 7th place
• 1956 - Did not participate
• 1960 - Finished in 7th place
• 1964 - Finished in 6th place
• 1968 - Finished in 5th place
• 1972 - Finished in 5th place
• 1976 - Finished in 4th place
• 1980 - Finished in 4th place
• 1984 - Finished in 6th place
• 1988 - Won silver medal
• 1992 - Finished in 7th place
• 1994 - Won bronze medal
• 1998 - Won bronze medal
• 2002 - Finished in 6th place
• 2006 - Won silver medal (roster)
• 2010 - Won bronze medal

Canada Cup record

• 1976 - Finished in 6th place
• 1981 - Finished in 6th place
• 1984 - Did not participate
• 1987 - Finished in 6th place
• 1991 - Finished in 3rd place

World Cup record

• 1996 - Finished in 5th place
• 2004 - Lost Final

World championship record

2010 Olympics roster

The following is the Finnish roster in the men's ice hockey tournament of the 2010 Winter Olympics.^[1]

Notable players

• Aarne Honkavaara 1943-1953
• Keijo Kuusela 1938-1959
• Lasse Oksanen 1962-1977
• Esa Peltonen 1965-1982
• Raimo Kilpiö 1956-1967
• Teppo Rastio 1953-1964
• Heino Pulli 1957-1965
• Juhani Tamminen 1969-1982
• Heikki Riihiranta 1967-1983
• Urpo Ylönen 1965-1979
• Reijo Ruotsalainen 1977–1996
• Unto Wiitala 1946-1956
• Jari Kurri 1979-1998
• Matti Hagman 1974-1987^[2]
• Janne Ojanen 1986-2010
• Raimo Helminen 1983-2008
• Mika Nieminen 1988-2000
• Timo Jutila 1983-1997
• Saku Koivu 1992-
• Ville Peltonen 1993-
• Teppo Numminen 1985-2009
• Kimmo Timonen 1991-
• Sami Kapanen 1990-
• Jere Lehtinen 1991-2010
• Ari Sulander 1992-
• Jarmo Myllys 1986-2001
• Jukka Tammi 1985-1998
• Esa Tikkanen 1985-2000
• Teemu Selänne 1988-
• Miikka Kiprusoff 1994-
• Olli Jokinen 1996-
• Mikko Koivu 2000-
• Petteri Nummelin 1992-

List of head coaches

• Erkki Saarinen 1939–1941
• Risto Lindroos 1945–1946
• Henry Kvist 1946–1949
• Risto Lindroos 1950–1954
• Aarne Honkavaara 1954–1959
• Joe Wirkkunen 1959–1960
• Derek Holmes 1960–1961
• Joe Wirkkunen 1961–1966
• Augustin "Gustav" Bubník 1966–1969
• Seppo Liitsola 1969–1972
• Len Lunde 1972–1973
• Kalevi Numminen 1973–1974
• Seppo Liitsola 1974–1976
• Lasse Heikkilä 1976–1977
• Kalevi Numminen 1977–1982
• Alpo Suhonen 1982–1986
• Rauno Korpi 1986–1987
• Pentti Matikainen 1987–1993
• Curt Lindström 1993–1997
• Hannu Aravirta 1997–2003
• Raimo Summanen 2003–2004
• Erkka Westerlund 2004–2007
• Doug Shedden 2007–2008
• Jukka Jalonen 2008–

See also

• 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships rosters

References

1. ^ "Men's Ice Hockey: Team Finland Tournamement Standings and Statistics". International Olympic Committee. http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-hockey/schedule-and-results/men_ihm400000nFIN-vtour_team_stats-vV.html. 
2. ^ Matti Hagman statistics

External links

• Official website