Finns Confident Heading Into Quarterfinals

When Russia and Finland met last year at the World Junior Championships, there was much anticipation that the Finns could upset their European rivals.

With a well performed strategy, they did just that, defeating the Russians 4-3 in the 5th place game. This win avenged their 2-0 defeat at the hands of the very same team earlier in the tournament.

This year, the Russians and Finns meet again, but this time it’s for a chance to play Sweden in the semifinals.

“We feel very good right now with the three wins,” said Finland forward Toni Rajala, who left the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings to play hockey in Finland this season. “The first game against the US was good too, even though we lost, and [Joni] Ortio has been playing very well.”

What’s gotten the Finns to this point is the fact that they’re feeding off the experience that returning players have from last year’s tournament, giving them a much needed confidence boost.

“The last year helps,” said Ortio, who’s playing in his second straight tournament. “It gave us the knowledge about the players here and some good experiences. I think we were more ready than last year.”

Being more prepared this year has to be attributed to the tough exhibition games they took part in, most notably against Canada.

“It was a tough game,” Ortio said. “We battled hard through two periods but lost the game in the third. As the tournament goes along, we come more together and play more as a team and that’s the thing for us. We have to keep going in the next games to win.”

The only growing pains Finland has really gone through was their overtime loss to the US in the tournament opener, one they thought they should have won.

“We played really well,” said defenseman Rasmus Rissanen, who plays for the Everett Silvertips of the WHL. “We weren’t happy about losing and thought we should have wont the game. We definitely had a chance in overtime to win it, but you know, that’s hockey.”

Asked about who they would rather face out of the three favorites – Sweden, Canada, and the USA – Ortio said they would all be tough, but is more focused on the play of his own team.

“Before the tournament started we knew how good we were,” he said. “We have a good team here and we’re feeling confident. It hasn’t been a surprise to us that we’ve played this way.”

And as for respect, Rissanen says people should start talking about Finland.

“They [the media] can talk about whoever they want,” he said confidently.  “But they should definitely look at us, we aren’t going to be an easy team to play.”