Joel Armia returns to IIHF World Championship

MONTREAL - Joel Armia is headed home to represent Team Finland at the 2023 IIHF World Championship in Tampere, Finland and Riga, Latvia, from May 12 to 28.

The Finnish forward's return to the Worlds marks a second consecutive appearance at the annual event. Last year, the 29-year-old finished the tournament with five goals and three assists in 10 games en route to a gold medal in his native country.

The Pori, FIN native is no stranger to representing The Lions on the international stage, having previously worn his country's colors in the Under-17 World Hockey Challenge in 2010, IIHF U18 World Championship in 2011 and IIHF World Junior Championship in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

The Habs' No. 40 posted 7-7-14 totals in 43 games this season, highlighted by his second career hat trick in a 6-2 win over the Washington Capitals on April 6 at the Bell Centre.

Armia joins teammates Justin Barron, Sam Montembeault (Team Canada), and Sean Farrell, as well as Montreal prospects Lane Hutson and Luke Tuch (Team USA) to play in this year's tournament.

Team Finland opens the championship against Team USA on Friday, May 12 at 9:20 a.m., while Team Canada gets group stage play underway at 1:20 p.m. against the hosts of Group B, Latvia.