Hello hockey fans:
I got great news Wednesday afternoon when they announced Finland's roster for the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship in Edmonton and I was selected to play again this year.
Samuel Helenius
(Los Angeles Kings),
Ville Ottavainen
(Seattle Kraken) and Joakim Kemell (2022 draft eligible) also were selected from JYP in Liiga. Samuel also played at World Juniors last year and Ville and Joakim will be going for the first time. Joakim returned from injury last weekend, so it's great that he's back healthy again and able to go.
There is no break in the Liiga schedule for Christmas so we will miss seven games with JYP while in Edmonton at the World Juniors. There is no national team training camp in Finland prior to leaving so we're able to continue to play our Liiga games this weekend.
We all need to have a couple of negative COVID-19 tests before meeting the rest of the Finland National Junior Team in Helsinki on Dec. 14. The next afternoon we have a direct flight from Helsinki to Edmonton. Once we arrive at the hotel in Edmonton, we'll have to quarantine in our hotel rooms with our roommate for 48 hours before we are allowed to start practicing. Last year we had to quarantine in our rooms alone for four days so this year should be a bit easier.
Similar to the 2021 World Juniors, all players and team staff from Group A will be in a "bubble" in Edmonton and not permitted to leave the hotel except to go to Rogers Place. One thing that will be a lot different this year is that fans will be allowed at the games. It was a great experience playing in Rogers Place last year even without fans, so I'm really looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere with fans.
For as long as I can remember, we've watched the World Junior Championship games around Christmas, so the opportunity to play in it last year was a dream come true. The things I remember most from last year's tournament are the great group -- players, coaches and staff -- we had, how well everyone got along and how much fun we had together on and off the ice. The quarterfinal game against Sweden, when
Roni Hirvonen
(Toronto Maple Leafs) scored the game-winning goal with 25 seconds left in the game, and the great feeling winning the bronze medal (4-1) against Russia.
Christmas always has been a favorite time of the year because most years I've gotten to see family from either Finland or Canada that I haven't seen for a while. With no school, there was more time at Christmas to play mini-sticks, hockey on the outdoor rinks and/or tournaments with my teams.
Playing World Juniors last year and winning a medal, instead of pretending to do it in the basement or on the outdoor rinks when I was younger, was one of the best Christmas presents ever. I feel real fortunate and honored to have the opportunity to represent Finland and try to do it again.
I hope everyone reading has a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Until next month … stay safe.
Photo credits: Jiri Halttunen, JYP photographer
