It had not been a good run as of late for Finland in the WJC. Two seasons ago, Finland had a pretty solid run and came away with a Bronze medal. You would need to go all the way back to Season 64 to find the last time the Finns were on the podium, when they came away with a Silver. This meant Finland was on the cusp of going 10 seasons in the WJC with only a solitary Bronze to show for it.

True, this Finland team had some talent on it. But it was far from the powerhouse that DACH was during their dynasty not too long ago, or the British Isles teams led by a massive S68 draft class more recently. Still, history was not on Finland's side and one pundit predicted Finland to finish 9th in the group stage, matching their placement from last season and once again being left out of the knockout stage. The Finns should consider simply making the knockout stage as their best case scenario, they claimed.

With a new GM and many of the heroes from the S71 bronze team such as William Tree and Adelbert Steiner gone, it would be up to some newer faces if Finland were to leave their mark on this tournament. First year GM Jarrod Lakemore first task would be to select the representatives for the Finnish team, whereupon he quickly realized Finland was loaded with talent... at the Defenseman position. With both high end talent and depth, Finland actually had too many defensemen and ultimately would ask Johnny Patey V2 (@JohnnyPatey), one of the teams more offensive minded young Defenseman to play Forward to help fill quite a gap in the Finnish roster. They would also turn to some unlikely sources to fill out the roster. Cal Juice (@caltroit_red_flames), the Czech player surprisingly left off the UCORCAL roster, would be the only true LW on Finland's colors. Fred Bread (@Pure_bread_fred), a young American winger who couldn't find his way onto rather loaded USA or NA rosters, would take his robust frame to the ice for Finland. And of course Rodrigo Banes (@Benpachi) would also don the Finnish sweater for a season in place of his usual Latvian one. Finland would also call on a very young Teemu Salami (@swoosh) to play wing and give the Finnish fans a preview of their future. Their last roster spot would be for a backup goalie, and they called upon Ólafur Gunnleifsson (@JartY), the young Icelandic goalie, perhaps in a bid to help secure his future allegience.

The Pre-Season

With pre-season about to start, a sense of anticipation filled the locker room. While some might have felt trepidation at the possibility of once again falling flat on the international stage, the Finnish countrymen (and hired guns) were a jubilant, relaxed bunch that just wanted to have some fun playing hockey. There was no doubt once the players took the ice that this was a team that quite simply wasn't going to let their nerves get to them. The defense was, of course, expected to be a strength and they certainly lived up to their billing, limiting opponents to just 2.00 GAA in the pre-season. But the surprise was an offense that could keep pace. The top line produced big numbers, with Aumy Junior II (@st4rface), Jani Mänty (@puolivalmiste), and Just-to-Buy My-Love (@JURT) all over a PPG, but it was far from a one line team as Finland saw production out of all four lines. Even the youngster Teemu Salami chipped in with 2G and 2A.

Finland would top the preseason standings with a 6-0-0-1 record, their only blemish a tough 6-5 OT loss to Canada. Excitement was running high as the team had faced and beaten some of the best WJC teams and the team felt as though they could go toe to toe with anyone. Making the knockout round wasn't just the ceiling now, it was a base expectation. Suddenly it felt as though this was a team with a real chance to take home the gold.

But as the pre-season came to a close and preparations began for the group stage, reality started to set in. Due to their poor performance at last season's WJC, Finland's group was... unfavorable. They would share the group with both finalists from last season: USA and Rhine. Six games against last season's Gold and Silver medalists. They would also face a UCORCAL team that was always loaded with talent, even if their results sometimes didn't reflect it, and a North America team notorious for taking down their "A" team big brothers, USA and Canada. Nothing was going to be easy, and Finland would have to fight for every inch of ice if they wanted to come out of this group alive.

The Group Stage

The group stage opened with Finland taking on Rhine. Straight into the frying pan, Finland would face off against a well coached and very talented Rhine team that was itching to avenge their loss in the finals last season. It would be a tough test for Finland, and ultimately one that would not go their way. Rhine controlled the tempo for most of the game and would capitalize on Finland's mistakes, notching two power play goals as well as an easy unassisted goal off a turnover. In the end, Rhine would come away victorious, 4-1. Finland was outshot, outpossessed, and outplayed for most of the game.

With a few days to rest before their next game, practice seemed a bit more subdued. The initial optimism wasn't quite as apparent anymore, but the team wasn't despondent either. It was something else: they were focused. What they had shown against Rhine wasn't good enough and they knew it. They would have to work harder if they wanted to show they could hang with the big boys. This was a defense first team, and letting in 4 goals off mistakes and penalties wasn't something this Finnish team could afford to do. Everyone needed to clean up their play if they were going to turn this around.

3 of Finland's next 4 games were against UCORCAL, with the fourth against defending champion USA. This was a crucial stretch of games for the Finns. If USA and Rhine were group favorites, that meant Finland UCORCAL and NA were fighting it out to not be the odd team out. A bad run against UCORCAL would not only keep Finland at the bottom of the standings, but also put UCORCAL out of reach and into safety. It was crunch time already for Finland, and they needed to come out swinging.

They did exactly the opposite at the start of their next game against UCORCAL. After preaching defense and discipline over the past few practices, Finland would be first assessed a minor penalty halfway through the period, surrendering a power play in which UCORCAL immediately scored. The mistakes would continue as a poor line change would give UCORCAL another power play and a chance to build on their 1-0 lead. The mood on the bench was rather somber as the penalty killers took the ice, a feeling that things might already be falling apart permeating amongst those seated.

But it only takes one person, one play for everything to change. And in this game, that was Jani Manty. Seeing an opportunity to be aggressive, Manty knocked the puck away from a UCORCAL player trying to gain the zone. Suddenly, Many was all alone with just the goalie to beat...

The Finnish bench erupted. Manty had deposited the puck into the back of the net and brought Finland level. Now all they had to do was kill off the rest of the penalty and hit reset on the game. Or... perhaps buoyed by Manty's great play, Cheeks Klapanen (@Spartan) was able to recover the puck deep in his own zone. The safe play was to dump it deep and reset... but he saw a streaking Ubba Lodbrok (@Wearingabear) along the boards and laced a pass between two forecheckers right onto the tape of Lodbrok's stick. Suddenly it was a 2 on 1 the other way and... yes! Lodbrok slid it over to Erno Joonas (@Randominoe) who slotted home a one timer for Finland's second short handed goal and the lead.

Just like that, the Finnish players had their swagger back. In the end, they would lock down on defense and pad their lead a bit and come away with a 4-1 victory. It was the confidence boost they needed. They would cruise to an identical scoreline in their next game, once again knocking off UCORCAL 4-1 in a game they controlled throughout. In a big showdown with defending champion USA, Finland would fall behind 2-1 in the 2nd period, but this time there was no panic, there was no doubt. They played their game and looked for their opportunities and ultimately came through with a 4-2 victory in a game they were outshot 33-20. In their third and final game against UCORCAL, Finland would pitch a 18 save shutout in a clean, 3-0 victory.

Suddenly, 5 games in, Finland was at top of the group. With 12 points and a 4-0-1 record, they had made a statement that this was not last season's team that came in 9th, already eclipsing that team's mark of 11 points. They had come away with a victory against USA (albeit in ugly fashion), but now were faced with a rematch against a Rhine team that had thoroughly dominated them in the opener. Just how much can a team grow over the course of 5 games?

In the second game of a back-to-back, Finland would give Rhine a taste of their own medicine, thoroughly dominating shots and possession, eventually building a 4-0 lead in the 3rd period. Rhine wouldn't go down completely without a fight however, and would ultimately ruin Finland's shutout with a late goal, but this was what Finland had been waiting for.  They were now well clear of Rhine in the standings, and their win over USA also put them just ahead of them as well. Their spot in the knockout stage all but guaranteed, now they could play to win the group and secure a top seed.

The second half of the group stage was a little bumpy for Finland. They would end up dropping 2 of 3 against North America, uncharacteristically giving up 5 goals in both losses. On the other hand, they would complete a 3 game sweep of USA, first showing up with some surprising offensive output in a 6-3 win, then put an exclamation point on it with their standard lockdown defensive game, taking home a 3-0 shutout win.

In the penultimate game of the season, they would face off against their nemesis, Rhine, who they had traded 4-1 wins with. Though Rhine too had secured their spot in the knockout round, they played with a bit of a chip on their shoulder, wanting to show Finland that their previous matchup was a fluke. Rhine took an early 1-0 lead in the first, then seemed to play in a very Finnish way, giving up very few shots and controlling the puck. They continued to frustrate Finland through the second period, and though Finland's goalie Gunnleifsson kept the deficit at 1, Rhine still had a shutout through 2.

Finland would catch a break early in the third when Rhine took a hooking penalty, and they would immediately break through. A power play goal by Lodbrok deadlocked the game, but it was as if the floodgates had finally opened, and Finland would add two more on over the next 10 minutes to take a 3-1 lead with under 8 minutes to go. Rhine would pull within 1, but their furious onslaught would be held off the Finns as they came away with a 3-2 victory.

As the group stage came to an end, it was Finland who stood atop their group, sporting a 9-0-3 record with 27 points, second only to Canada's 28 in the opposite group. They had amassed a 5-0-1 record against USA and Rhine, they had shown they could go match up with any team in the tournament, and they knew if they played their game, they had every chance to come away with gold.

The Quarterfinals

And then the playoff matchups were released.

Finland would be facing North America in the first round. North America, the only team to have a winning record against Finland in the group stage. North America, who had just trounced Finland 5-2 in the final game of the group stage. North America, who had been Finland's achilles heel all tournament, yet always a seeming afterthought because of how well Finland had been playing against favorites Rhine and USA. North America, the only team to have been able to expose the normally stout Finnish defense multiple times.

Finland would have to find a way to shutdown North America's offense in a way they simply had not been able to do so far. But there was also another dilemma. Starting goalie Tanner Pitts (@TannerPitts) had been solid. Going up against some of the best offenses in the WJC, he came sported a 5-3-0 record and 2.50 GAA, along with a .902 save percentage. Solid numbers that put him amongst the leaders in the tournament.

But backup goalie Ólafur Gunnleifsson, the Icelandic import, had been absolutely phenomenal. A 4-0-0 record, a sparkling 1.00 GAA, and a ludicrous .958 save percentage. Those numbers weren't solid, they were transcendental. There had never been a goalie controversy on this version of Finland's WJC team. Pitts was the incumbent, he was older, he wasn't an import, and he had proven himself many times before in previous seasons. But those numbers... you had to at least consider starting Gunnleifsson, right?

As the team took the ice for warmups, it was Tanner Pitts out there as the starter. A decision that perhaps would come under scrutiny if it did not pan out. And as the first period began between NA and Finland, it did not take long for the rumblings to begin. 4 minutes into the first period North America struck first. Had Finland still not figured out how to slow down NA's offense? Was that a shot Gunnleifsson would have saved? The doubts inevitably started to mount after giving up such an early goal.

But Finland would remain calm, and NA had limited opportunities after taking their lead. Finland took control of the game and had the majority of the scoring chances. Finally, towards the end of the first, Just-to-Buy My-Love would collect a rebound and slot home the equalizer. With things knotted up after one, Finland continued to play their game, limiting NA's chances and keeping the puck in the offensive zone. They generated plenty of chances, but NA would stand tall through the second, keeping things at 1-1. But surely, it was only a matter of time before Finland would pull ahead. There was simply no way NA could continue to cling to a tie while giving up this many chances.

Or could they? NA had still kept Finland from lighting the lamp halfway through the third, and suddenly they seemed to found their offense again. Suddenly it seemed like just one play, one mistake, one shot was going to decide this game. As the buzzer rang out to signal the end of the third with the game still tied, Finland held a 33-16 shot advantage. But NA goalie Jim Wen had stood strong after giving up the equalizer late in the first. And now in OT, anyone could be the hero.

To say Finland came out guns blazing in OT would be an understatement. It was an absolute assault on the NA net, with Finland constantly finding the open man and unleashing a shot, only for Wen to turn it aside. But Finland would collect the puck and regroup and come at the NA netminder again... and once again Wen would hold his ground. Frustration began to mount... Finland had amassed 10... 15... 20 shots (!) in OT alone without finding the back of the net. But now they were starting to give up odd man rushes the other way. Was this how it was going to end? To dominate the game, to unload everything they had on offense, only to run into a hot goalie? A 2 on 1 the other way... but Tanner Pitts saves! Despite having little to do for most of the game, Pitts prevents NA from coming away with the upset.

The first period of OT finally comes to a close. It is still tied 1-1. It has been over 60 minutes of game time since either goalie has surrendered a goal. The players are tired, the coaches are tired, the fans are tired, yet the game hangs on a thread. The second OT period starts and it's more of the same... Finland with chance after chance, Wen with denial after denial. North America picks up an odd opportunity here or there, but mostly has their back to the wall.

55. On Finland's 55th shot on goal, Just-to-Buy My-Love scores his second goal and Finland's second goal. Finally, Wen has been defeated. Outshooting NA 55-22, Finland comes away with a 2-1 victory. The team rushes the ice to congratulate the goal scorer, while the Finnish defenders crowd around Tanner Pitts to acknowledge his 21 saves on 22 shots. Despite scoring the equalizer and the game winner and Finland's only goals, Just-to-Buy My-Love takes a backseat to Jim Wen, whose 53 saves on 55 attempts earns him first star of the game. But Finland doesn't care, they are moving on to the semi-finals.

The Semi-finals

The semi-final matchup pits Finland against Rhine. Because of course it does. The team that embarassed Finland in their opener, last season's silver medalists stand between Finland and the gold medal game. They've already faced each other three times, but this one is for all the marbles.

Familiarity breeds contempt, and this game starts out very physical, with hits being thrown early and often. The refs are trying to prevent the physicality from getting out of control, and they draw the line early after whistling Rhine for a minor. An early chance for Finland on the power play, and ultimately it is an early opportunity they capitalize on. Respecting the dangerous shot from the blue line of Jaromir Jagrbomb (@sulovilen), Rhine PKers scramble to block his shot, only for him to launch a pass right to the tape of Jani Manty that is tipped home. An early 1-0 lead and Finland is feeling good.

Finland would take that lead to the locker room as the first period ends in a tightly contested battle. But Rhine would have momentum and a power play to start the second after a bench penalty is assessed to Finland at the close of the first. Finland would stay strong and kill off the penalty however, though Rhine would start to kick things into a higher gear. The ice tilts back in their favor and before long Rhine finds the equalizer. Tied at 1-1, Finland remains composed and though unable to solve netminder Mr Plow for a second time, they seem poised to at least take the tie into the third. Then, disaster. Recovering the puck in their own defensive end, Finland looks to break out as their forwards start to streak up the ice. But a lazy pass is picked off in their own end and it's a backbreaker. Late in the second, Rhine takes a crucial 2-1 lead on an unassisted goal by Prince Marius.

The mood is quite different in the locker room for Finland as they find themselves down by a goal. This Finnish team however, has come back from defecits all tournament long. And as the third period starts, it looks like they will do just that. The period opens with a Finnish peppering of the Rhine goal, line after line, minute after minute they maintain control in the offensive zone, but Plow is able to keep them at 1. Time continues to tick by, and the energy that Finland came out with seems to be dissipating. Rhine has taken more control and suddenly, 13 minutes in, it's Rhine who comes away with the crucial goal, taking a 3-1 lead. The Finns have just 7 minutes to score 2 goals.

They put on a valiant effort, coming up with multiple high danger scoring chances, but ultimately Plow turns them all away. After the final horn sounds, Rhine is victorious 3-1 and Mr Plow has saved 36 of 37 shots. All told, opposing goalies have now saved 89 of 92 shots against Finland in the Playoffs.

The team is disappointed, but they know they laid it all on the ice. Running into two hot goalies, Finland was able to overcome only one of them. In another world, it is them advancing to the finals. But dwelling on the past serves no purpose here as there is still another game to be played and still an opportunity to come away with bronze.

The Bronze Medal Game

Finland would match up against Canada, the team which had topped the group stage standings and last year's bronze medalists. A tough matchup, and a team Finland had not seen all tournament, except for a 6-5 OT loss in preseason.

And in the end, Finland would show just what they could do when they don't run into unbeatable goaltending. 

Two minutes into the game, Canada would grab an early 1-0 lead. A solid start, one that merits a response if Finland wanted to take home bronze. And respond they did, though it wasn't in the most conventional way. Shortly after giving up the goal, Finland would take a minor penalty and Canada would have a power play and prime opportunity to take a 2 goal lead. Instead, it was Finland who would score, notching a short handed goal to tie the game at 1. Finland would then score another halfway through the period and after the first period, held a 2-1 lead. It would only get better for Finland from there.

Finland would score the next three goals as well, for a total of five unanswered after giving up the early first goal. Near the end of the third, Canada scored a PPG to cut it to 5-2, but it was nearly immediately erased by Johnny Patey V2, who would restore Finland's 4 goal cushion in the closing seconds of the period. With a 6-2 advantage, the third period slowed down a bit as Finland played a bit more conservatively, but would end up trading goals with Canada for a final score of 7-3 and a bronze medal.

Finland would then watch as USA would claim a third straight gold medal, knocking off Rhine 3-2. A third straight gold for a team that Finland had beaten three straight times in the group stage. The team would be left wondering what could have been if they had been given a chance to knock off USA, if a few of their shots had been just a little bit higher, if they could have done just a little bit more.

But ultimately, the Finnish players can walk away with their heads held high and bronze clasped to their chest. After finishing in 9th place last season, they can be proud to have been 3rd in this tournament, and hungry for more.

Finland's WJC team will wave goodbye to Aumy Junior II and Just-to-Buy My-Love, who will age out of juniors. But for the rest of the team, Finland will be back even stronger next season.

(4101 words)

 S68 - Jarrod Lakemore - C

  

Credit to Amidships, sulovilen, & enigmatic

Woooo, love the write-up and excited to have won Bronze!

[S72] - D - Cheeks Klapanen

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