Finland’s Preliminary Olympic Roster

Finnish defenseman AKI-PETTERI BERG (7) spills Swedish forward FREDRIK MODIN (33) over top of goaltender ANTERO NIITYMAKI in the Gold Medal Match at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy. The Finns fell at the final hurdle 3-2 to their Nordic neighbors and arch-rivals. Finland have earned two silver and two bronze medals at the Olympics.

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The two men chiefly responsible for the selection of Finland’s Olympic team competing in Vancouver this February are none other than former NHL star JARI KURRI, who was, of course, Wayne Greztky’s long-time sidekick with the Edmonton Oilers and one-time NHL defense prospect TIMO JUTILA, who appeared at 13 major international tournaments (95 ga, 17 go 25 as, 42 pts) for the Finns in the 1980s and 90s.

The Finnish national team coach is JUKKA JALONEN, who replaced former Pittsburgh Penquin player DOUG SHEDDEN in 2008.

FINLAND PRELIMINARY ROSTER

Goaltenders

• 33 — 6’1″ 184 lb — Miikka KIPRUSOFF — CALGARY
• 32 — 5’10″ 198 lb — Vesa TOSKALA — TORONTO
• 31 — 6’1″ 189 lb — Niklas BACKSTROM — MINNESOTA
• 29 — 6’1″ 190 lb — Antero NIITYMAKI — TAMPA BAY
• 27 — 6’5″ 207 lb — Pekka RINNE — NASHVILLE
• 26 — 6’4″ 215 lb — Kari LEHTONEN — ATLANTA

Defensemen

• 37 — 5’10″ 185 lb — Petteri NUMMELIN — HC Lugano
• 35 — 6’3″ 204 lb — Sami SALO — VANCOUVER
• 34 — 5’10″ 194 lb — Kimmo TIMONEN — PHILADELPHIA
• 33 — 6’2″ 195 lb — Jyrki VALIVAARA — JyPHT Jyvaskyla
• 32 — 6’1″ 210 lb — Toni LYDMAN — BUFFALO
• 31 — 6’1″ 195 lb — Mikko LEHTONEN — HC Vastra Frolunda
• 30 — 5’11″ 187 lb — Teemu AALTO — Karpat Oulu
• 29 — 6’4″ 212 lb — Ossi VAANANEN — Dynamo Minsk
• 29 — 6’1″ 205 lb — Mikko JOKELA — Dynamo Minsk
• 28 — 6’0″ 198 lb — Janne NISKALA — HC Vastra Frolunda
• 28 — 6’0″ 187 lb — Lasse KUKKONEN — Avangard Omsk
• 27 — 6’7″ 220 lb — Olli MALMIVAARA — JyPHT Jyvaskyla
• 27 — 6’0″ 185 lb — Markus SEIKOLA — Ilves Tampere
• 26 — 6’3″ 210 lb — Joni PITKANEN — CAROLINA
• 26 — 6’1″ 190 lb — Topi JAAKOLA — SK Sodertalje
• 25 — 6’1″ 200 lb — Anssi SALMELA — ATLANTA
• 25 — 6’0″ 190 lb — Sami LEPISTO — PHOENIX

Forwards

• 39 — 6’0″ 196 lb — Teemu SELANNE — ANAHEIM
• 36 — 6’0″ 194 lb — Jere LEHTINEN — DALLAS
• 36 — 5’11″ 185 lb — Ville PELTONEN — Dynamo Minsk
• 36 — 5’10″ 185 lb — Sami KAPANEN — Kalpa Kuopio
• 35 — 5’10″ 178 lb — Saku KOIVU — ANAHEIM
• 34 — 6’1″ 204 lb — Jarkko RUUTU — OTTAWA
• 31 — 6’3″ 215 lb — Olli JOKINEN — CALGARY
• 30 — 6’0″ 210 lb — Niklas HAGMAN — TORONTO
• 30 — 5’9″ 180 lb — Niko KAPANEN — Ak Bars Kazan
• 29 — 6’0″ 190 lb — Antti MIETTINEN — MINNESOTA
• 29 — 6’0″ 200 lb — Riku HAHL — HC Vastra Frolunda
• 28 — 6’0″ 190 lb — Mika PYORALA — PHILADELPHIA
• 27 — 6’0″ 210 lb — Jarkko IMMONEN — Ak Bars Kazan
• 27 — 5’11″ 180 lb — Janne PESONEN — Ak Bars Kazan
• 26 — 6’2″ 200 lb — Mikko KOIVU — MINNESOTA
• 26 — 5’11″ 198 lb — Jussi JOKINEN — CAROLINA
• 26 — 6’0″ 205 lb — Tuomo RUUTU — CAROLINA
• 26 — 6’1″ 190 lb — Ville LEINO — DETROIT
• 25 — 5’10″ 205 lb — Sean BERGENHEIM — NY ISLANDERS
• 25 — 6’0″ 193 lb — Valtteri FILPPULA — DETROIT
• 25 — 5’11″ 185 lb — Antti PIHLSTROM — BK Farjestad Karlstad
• 25 — 6’0″ 197 lb — Petri KONTIOLA — Metallurg Magnitogorsk
• 23 — 6’1″ 196 lb — Lauri KORPIKOSKI — PHOENIX
• 23 — 6’1″ 194 lb — Petteri NOKELAINEN — ANAHEIM
• 22 — 6’4″ 215 lb — Oskar OSALA — Hershey (AHL)