Finland Preview-

Hard Work Finlands Key to Success.

Finland is well prepared and is taking 
the 2000 World Cup with a out work 
the other team approach.

The team will be lead into the tournament 
by head coach Jukka Tamminen. Jukka coaches
Oulun Kärpät of the SM Liiga in Finland.
He also has spent time coaching team France
in international events.

Saku Koivu has been named team captain and
well surely be the teams leader both on the ice 
and in the dressing room. Koivu who has captained
team Finland on many other occasions should be comfortable 
with the C as he is also captain of the Habs of the TFNHL.

Many people would think they would see Saku
with Selanne on his wing, that may happening
if the offense isn't clicking in the first couple games
but the Fins are going with what has worked in the past and 
that is reuniting the Huey Duey and Lewy line.
Here is a preview of all 4 lines.

Line 1: Huey Duey and Lewy.
LW-Ville Peltonen, C-Saku Koivu, RW-Jere Lehtinen
This line has produced before and plays 
well together, will be the best all-round
#1 line in the tournament as all 3 players are 
very good defensivly and Koivu is arguably the best 
international player in the world.

Line 2: Best defense is offense.
LW-Sami Kapanen, C-Olli Jokinen, RW-Teemu Selanne
With Kapanen and Selanne this line will probably 
use high flying offense to counter attack an invasion 
from the other team. Jokinen will have to be on top 
of his game if wants to make this line productive.

Line 3: The Pesk Patrol
LW-Tomi Kallio, C-Niko Kapenen, RW-Jukka Hentunen
This line gets under the other teams skin and then 
attacks ya on the scoreboard while you are frustrated.
Niko , younger brother of Sami, will be the key to the offense
coming from this line.

Line 4: Crash and Bang
LW-Marko Toumainen, C-Antti Aalto, RW-Juha Lind
This line will see limited ice time but when called
upon there job is to go out there and stir the pot.

The defense is a strong group of guys 
and is probably one of the top defense corps 
in the entire tourney. 

Goaltending will be a weakness but Hurme
has the potential to step up and lead the way.

Finland just hopes to see a medal.

Finnish Reporter
S. Agoalio




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