Finland’s ice hockey team is set to enhance its roster for the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off by bringing in defensemen Henri Jokiharju from the Buffalo Sabres and Urho Vaakanainen from the New York Rangers.
On Sunday, the Finnish Ice Hockey Federation announced that Jokiharju and Vaakanainen would be stepping in as replacements due to injuries affecting Miro Heiskanen and Jani Hakanpää.
With only 11 defensemen from Finland currently active in the NHL, the selection pool was limited to just four players, as the other seven were already rostered for the tournament.
Among the replacements, Jokiharju and Vaakanainen carry the most experience.
In contrast, Ville Heinola of Winnipeg has participated in only 51 matches in the NHL, while Ottawa’s Nikolas Matinpalo has played just 19 since his league debut.
Coach Antti Pennanen expressed enthusiasm about welcoming Jokiharju and Vaakanainen, stating, “It’s great to have them on board. Both are very motivated and eager to represent their country in this tournament.”
The decision came after Finland confirmed Hakanpää’s unavailability; he has played just two games this season for Toronto and has been sidelined since mid-November due to a lower-body injury.
Furthermore, Miro Heiskanen, who would have been the leading defenseman for Finland, sustained a hit from Mark Stone during a game against Vegas on Tuesday, resulting in a lower-body injury.
The Dallas Stars have classified Heiskanen as week-to-week, and the Finnish team has acknowledged that he will not participate in the 4 Nations tournament.
“He’s the kind of player that any team would love to have,” remarked captain Aleksander Barkov regarding Heiskanen.
“He plays a key role defensively and contributes significantly to the offense, making him essential for Team Finland’s achievements. We wish him a swift recovery and to return in good health, as that is the most crucial consideration.”
Finland’s schedule for the tournament begins with a match against the United States on February 13, followed by a highly anticipated game against rival Sweden on February 15, and concludes with a face-off against Canada on February 17.
Meanwhile, Sweden is also monitoring some injury concerns, as William Karlsson of Vegas and Jonas Brodin from Minnesota remain sidelined.
On a positive note, Boston’s Hampus Lindholm is nearing a return from injury.
Canada still needs to find a replacement for Alex Pietrangelo, the two-time Stanley Cup champion and 2014 Olympic gold medalist, who has withdrawn from participation to address an ailment and prepare for the regular season’s remainder, according to statements from the Golden Knights.
