Finland Men's National Ice Hockey Team
The Finnish men's national ice hockey team, or Leijonat / Lejonen (The Lions in Finnish and Swedish), as it is called in Finland, is governed by the Finnish Ice Hockey Association. Finland is considered a member of the "Big Six", along with Canada, the Czech Republic, Russia, Sweden and the United States.
At the 2011 IIHF World Championship, Finland won a gold medal, beating Sweden in the final by a score of 6–1.
In the 2006 Winter Olympics, Finland won a silver medal, coming close to winning in the final but losing 3–2 to Sweden. Finland's goaltender Antero Niittymäki was named the MVP of the tournament (only 8 goals against in the whole tournament) and Teemu Selänne the best forward of the tournament.
Doug Shedden coached the team in the 2007–08 season. Under Shedden, Finland won bronze. His then-assistant coach Jukka Jalonen succeeded him as the head coach after the tournament.
The national team has retired Raimo Helminen's #14 and Jari Kurri's #17 jerseys. They currently hang in Hartwall Areena in Helsinki. Kurri is currently the general manager of the team.
Read more about Finland Men's National Ice Hockey Team: Olympic Record, Canada Cup Record, World Cup Record, World Championship Record, Notable Players, List of Head Coaches
Famous quotes containing the words men, national, ice and/or team:
“It is with such eyes ... that a pair of angels exiled among men ... gaze at one another in mutual recognition.”
—Stendhal [Marie Henri Beyle] (1783–1842)
“[The Republicans] offer ... a detailed agenda for national renewal.... [On] reducing illegitimacy ... the state will use ... funds for programs to reduce out-of-wedlock pregnancies, to promote adoption, to establish and operate children’s group homes, to establish and operate residential group homes for unwed mothers, or for any purpose the state deems appropriate. None of the taxpayer funds may be used for abortion services or abortion counseling.”
—Newt Gingrich (b. 1943)
“Not to like ice cream is to show oneself uninterested in food.”
—Joseph Epstein (b. 1937)
“giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle,
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.””
—Clement Clarke Moore (1779–1863)