hf101 Posted May 22, 2016 Share Posted May 22, 2016 Finland will be the only Country to win Triple Gold in a single year if they win the Men's Championship later today. They've already won the under 18 tournament and the under 20 tournament. Wow, that's rather awesome for such a small country. Goalies Niklas Bäckström (Calgary Flames) Mikko Koskinen (SKA Pietari) Juuse Saros (Nashville Predators/Milwaukee Admirals) Defense Juuso Hietanen (Dynamo Moscow) Topi Jaakola (Jokerit) Tommi Kivistö (Avtomobilist Jekaterinburg) Lasse Kukkonen (Kärpät) Esa Lindell (Dallas Stars/Texas Stars) Atte Ohtamaa (Jokerit) Ville Pokka (Chicago Blackhawks/Rockford IceHogs) Anssi Salmela (Brynäs IF) Forwards Sebastian Aho (Kärpät) Aleksander Barkov (Florida Panthers) Mikael Granlund (Minnesota Wild) Jussi Jokinen (Florida Panthers) Mikko Koivu (Minnesota Wild) Leo Komarov (Toronto Maple Leafs) Jarno Koskiranta (SKA Pietari) Patrik Laine (Tappara) Jani Lajunen (Tappara) Antti Pihlström (CSKA Moscow) Teemu Pulkkinen (Detroit Red Wings) Mika Pyörälä (Kärpät) Mikko Rantanen (Colorado Avalanche/San Antonio Rampage) Tomi Sallinen (Djurgårdens IF) So what makes this roster so great? Plain and simple it is the focus with great coaching and player development. From the New York Times - http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/19/sports/hockey/finland-hockey-triple-gold-new-coaching-approach.html?_r=2 In 2009 the Finnish National Federation realized they were falling behind in player development to systems in Canada, USA, Sweden, and Russia as each of these countries were producing more elite players. The Finnish Federation had an internal meeting of basically anyone involved with player development to figure out a way to do things better. The federation hired 4 national coaches to work with club coaches and elite players. They also changed the way they approached the game. The focus was on making individual players better so the team as a whole could develop with greater skill. After tournaments, video was sent of each player to the club coaches and would show what was needed for that player to work on in between tournaments. This development plan has obviously worked along with a strong team concept with good structure, good defense, and good goaltending. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluPuk Posted May 23, 2016 Share Posted May 23, 2016 Ahem.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyercanuck Posted May 23, 2016 Share Posted May 23, 2016 5 minutes ago, BluPuk said: Ahem.... Sorry Finland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hf101 Posted May 23, 2016 Author Share Posted May 23, 2016 @BluPuk, @flyercanuck You have to admit it was a good story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyercanuck Posted May 23, 2016 Share Posted May 23, 2016 Just now, hf101 said: @BluPuk, @flyercanuck You have to admit it was a good story. With an awesome ending! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hf101 Posted May 23, 2016 Author Share Posted May 23, 2016 4 minutes ago, flyercanuck said: With an awesome ending! Canada may have won the game, but the Finns have shown they have a built a script for success. One of which has gotten noticed for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyercanuck Posted May 23, 2016 Share Posted May 23, 2016 10 minutes ago, hf101 said: Canada may have won the game, but the Finns have shown they have a built a script for success. One of which has gotten noticed for sure. I don't know what they've done with their hockey program, but they're developing some great young players at every position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluPuk Posted May 23, 2016 Share Posted May 23, 2016 Not sure who I'd draft after seeing that tourney. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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