The World Junior Summer Showcase rosters for USA Hockey have already been released, and today we got a look at one of the countries they’ll have to face next week. Finland has released their final roster for the tournament and it includes several players already drafted by NHL clubs.
Rasmus Kupari, the first-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings this past June, is listed with the group and should have a good shot at being one of the leaders on the squad. His skill and ability at center ice should allow him to thrive, though he’ll still be just 18 when the winter tournament is underway. Interestingly Jesperi Kotkaniemi is not on the listed roster, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be on the World Junior team in December. There will still be plenty of changes to the roster, but this group will get the chance to prove their worth next week in Kamloops, British Columbia.
There are a pair of 2019 draft eligible standouts to watch in Anttoni Honka and Kaapo Kakko, as both are potential picks near the very top of the draft. Though there’s no guarantee the 17-year old players make the final cut, they are extremely exciting talents that should be interesting to see a glimpse of against some of their similarly-aged peers.
The full roster is below:
G Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (BUF, 54th overall, 2017)
G Lassi Lehtinen (undrafted)
G Filip Lindberg (undrafted)
D Toni Utunen (VAN, 130th overall, 2018)
D Santeri Salmela (undrafted)
D Aleksi Anttalainen (undrafted)
D Saku Vesterinen (undrafted)
D Otto Latvala (undrafted)
D Oskari Laaksonen (BUF, 89th overall, 2017)
D Joona Riekkinen (undrafted)
D Anttoni Honka (2019 eligible)
F Ville Petman (undrafted)
F Erkka Seppala (undrafted)
F Eetu Pakkila (NJD, 203rd overall, 2018)
F Aleksi Klemetti (undrafted)
F Teemu Engberg (undrafted)
F Linus Nyman (undrafted)
F Jesse Koskenkorva (undrafted)
F Sampo Ranta (COL, 78th overall, 2018)
F Aarne Talvitie (NJD, 160th overall, 2017)
F Kristian Tanus (undrafted)
F Kaapo Kakko (2019 eligible)
F Rasmus Kupari (LAK, 20th overall, 2018)
F Olli Maansaari (undrafted)
F Janne Jokinen (undrafted)
According to some who follow these sorts of things more closely than most, the main reason Kotkaniemi was left off the showcase was because he’s already viewed as a lock for the Juniors. Apparently the Finnish officials purposely went young to decide who will be favourites to fill out the roster.