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# Topi Niemelä and Roni Hirvonen named to Team Finland for the WJC
- URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/topi-niemela-and-roni-hirvonen-named-to-team-finland-for-the-wjc-maple-leafs-prospects-world-junior/
- Published: 2021-12-08T12:03:19.000Z
- Updated: 2021-12-08T12:03:19.000Z
- Description: This is just the preliminary roster, but there’s no question they’ll make the cut.
- Author: Cathy Squires
- Tags: IIHF World Championships, #chorus, #Import 2023-04-05 11:27

Today Finland announced their roster for the 2022 World Junior Championships in Red Deer, Alberta. This is their longer, preliminary roster, and it will be cut down before they begin play on December 26.

Both of the Maple Leafs picks from 2020 are on the roster as expected. Both played last year for Team Finland where they won a bronze medal.

**Maalivahdit:**  
1 Meriläinen Leevi, Kingston Frontenacs, OHL  
30 Blomqvist Joel, Kärpät Oulu  
31 Jatkola Juha, KalPa Kuopio

**Puolustajat:**  
3 Rafkin Ruben, TPS Turku  
4 Ottavainen Ville, JYP Jyväskylä  
6 Viro Eemil, TPS Turku  
7 Niemelä Topi, Kärpät Oulu  
10 Puutio Kasper, KalPa Kuopio  
15 Nurmi Petteri, HPK Hämeenlinna  
21 Heimosalmi Aleksi, Ässät Pori  
25 Määttä Rami, Ässät Pori

**Hyökkääjät:**  
13 Järventie Roby, Belleville Senators, AHL  
19 Mäenpää Juuso, KalPa Kuopio  
20 Helenius Samuel, JYP Jyväskylä  
22 Hirvonen Roni, HIFK Helsinki  
23 Väisänen Kalle, TPS Turku  
24 Koivunen Ville, Kärpät Oulu  
27 Kapanen Oliver, KalPa Kuopio  
28 Päivärinta Sami, Lukko Rauma  
29 Simontaival Kasper, KalPa Kuopio  
32 Määttä Joel, Univ. of Vermont  
33 Lambert Brad, JYP Jyväskylä  
34 Räty Aatu, Jukurit Mikkeli  
35 Nikupeteri Olli, Luleå, Ruotsi  
37 Kemell Joakim, JYP Jyväskylä

Roni Hirvonen is playing for HIFK this year, where he has 13 points in 26 games played. Topi Niemelä is having a breakout year for points with Kärpät, where he has 22 points in 27 games, fuelled by top power play unit usage. That’s very impressive for a junior on a good team. Niemelä is seventh in the Liiga in points — not for players his age — for any player.

Last year at the WJC, Hirvonen was insulated by Anton Lundell, now with the Panthers, and Niemelä played second pair behind Ville Heinola, now being kept in the minors by the Jets. This year, with both of them 19, they will be expected to lead the team.

Finland doesn’t want a bronze again, they want to challenge for gold.