Notable absences from Finnish World Junior Summer Showcase team

After a training camp comprised of two teams in Vierumäki, in which both teams played a pair of exhibition games against visiting Czech and Swiss U20 teams, the Finnish Ice Hockey Association has named the 26-man roster that it will take to Plymouth, Michigan for the World Junior Summer Showcase from July 26 to August 3.

The most notable name on the list is Emil Hemming, the first-round draft pick of the Dallas Stars who is expected to return to TPS in the Finnish Liiga this upcoming season. Notable names left off include Buffalo Sabres’ first-round pick Konsta Helenius and Minnesota Wild fourth-rounder Aron Kiviharju – who was a top-rated prospect before a torn ACL cost him most of last season. Also absent are three players from last year’s World Junior roster who are eligible to play again – goaltenders Noa Valli and Eemil Vinni (Edmonton Oilers) and forward Kasper Halttunen (San Jose Sharks).

Presumably, Helenius, Kiviharju and Halttunen are considered safe bets by the Finnish staff to make the World Junior team despite their absence.

Goaltenders (3):
1 Louhivaara Veeti, JYP Jyväskylä
30 Vedenpää Visa, Kärpät Oulu (Seattle Kraken)
31 Saarinen Kim, HPK Hämeenlinna (Seattle Kraken)

Defensemen (9):
2 Junkkari Jimi, Pelicans Lahti
3 Korkola Niko, Tappara Tampere
4 Jokinen Mitja, TPS Turku
5 Tuhkala Arttu, Luleå SWE
6 Kangas Kalle, HPK Hämeenlinna (Pittsburgh Penguins)
9 Pieniniemi Emil, Kärpät Oulu (Pittsburgh Penguins)
10 Peltonen Janne, Kärpät Oulu (Chicago Blackhawks)
12 Soini Sebastian, Ilves Tampere (Minnesota Wild)
13 Nykyri Niklas, HIFK Helsinki

Forwards (14):
11 Koivu Aatos, TPS Turku (Montreal Canadiens)
17 Hynninen Topias, Jukurit Mikkeli
18 Ruohonen Heikki, Kiekko-Espoo (Philadelphia Flyers)
19 Pikkarainen Kasper, TPS Turku (New Jersey Devils)
20 Leppä Tom, Michigan Tech NCAA
21 Saarelainen Joona, KalPa Kuopio
22 Kumpulainen Rasmus, Oshawa Generals OHL (Minnesota Wild)
23 Kiiskinen Jesse, HPK Hämeenlinna (Nashville Predators)
24 Nurmi Jesse, Bridgeport Islanders, AHL (New York Islanders)
25 Kuusla Emil, Jokerit Helsinki
26 Lind Onni, Jokerit Helsinki
27 Miettinen Julius, Everett Silvertips WHL (Seattle Kraken)
28 Hemming Emil, TPS Turku (Dallas Stars)
29 Alasiurua Arttu, Kärpät Oulu