Finland lost its first game of the final leg of the 2024-25 Euro Hockey Tour on Thursday night in Brno, Czechia 4-2 to the host Czechs. Finland’s goals were scored by Lenni Hämeenaho of Ässät Pori and defenseman Veli-Matti Vittasmäki of German club Kölner Haie – the latter was a late addition to the roster.

“The guy came on hard, maybe we weren’t quite ready and the game started off a little badly, but we were able to improve as the game progressed,” Hämeenaho said after the game. “Today’s game was tougher and more physical than the (previous exhibition) games against Sweden. I noticed that the level has risen.”

Juuse Saros stopped 30 of 33 shots in the Finnish goal – Jakub Lauko beat him in the third minute of the game and also scored a late goal into the empty net.

Pastrnak Will Play For Czechs In Worlds, But Not This Weekend In Euro Hockey Tour Multiple Czech media outlets reported on Monday that David Pastrňák has finally agreed to play for his home country in this year’s IIHF World Championship. Czech national team GM Jiří Šlégr confirmed the news after the team’s practise.

Finland’s roster currently includes five NHLers, including Saros and Nashville Predators backup goalie Justus Annunen. Also on the team are forwards Joona Koppanen of the Pittburgh Penguins, Juuso Pärssinen of the New York Rangers and Eeli Tolvanen of the Seattle Kraken.

Under previous coach Jukka Jalonen, Finland often relied on European-based players who were familiar with the team’s system ahead of NHLers, but it will be interesting to see if new coach Antti Pennanen decides to add any players who are eliminated from the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Report: NHL Teams Interested In Finnish D-Man Valtteri Pulli According to Finnish media outlet MTV, multiple NHL teams are interested in the services of 23-year-old Finnish defenseman Valtteri Pulli, who currently plays in Switzerland for HC Lugano.

Goaltenders: Justus Annunen, Juuse Saros (both Nashville, NHL), Emil Larmi (Växjö Lakers, SWE).

Defensemen: Robin Salo, Lassi Thomson (both Malmö Redhawks, SWE), Atro Leppänen (Sport Vaasa), Tony Sund (IFK Helsinki), Mikko Lehtonen (ZSC Lions, SUI), Valtteri Pulli (HC Lugano, SUI), Rasmus Rissanen (Linköping HC, SWE), Vili Saarijärvi (SCL Tigers, SUI), Mikael Seppälä (HV 71, SWE), Jesse Virtanen (HC Ambri-Piotta, SUI), Veli-Matti Vittasmäki (Kölner Haie, GER).

Forwards: Eemil Erholtz, Lenni Hämeenaho, Jan-Mikael Järvinen (all Ässät Pori), Hannes Björninen, Patrik Puistola (Örebro HK, SWE), Jesse Kiiskinen (HPK Hämeenlinna), Petteri Puhakka (Tappara Tampere), Joona Ikonen (Malmö Redhawks, SWE), Waltteri Merelä (SC Bern, SUI), Joona Koppanen (Pittsburgh, NHL), Juho Lammikko (ZSC Lions, SUI), Ahti Oksanen (Lausanne HC, SUI), Juuso Pärssinen (New York Rangers, NHL), Harri Pesonen (SCL Tigers, SUI), Mikael Ruohomaa (Frölunda HC, SWE), Tommi Tikka (HV 71, SWE), Eeli Tolvanen (Seattle, NHL).

11 NHLers On Swedish Roster At Last Pre-Worlds Tourney The NHL contingent on the Swedish national team has now risen to 11 as the team approaches its last tune-up before the IIHF World Championship, and that’s the Czech Hockey Games this weekend – the final leg of the 2024-25 Euro Hockey Tour.