World Juniors 2023: Team Finland roster, schedule, scores at 2023 IIHF World U20 Championship

Bryan Murphy

World Juniors 2023: Team Finland roster, schedule, scores at 2023 IIHF World U20 Championship image

Finland was inches away from a gold medal at the 2022 tournament. Literal inches. 

After coming back from 2-0 to force overtime, the team had a chance in the extra frame to score, but a Kasper Puutio attempt was knocked down by Mason McTavish at the goal line and swiped away before it could cross over. A minute later, Kent Johnson put home his own rebound at the other end to send Canada into celebration. 

Finland will again be a strong contender at the 2023 World Juniors and will likely be battling for a medal by the end. Predators prospect Joakim Kemell returns after leading the Finns in points with 12 at the 2022 games. Only McTavish recorded more points out of all the skaters.

Other key returners for Finland are forwards Brad Lambert, Ville Koivunen and Oliver Kapanen and defensemen Aleksi Heimosalmi.  

MORE: Watch the 2023 World Juniors live with fuboTV (free trial, U.S. only)

Here is everything you need to know about Team Finland at the 2023 World Juniors, including their roster, schedule and results of their games. 

Team Finland 2023 World Juniors roster

Forwards

Name NHL Rights (Draft)
Niko Huuhtanen Lightning (2021 7th round)
Lenni Hämeenaho 2023 draft-eligible
Konsta Kapanen Undrafted
Oliver Kapanen Canadiens (2021 2nd round)
Aleksanteri Kaskimäki Blues (2022 3rd round)
Joakim Kemell Predators (2022 1st round)
Ville Koivunen Hurricanes (2021 2nd round)
Brad Lambert Jets (2022 1st round)
Verner Miettinen Undrafted
Jani Nyman Kraken (2022 2nd round)
Sami Päivärinta Undrafted
Topi Rönni Flames (2022 2nd round)
Kalle Väisänen Rangers (2021 4th round)

Defensemen

Name NHL Rights (Draft)
Kalle Ervasti Undrafted
Aleksi Heimosalmi Hurricanes (2021 2nd round)
Aleksi Malinen Islanders (2021 6th round)
Ville Ruotsalainen Undrafted
Otto Salin Kings (2022 5th round)
Jimi Suomi Undrafted
Topias Vilén  Devils (2021 5th round)

Goalies

Name NHL Rights (Draft)
Niklas Kokko Kraken (2022 2nd round)
Aku Koskenvuo Canucks (2021 5th round)
Jani Lampinen Undrafted

When do the 2023 World Juniors start?

  • Start date: December 26, 2022
  • End date: January 5, 2023

With the 2023 tournament starting at the usual time of the year, that means the competition kicks off the day after Christmas, December 26. 

The group stage starts will take place over the first six days. The quarterfinals will be played on Jan. 2, the semifinals on Jan. 4 and the tournament will conclude with the bronze and gold medal games on Jan. 5.  

Team Finland World Juniors schedule

The format for the 2023 World Junior Championship consists of two groups of five teams playing a preliminary round-robin to determine seeding, followed by a single-elimination tournament.

Finland draws into Group B. The team is joined by USA, Switzerland, Slovakia and Latvia in the group. 

(All times Eastern)

Date Opponent Result Time (ET) TV Info
Dec. 26 Switzerland L, 3-2 (OT) FINAL TSN, NHLN
Dec. 27 Slovakia W, 5-2 FINAL TSN, NHLN
Dec. 29 Latvia W, 3-0 FINAL TSN, NHLN
Dec. 31 USA L, 6-2 FINAL TSN, NHLN
Jan. 2 Sweden (Quarterfinals) L, 3-2 11 a.m.  TSN, ESPN+

How to watch 2023 World Juniors games on TV, live stream

  • ​TV channel (Canada): TSN
  • Live stream (Canada): TSN.ca, TSN app
  • TV channel (U.S.): NHL Network
  • Live stream (U.S.): fuboTV 

TSN and the NHL Network will again be home to all of the action for the 2023 World Juniors.

Canadian viewers can watch the competition on TSN or can stream the games through TSN.ca or on the TSN app. 

The American audience can view the games live on TV on the NHL Network, or can stream them through fuboTV. 

2023 World Juniors odds

According to Sports Interaction, the 2023 tournament is a four-horse race. 

Canada, Finland, the United States and Sweden are the clear frontrunners to win this year's tournament, with the Canadians holding the best odds at -125. 

Here are the odds entering the 2023 tournament.

Team Odds
Canada -125
USA +338
Finland +419
Sweden +625
Czechia +1641
Slovakia +4676
Switzerland +6430
Germany +11600
Latvia +50000
Austria +50000

Bryan Murphy

Bryan Murphy Photo

Bryan Murphy joined The Sporting News in 2022 as the NHL/Canada content producer. Previously he worked for NBC Sports on their national news desk reporting on breaking news for the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, in addition to covering the 2020 and 2022 Olympic Games. A graduate of Quinnipiac University, he spent time in college as a beat reporter covering the men’s ice hockey team.