Finnish hockey is on the rise.
After capturing the World Junior Championship in 2016, the hockey world began to shift more of its attention to the small country. During the 2016-17 seaon, second overall pick Patrik Laine exemplified the skill that Finland has recently been brewing.
On Friday night, a record six of Laine’s fellow countrymen heard their name called in the first round of the 2017 NHL Entry draft. The highest selection was defenceman Miro Heiskanen, who was went to Dallas with the third overall pick. Defenceman Juuso Valimaki (16th overall to Calgary) and Kristian Vesalainen (24th overall to Winnipeg) were the only players selected by Canadian teams.
Finnish skaters haven’t had an easy time cracking the NHL in the past. In fact, it was once considered rare to see a player selected in the NHL Draft at all. In 2007, only four finns were selected whereas 23 were taken this weekend. That’s an increase of more than 80%.
The funny thing is that you’ve probably never heard of the players taken in 2007 considering none of them even played in an NHL game.
Finland failed to capture a medal at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey but their future is looking promising. With Laine, Rasmus Ristolainen and Jesse Puljujärvi already showing flashes of greatness, the 23 newly drafted players will only make them stronger in the future.
It’s great to see a new country enter the hockey-powerhouse mix.
(H/T r/Hockey)
