The biggest problem Team Finland might face in Sochi is who to start in net.
Finland announced its roster for the 2014 Winter Olympics on Tuesday, and while the Finns lack the all-around depth of teams such as Canada and Sweden, they are loaded with goaltending talent.
Boston Bruins netminder Tuukka Rask, who ranks fourth in the NHL in goals against average and second in save percentage, will make his Olympic debut and seems to be playing the best hockey of the bunch, which also includes Dallas Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen and 2013 Vezina Trophy finalist Antti Niemi.
None of the three have competed in the Olympics before, but Rask and Niemi both have Stanley Cup rings to their credit. Niemi, now with the San Jose Sharks, won a Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010. Lehtonen, who has the longest NHL tenure of the three goaltenders, has represented Finland seven times in international competition.
In all, Finland’s roster features 16 current NHL players, including Anaheim Ducks forward Teemu Selanne, who has competed in every Olympiad since NHL players were allowed into the competition in 1998. Selanne also competed in the 1992 games as an amateur.
Finland has never won Olympic gold, but it has medaled in five of the last seven games, including earning bronze in Vancouver in 2010.
See the team’s full roster below.
Forwards: Juhamatti Aaltonen, Aleksander Barkov, Valtteri Filppula, Mikael Granlund, Jussi Jokinen, Olli Jokinen, Mikko Koivu, Leo Komarov, Petri Kontiola, Lauri Korpikoski, Jori Lehtera, Antti Pihlstrom, Tuomo Ruutu, Teemu Selanne
Defensemen: Lasse Kukkonen, Juuso Hietanen, Sami Lepisto, Olli Maatta, Sami Salo, Kimmo Timonen, Ossi Vaananen, Sami Vatanen
Goalies: Kari Lehtonen, Antti Niemi, Tuukka Rask
