Finland has become the second-to-last country to announce their roster for the 2026 World Junior Championships. This news leaves Team Latvia as the only country yet to announce their tournament roster. Finland’s roster features 25 players, indicating that no cuts will be made from this group. Finland will be led by returnees Emil Hemming, Heikki Ruohonen, and Aron Kiviharju, who joined the country for a Silver Medal finish last year. The full roster is as follows:
F Emil Hemming (Stars, 2024, 1-29)
F Atte Joki (Stars, 2025, 5-146)
F Onni Kalto (2026 re-entry draft eligible)
F Aatos Koivu (Canadiens, 2024, 3-70)
F Jasper Kuhta (2026 draft eligible)
F Julius Miettinen (Kraken, 2024, 2-40)
F Kasper Pikkarainen (Devils, 2024, 3-85)
F Heikki Ruohonen (Flyers, 2024, 4-107)
F Joona Saarelainen (Lightning, 2024, 5-149)
F Oliver Suvanto (2026 draft eligible)
F Leo Tuuva (2026 re-entry draft eligible)
F Matias Vanhanen (2026 re-entry draft eligible)
F Roope Vesterinen (2026 re-entry draft eligible)
F Max Westergard (Flyers, 2025, 5-132)
D Lasse Boelius (Ducks, 2025, 2-60)
D Mitja Jokinen (2026 re-entry draft eligible)
D Aron Kiviharju (Wild, 2024, 4-122)
D Daniel Nieminen (Predators, 2025, 6-163)
D Niklas Nykyri (2026 re-entry draft eligible)
D Juho Piiparinen (2026 draft eligible)
D Veeti Vaisanen (Mammoth, 2024, 3-96)
D Arttu Vailila (2026 re-entry draft eligible)
G Patrik Kerkola (2026 draft eligible)
G Petteri Rimpinen (Kings, 2025, 5-152)
G Kim Saarinen (Kraken, 2024, 3-88)
The Finns will bring yet another formidable group to what’s shaping up to be a fantastic World Juniors tourney. Their offense and top powerplay units will be led by volume-shooter Hemming and playmaking-center Ruohonen, who both scored four points in seven games. They built out the team’s second-line, in rotation with Lightning prospect Benjamin Rautiainen and Sharks prospect Kasper Halttunen. Hemming has ramped up to above point-per-game scoring in the OHL this season, while Ruohonen has taken on the third-line center role as a freshman at Harvard University. That should be a nice boost for both forwards as they look to take on push forward Finland’s offense.
The duo of returning forwards will get a ton of help from Finland’s new additions. Aatos Koivu, son of 1,124 NHL game-veteran Saku Koivu, is in his second season of routine pro minutes. He brings a hot shot and quick playmaking, attributes that have helped him score eight points in 10 games with Finland’s international juniors roster already this season. Miettinen and Vanhanen have taken on star roles with the WHL’s Everett Silvertips, where their mix of chemistry, hard hits, and quick passing have overwhelmed junior competition. The side will also be supported by top draft eligible Suvanto – one of the youngest players in Finland’s Liiga, and the 2026 draft class. He has matched Koviu’s Liiga scoring this season, and is considered a top-25 prospect by many public scouts.
More important than their returning forwards will be Finland’s returning starter. Rimpinen played in the most games, and posted the second-highest save percentage, in last year’s tournament with five wins and a .933 Sv% in seven games. His performance was pivotal to Finland’s tournament success and quickly earned him attention from NHL scouts. Rimpinen went on to win the Liiga’s ’Rookie of the Year’ award at the end of the 2024-25 season. He has cooled slightly after posting a .912 Sv% in 40 games last year, now down to an .894 Sv% in 23 games this year. But that shouldn’t keep Rimpinen from fortifying Finland’s net at the World Juniors. Saarinen, who has 48 games of Liiga experience, will serve as backup.
The question marks around this lineup will be concentrated around the defense. No one defender brings a full-ice impact, leaving Finland to take a bit of a committee approach. Kiviharju and Boelius will dominate puck-movement for the top defender pairs and power-play units, while Nykyri, Piiparinen, and Vaisanen bring a physical and shutdown presence. The rest of the bunch will fall somewhere in between, looking to help control the neutral zone for a Finnish squad that isn’t expected to dominate transition. Piiiparinen will be a particular name to watch. He is another top prospect in the 2026 draft, with commendable shutdown qualities and a quick jump. He’s been graded as a first-round talent by many public scouts.
This lineup notably exlcudes Buffalo Sabres top prospect Konsta Helenius, who is no longer expected to be loaned out for the tournament despite previous reports. Helenius ranked second on the team in scoring at last year’s tournament with six points – all assits – in seven games. He would be a serious addition to the lineup should Rochester have a change of heart. That seems unlikely, though, as Helenius has racked up a team-leading 23 points in 25 AHL games this season while serving as the team’s top center. Should he be added late, it would likely be Tuuva or Kuhta cut to make space.
Photo courtesy of Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images.