Dec 30, 2016
Finland's Laine: 'We could beat' Canada
If the 2016 World Junior Hockey Championship hosts Finland were to meet Canada in the quarterfinals, at least a couple of Finnish players would welcome the challenge. Speaking to reporter Sami Hoffren about Canada's struggles in Group A, Finland's Patrik Laine said, "I wasn't completely convinced when I saw them. We could beat them."
TSN.ca Staff
If the 2016 World Junior Hockey Championship hosts Finland were to meet Canada in the quarterfinals, at least a couple of Finnish players would welcome the challenge.
Speaking to reporter Sami Hoffren about Canada's struggles in Group A, Finland's Patrik Laine said, "I wasn't completely convinced when I saw them. We could beat them."
Hoffren reported that Laine and teammate Jesse Puljujarvi with like to face Canada in a possible quarter-final matchup on Saturday.
Canada and Finland both sit third in their respective groups with one game remaining in the round robin. Canada plays Group A-winners Sweden on Thursday, while the Finns meet the Czech Republic.
The team that finishes second in one group will meet the third place team in the other in the quarterfinals, making a Canada-Finland matchup very much a possibility.
Laine, a draft-eligible winger, has three goals and four assists so far in the tournament, good for second in scoring just behind teammate Puljujarvi (three goals and seven assists). Both players are expected to go in the top five in June's 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
While Laine's confidence is admirable, history is not on the side of the Finns.
Canada is 23-8-6 all-time against the hosts, including 9-1 in their last 10 meetings.
Finland's last victory came in the 2014 semi-finals - a 5-1 win - on their way to a gold medal.