Finland’s Aatos Koivu will have the opportunity to showcase himself next month with the aim of representing his country at the next Junior Ice Hockey World Championships.
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The third-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in the last draft will wear the colors of Finland during the 5-nation tournament, which takes place from November 6th to 10th. This is a preparatory tournament for the World Juniors that will take place in Ottawa during the holiday season.
The 18-year-old Koivu was selected among 13 attackers for this tournament.
The CH candidate has had good times since the start of the season at TPS Turku in the Liiga, the best Finnish professional league. He scored one goal and four assists in 16 games, despite playing primarily on the team’s fourth unit. He also picked up a point in two games with the Turku junior club.
He is currently ranked eighth in the entire Liiga among players under the age of 20. If we only target players under 19, he comes in fourth place.
During the tournament, Koivu will face another CH prospect, while defenseman Rasmus Bergqvist, a seventh-round pick from CH in the last draft, will represent Sweden.
Low representation
Bleu-blanc-rouge is expected to be poorly represented at the next Junior World Championships, while only two other hopefuls have a realistic chance of taking part.
Latvian goalkeeper Mikus Vecvanags, a fifth-round pick in 2024, is expected to defend his country’s cage after being part of the U18 team last spring. He is playing this season with the Brooks Bandits of the BCHL.
Forward Michael Hage, the team’s second first-round pick in the last draft, increased his chances of receiving an invitation from Canada after his outstanding start to the season with the University of Michigan in the NCAA. However, if he is not considered this year, as a 19-year-old player he will certainly be considered next year.
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