Finland announced its Sochi Winter Olympics squad earlier today. Kari Lehtonen was the only Dallas Star to be named to the squad and will join an impressive trio of goaltenders.
Kari Lehtonen was selected alongside NHL goaltenders Antti Niemi and Tukka Rask. It appears likely that he will make up the third goaltender of these three but it is an honour for Lehtonen to be selected with so many strong Finnish goaltenders.
The whole of the squad looks like this:
Goalkeepers:
Kari Lehtonen, Antti Niemi, Tuukka Rask
Defensemen:
Lasse Kukkonen, Juuso Hietanen, Sami Lepistö, Olli Määttä, Sami Salo, Kimmo Timonen, Ossi Väänänen, Sami Vatanen
Forwards:
Juhamatti Aaltonen, Aleksander Barkov, Valtteri Filppula, Mikael Granlund, Jussi Jokinen, Olli Jokinen, Mikko Koivu, Leo Komarov, Petri Kontiola, Lauri Korpikoski, Jori Lehterä, Antti Pihlström, Tuomo Ruutu, Teemu Selänne
Here is Puck Daddy’s look at the squad from earlier today.
Team Canada, Sweden and Russia have, as of writing, still not announced their respective rosters. Pundits appear to think that Jamie Benn has a good chance of being selected for Canada. Russia could possible select Sergei Gonchar and young Valeri Nichushkin to play in their home Olympics.