Ilves defenseman Jarkko Parikka and forwards Joona Ikonen, Eemeli Suomi and Tommi Tikka have been named to the Finnish national team that plays in a Euro Hockey Tour tournament in Switzerland 15–18 December. Ikonen and Tikka will make their national team debuts in the tournament.
Finland’s national team continues its season in a Euro Hockey Tour tounament that takes place for the first time in Switzerland. Finland’s first game against Czechia will be played in Helsinki on 15 December and games against Sweden and Switzerland take place in Fribourg. The Finnish roster includes Ilves defenseman Jarkko Parikka, 25, and forwards Joona Ikonen, 24, Eemeli Suomi, 27, and Tommi Tikka, 27.
Defenseman Jarkko Parikka has recorded 7 points (3 goals, 4 assists) in 24 Liiga games this season. His plus-minus rating +16 is the second best in the league. Earlier in his career Parikka has played 16 games for the national team.
Joona Ikonen leads the league in goals scored and is fourth in points after scoring 27 points (15 goals, 12 assists) in 26 games. The forward is also the league’s leader in powerplay goals and game-winning goals. Ikonen was already selected to the national team for the Finland’s Euro Hockey Tour tournament in November but he had to skip the tournament because of illness.
Ilves captain Eemeli Suomi has amassed 8 goals and 18 assist in 22 games and is fifth in the league in points and assists. The product of the Ilves academy has played 21 games and scored 8 points (4 goals, 4 assists) for the national team so far.
Playing his first season for Ilves, forward Tommi Tikka, 27, has recorded 8 goals and 8 assists in 26 Liiga games.
Ilves juniors
Finland’s under-18 girls national team hosts a tournament in Vierumäki 15–17 December. The tournament is the teams last event before the World Championship tournament in January. Finnish roster includes Ilves defenseman Nanna Timonen, 16, who has recorded 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists) in 23 games in the Finnish Women’s League.
Under-16 boys national team plays three games against Sweden 16–18 December. The games take place in Oulunsalo, Muhos and Oulu. After Christmas Finland hosts a five nations tournament in Imatra and Lappeenranta 27–31 December. Ilves defenseman Ossi Tukio, 15, was selected to the roster for the five nations tournament. Tukio has scored 14 points (3 goals, 11 assists) in 17 games for the Ilves U16 team this season.
Rosters
