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Winter Olympics 2018: Men’s hockey power rankings

By Derek Grochowski

This picture taken on February 14, 2017 shows South Korea's ice hockey team player US-born Mike Testwuide (L) during a practice session at a rink in Goyang, northwest of Seoul.South Korea sit 23rd in the world ice hockey rankings and have never qualified for the Winter Olympics' blue riband event. But as the host nation of Pyeongchang 2018 they have an automatic berth and are scrambling to build a competitive roster to avoid embarrassment. / AFP PHOTO / JUNG Yeon-Je / TO GO WITH AFP STORY Oly-2018-ihockey-KOR-CAN-SKorea-social BY HWANG Sung-Hee (Photo credit should read JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images)
This picture taken on February 14, 2017 shows South Korea's ice hockey team player US-born Mike Testwuide (L) during a practice session at a rink in Goyang, northwest of Seoul.South Korea sit 23rd in the world ice hockey rankings and have never qualified for the Winter Olympics' blue riband event. But as the host nation of Pyeongchang 2018 they have an automatic berth and are scrambling to build a competitive roster to avoid embarrassment. / AFP PHOTO / JUNG Yeon-Je / TO GO WITH AFP STORY Oly-2018-ihockey-KOR-CAN-SKorea-social BY HWANG Sung-Hee (Photo credit should read JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 20: Sami Lepisto
TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 20: Sami Lepisto /

3. Finland

Finland had the chance to field an extremely strong line up if NHL players were eligible. Rasmus Ristolainen and a young core group of forwards like Patrick Laine and Alexander Barkov would have been dynamic. There is not a lot of Olympic experience on this roster. Sami Lepisto was on the 2010 and ’14 team. Karri Ramo will be an interesting player to watch during the tournament. It is unclear who the starter in net will be for Team Finland but Karri Ramo will have a chance to play his way back into the NHL.

Finland will be bringing some of the best prospects in the tournament. Miro Heiskanen is a talented young defenseman drafted third overall by the Dallas Stars last year. Heiskanen is not even twenty years old but playing in the top league of Finland. It is likely he will be on the Stars or their AHL team next season.

The prospect who may have a break out performance is Eeli Tolvanen. Tolvanen has played this season in the Russian KHL league and having a great season. He also represented Finland during the World Junior tournament and had a strong performance. It will be interesting to see if these two rising stars can carry their country to a medal.

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