Kiprusoff named to Finnish Olympic team
Last Updated: Wednesday, January 13, 2010 | 4:08 PM ET
By Chris Iorfida, CBC Sports
Calgary Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff was forced to sit out the Olympic Games in 2006. (Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press)Calgary Flames goalie Miikka Kiprusoff was among 23 players named to Finland's Olympic hockey roster on Tuesday.
Kiprusoff, 33, who missed the 2006 Games due to an injury, had said earlier this season that he didn't want to participate at the 2010 Vancouver Games unless he was the No. 1 netminder for Finland. He has since retreated a bit from that stance.
The goaltending-rich nation will also feature Niklas Backstrom (Minnesota) and Antero Niittymaki (Tampa Bay) at the position. Niittymaki helped lead Finland to a silver medal a the 2006 Torinto Olympics.
Left on the outside as a result are sophomore NHL netminder Pekka Rinne (Nashville) and impressive rookies Tuukka Rask (Boston) and Antti Niemi (Chicago).
Anaheim Ducks forward Teemu Selanne is scheduled to make his fifth Olympic appearance, tied for the most among active players. Selanne is currently on the sidelines with a hand injury, but is expected back sometime in January.
Veteran Dallas forward Jere Lehtinen will also be making a fifth appearance at the Games. Brothers Saku and Mikko Koivu of Anaheim and Minnesota, respectively, are also back for Finland.
Among the other NHL forwards are Jarko Ruuttu of the Ottawa Senators, Niklas Hagman of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Olli Jokinen of the Calgary Flames, Detroit's Valtteri Filppula, Tuomo Ruutu of Carolina, Antti Miettinen (Minnesota), Jere Lehtinen (Dallas).
The forward group is rounded out by onetime NHLers Ville Peltonen and Jarkko Immonen. Sami Salo of the Vancouver Canucks is part of a core group of veteran defenders that also includes Kimmo Timmonen (Philadelphia), Joni Pitkanen (Carolina), and Toni Lydman (Buffalo).
Sami Lepisto of the Phoenix Coyotes is also on the blue-line, along with a pair currently playing in Europe, Janne Niskala and Lasse Kukkonen.
Finland has won two silver and two bronze in men's Olympic hockey, all since 1988.
