Article content

Kasper Halttunen and Jesse Nurmi didn’t settle for silver at the world junior hockey championships. They celebrated it.

Article content

Article content

“It was an amazing journey to get that medal,” Halttunen said after he and Nurmi rejoined the London Knights this week following Finland’s second-place finish in Ottawa. “It means the world being with that group going on five years. I know it’s not gold but we were so close when everyone was doubting us after the first game (a 4-0 loss to Canada).”

Article content

The Finns dropped a 4-3 overtime heartbreaker to back-to-back champion United States. But they were also the only team to beat the Americans (also 4-3 in overtime in pool play Dec. 29) in the tournament.

“It’s a pretty big thing for us,” Nurmi said. “Nobody knew we would be in the finals and that medal is a big thing for Finnish (hockey) history. They’re proud of us (back home). We have so good chemistry as a team. That’s one of the biggest things and we stick to our system pretty good, always.”

Halttunen only scored once in the tournament, but so many opponents gave him the Alex Ovechkin treatment on the power play. They didn’t want any part of his wicked one-timer.

“I guess that means something if the teams are playing me like that,” the 6-foot-3, 207-pound Sharks prospect said. “It’s great for the other guys and we have more options than just that shot. It’s the same in London – we have a lot of ways to score. In a shorter tournament, no one wants to give up any free goals so you try to find ways to still get the shot off – maybe move a little more.

“It sucks, but it means something there’s a dangerous weapon out there.”

Article content

Article content

Nurmi had his best offensive game with a two-goal, three-point outing in a quarterfinal win over Slovakia. That propelled the Finns to the final four while the host Canadians checked out against Czechia.

“It’s always nice to score,” the Islanders draft pick said. “It was a big game for us moving to the semifinals. I wanted to help the team that way with those goals and it feels good. It was pretty crazy (in Ottawa) with all the fans there. They’re always ready to play hockey in Canada.

“It’s a big thing.”

Halttunen has developed a habit of performing in the biggest games in junior hockey. He has already won an OHL title and played in the Memorial Cup final last June in Saginaw.

Last year in Sweden, he was part of Finland’s run to the bronze-medal game, which they dropped to Czechia.

“That’s why you play this game,” he said. “You dream of those games. You try to enjoy it and take everything in and have some fun out there. It was unfortunate being on the losing side, but you always put your (maximum) effort into it.

“I feel like the excitement and the waiting before those games, you can’t feel that anywhere else.”

Article content

TRADE DEADLINE: If you look historically at most Memorial Cup rosters, they often have seven to 10 NHL draft picks, a couple of first-rounders and a few world junior players.

The Knights have 13 NHL draft picks, four first-rounders and five world junior players. So they have the usual metrics already covered.

London GM Mark Hunter already made a big play in acquiring defenceman Cam Allen before the Christmas break. As of Wednesday, there are still some big scorers who would fit in well with a contender – Ottawa captain Luca Pinelli and Sudbury’s Quentin Musty, for example – but the prices for talent are sky high at the moment.

The Knights don’t play again until after the trade deadline Friday afternoon so it won’t be a distraction for long.

“A deadline is in every sport,” London coach Dale Hunter said. “As a player, you always wonder what’s going on but you play the game Friday and it will all be done by then.”

On Wednesday, Brampton, a pre-season favourite, added over-age defenceman Konnor Smith from Owen Sound for seven draft picks, including two second-rounders. Smith, an OHL champion with Peterborough two years ago, had only played eight games this season due to injury.

Article content

On Tuesday, Kingston parted with Jr. Knights grad Ethan Weir and eight draft picks (including two second-rounders) for Saginaw forward Joey Willis. The Frontenacs also sent 17-year-old defenceman Xander Velliarias and eight draft picks to the Spirit for centre Ethan Hay and defenceman Will Bishop, a Londoner.

Oshawa picked up Canadian world junior defenceman Andrew Gibson for first-round forward Brady Smith and eight draft picks. Barrie traded away rookie first-rounder Parker Vaughan of St. Thomas over-age forward Zach Wigle and four draft picks to North Bay for 58-goal scorer Anthony Romani and Battalion over-age forward Owen Van Steensel, a 41-goal man last year who hails from Ilderton.

It was interesting to see two Elgin-Middlesex grads Vaughan and Van Steensel part of the same Colts-Troops deal.

rpyette@postmedia.com

Article content