Tuo Teräväinen is set to fulfill his lifelong dream of representing Finland at the Olympics, but first, he needs a functional ice rink.
The Blackhawks forward had been keeping his selection for Finland's Olympic roster under wraps until coach Antti Pennanen spilled the beans in December. Now that the official announcement has been made, Teräväinen is excited to be part of the team and play in the Winter Games for the first time since 2014.
"It's a dream come true," Terävéinen said, chuckling when asked what he hopes to find in Milan - more than just pasta and pizza. Team Finland has some big stars in Mikko Rantanen, Sebastian Aho, Miro Heiskanen, and Juuse Saros, but their medal hopes took a hit after forward Aleksander Barkov suffered a torn ACL during training camp.
Teräväinen didn't receive much playing time at the 4 Nations Face-Off last February, so he's hoping for more this time around. The Blackhawks have created an effective line with Teräväinen alongside rookies Nick Lardis and Oliver Moore, who is playing center for the first time in the NHL.
"It's been fun to play with them," Terävéinen said of his new teammates. "They bring a lot of speed and excitement." His calm personality and defensive skills help stabilize the line, which has been effective at starting to move the puck down the ice and creating zone time.
However, the real challenge for Team Finland lies ahead - in Milan. The Olympic hockey arena is still under construction, with reports suggesting that it won't be finished until February. The ice surface will also be shorter than NHL regulations, and the neighborhood where it's located isn't exactly well-developed or convenient to the city center.
Despite these challenges, Teräväinen remains optimistic about Finland's chances. "I'm super happy for Teuvo," said Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill. "It's a great opportunity. You cherish moments like this when you get to represent your country."
As for Bedard, who skated individually again on Friday and shot pucks for the first time since his shoulder injury, there is still no definitive timeline for his return to action. But one thing is clear - he's making progress and will be excited to hit the ice again soon.
The Blackhawks forward had been keeping his selection for Finland's Olympic roster under wraps until coach Antti Pennanen spilled the beans in December. Now that the official announcement has been made, Teräväinen is excited to be part of the team and play in the Winter Games for the first time since 2014.
"It's a dream come true," Terävéinen said, chuckling when asked what he hopes to find in Milan - more than just pasta and pizza. Team Finland has some big stars in Mikko Rantanen, Sebastian Aho, Miro Heiskanen, and Juuse Saros, but their medal hopes took a hit after forward Aleksander Barkov suffered a torn ACL during training camp.
Teräväinen didn't receive much playing time at the 4 Nations Face-Off last February, so he's hoping for more this time around. The Blackhawks have created an effective line with Teräväinen alongside rookies Nick Lardis and Oliver Moore, who is playing center for the first time in the NHL.
"It's been fun to play with them," Terävéinen said of his new teammates. "They bring a lot of speed and excitement." His calm personality and defensive skills help stabilize the line, which has been effective at starting to move the puck down the ice and creating zone time.
However, the real challenge for Team Finland lies ahead - in Milan. The Olympic hockey arena is still under construction, with reports suggesting that it won't be finished until February. The ice surface will also be shorter than NHL regulations, and the neighborhood where it's located isn't exactly well-developed or convenient to the city center.
Despite these challenges, Teräväinen remains optimistic about Finland's chances. "I'm super happy for Teuvo," said Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill. "It's a great opportunity. You cherish moments like this when you get to represent your country."
As for Bedard, who skated individually again on Friday and shot pucks for the first time since his shoulder injury, there is still no definitive timeline for his return to action. But one thing is clear - he's making progress and will be excited to hit the ice again soon.
So Team Finland is gonna represent Finland at the Olympics but they don't have a functional ice rink yet lol what kinda setup do you think they're gonna use? Shortened ice surface in an underdeveloped area, that's not ideal 
. And let's be real, how hard can it be to finish building a hockey arena on time? 
This just seems like a recipe for disaster and I'm not sure how optimistic Teuvo is being here...
️ I just hope they can get it together and bring home some medals for Finland 
️ he's gonna crush it in Milan!! 
Team Finland has got this!! 
can't wait to see him play with those talented teammates Mikko, Sebastian, Miro and Juuse 
they're gonna move that puck like crazy!! 
and who cares about the ice surface tho? it's just hockey, right?? 
. and what if it gets too cold during the games? or there's some kinda equipment issue? Teräväinen seems cool about it tho, but i'm still skeptical 
.
HE'S THE MISSING PIECE TO THEIR MEDAL HUNT AND WITHOUT HIM, ITS GOING TO BE TOUGH TO COME BACK FROM 
BUT YEAH TEUVO IS GONNA DO HIS THING AND SHOW US WHAT HE'S MADE OF!!! 
. Winter Olympics are a big deal & Finland can't afford subpar ice conditions 
. Big stars like Rantanen, Aho, & Heiskanen deserve better 
Team Finland's gotta pull some magic tricks or something to make this happen. They should've planned way more ahead of time! 
i was thinking of trying it out on my pancakes this wknd... do u guys have any fave brands or recipes to share?
I mean, who builds an Olympic arena in Milan without finishing it first? Sounds like they're trying to set a new record for "Most Ice Games Delayed". Anyway, Teräväinen seems chill about it and I'm sure the pasta and pizza will be a nice consolation prize. And who knows, maybe Finland's got some surprises up their sleeve... or should I say, in their hockey stick? 
I'm sure it's not like the team has bigger expectations or anything... just that they might have a shot at actually winning. 
team finland has some talented players tho, can't wait 2 see them in action 
. And don't even get me started on the neighborhood - I'm pretty sure he'll be stuck in some crappy part of Milan just because they couldn't finish the arena construction in time 
... Anyway, I guess we'll just have to wait and see how it all plays out... probably with Finland getting crushed by some other team 
at least now we get to see him play without being stuck on that underwhelming 4 nations face-off squad from last year 
i mean, who needs more playing time than just being part of team finland with some actual NHL talent around him? 
Can't believe they're still not done w/ it. Short ice surface & construction issues? That's like, hockey 101 problems 
. And it gets worse... the Olympic arena isn't even done yet and the ice surface won't be NHL compliant 
. I mean, who doesn't love pasta and pizza? 
but this is the Olympics we're talking about, not a foodie vacation 
. It's like they're trying to put out a fire with a squirt gun 
. And let's not forget about the Blackhawks' new line-up - it's like a bunch of fresh-faced kids playing with a team of veterans 
. I'm rooting for Teuvo, but if Finland wants to make some noise in Milan, they're gonna need more than just heart 
. They need a solid game plan and some decent equipment 
he's literally going to represent finland in the olympics !!