Habs' Koivu heads experienced Finland roster for Turin
HELSINKI -- Finland hockey coach Erkka Westerlund named eight Olympic medalists, including Montreal Canadiens captain Saku Koivu, on Thursday in his squad for next year's Winter Games in Turin.
As well as Koivu and his younger brother Mikko of the Minnesota Wild, the squad includes the Kapanen and Ruutu brothers, who all also play in the NHL.
Finland, which has an Olympic silver and two bronze medals, was runner-up in the last World Cup after losing to Canada.
In the preliminary round of February's Games, Finland is grouped with Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland and Italy.
Goalies: Kari Lehtonen (Atlanta Thrashers), Fredrik Norrena (Linkoping), Miikka Kiprusoff (Calgary Flames).
Defensemen: Kimmo Timonen (Nashville Predators), Ossi Vaananen (Colorado Avalanche), Sami Salo (Vancouver Canucks), Aki Berg (Toronto Maple Leafs), Teppo Numminen (Buffalo Sabres), Toni Lydman (Buffalo Sabres), Joni Pitkanen (Philadelphia Flyers).
Forwards: Teemu Selanne (Anaheim Mighty Ducks), Saku Koivu (Montreal Canadiens), Olli Jokinen (Florida Panthers), Tuomo Ruutu (Chicago Blackhawks), Ville Peltonen (HC Lugano), Antti Miettinen (Dallas Stars), Mikko Koivu (Minnesota Wild), Antti Laaksonen (Colorado Avalanche), Sami Kapanen (Philadelphia Flyers), Jukka Hentunen (HC Lugano), Jere Lehtinen (Dallas Stars), Jarkko Ruutu (Vancouver Canucks) and Niko Kapanen (Dallas Stars).
