Finland's Mikael Granlund is loving life as part of Finland's gold medal bid in Tampere.
photo: Andre Ringuette / HHOF-IIHF Images
Mikael Granlund knows all about gold medal games. Sunday’s clash with Canada will be his third time in the final of an IIHF World Championship. But 11 years after helping the Leijonat to take gold in Bratislava, the 30-year-old centre reckons representing his country is every bit as exciting today.
And now he’s 60 minutes away from potentially adding a second gold to his collection – and perhaps banishing some unhappy memories of his last World Championship final in 2016.
To hear Granlund talk, it feels like something he’s tried to forget. There’s only a fuzzy recall of events in Moscow as the Finns slipped to a 0-2 loss and the Canadians repeated thanks to a Connor McDavid wonder goal.
“We lost to Canada, 1-0, maybe 2-0,” he said. “I think that was my last one.” In fairness to Granlund, Canada added an empty net goal with less than a second remaining, a forgettable footnote to a frustrating evening for the Finns.
And now he’s 60 minutes away from potentially adding a second gold to his collection – and perhaps banishing some unhappy memories of his last World Championship final in 2016.
To hear Granlund talk, it feels like something he’s tried to forget. There’s only a fuzzy recall of events in Moscow as the Finns slipped to a 0-2 loss and the Canadians repeated thanks to a Connor McDavid wonder goal.
“We lost to Canada, 1-0, maybe 2-0,” he said. “I think that was my last one.” In fairness to Granlund, Canada added an empty net goal with less than a second remaining, a forgettable footnote to a frustrating evening for the Finns.
Fast forward to 2022, with Canada in wait once again in Tampere, and there’s nothing fuzzy about Granlund’s focus.
“It’s been a real treat to be here, to play in front of these fans. It was no different today, and we’ve got one more to go,” he said after Saturday’s 4-3 victory over the USA in the semi-final.
“It’s the greatest thing, you play yourself into this situation, you have a chance to compete about the gold medal so let’s just get prepared for that and try to enjoy every single moment.”
Granlund already has World Championship gold in his trophy cabinet. In 2011 his spectacular lacrosse goal was arguably the defining plays of the tournament in Bratislava. That defeated Russia in the semi-final, not bad for someone who was still a junior player at the time. Later Granlund picked up his ninth point of the tournament as Finland thrashed Sweden 6-1 in the final.
“It’s been a real treat to be here, to play in front of these fans. It was no different today, and we’ve got one more to go,” he said after Saturday’s 4-3 victory over the USA in the semi-final.
“It’s the greatest thing, you play yourself into this situation, you have a chance to compete about the gold medal so let’s just get prepared for that and try to enjoy every single moment.”
Granlund already has World Championship gold in his trophy cabinet. In 2011 his spectacular lacrosse goal was arguably the defining plays of the tournament in Bratislava. That defeated Russia in the semi-final, not bad for someone who was still a junior player at the time. Later Granlund picked up his ninth point of the tournament as Finland thrashed Sweden 6-1 in the final.
“It’s been 11 years now, but we have a chance this year,” Granlund said. Of the 2011 tournament itself his focus is less on his memorable goal and more on the impact Finland’s win had back home.
“When we won it before, it was 1995,” he said. “That was like 16 years, and the World Championship is such a big thing in Finland.
"My goal was big, but the bigger thing was that we actually won the gold medal.
“It was awesome to be a part of that. You could see how happy the people were, how proud to be from Finland. Hopefully I can get that feeling again.”
Granlund was on the World Championship roster in 2012 and 2013 when Helsinki was co-host with Stockholm. However, as he grappled first with the transition from promising youngster to high-profile leader, then with his first year in the Minnesota Wild organisation, he was unable to repeat his impact from Slovakia. The Finns, too, fell short of their highest standards, failing to medal in either tournament.
Since then, though, Finnish hockey has steadily risen. Olympic bronze in Sochi was followed by World Championship finals in 2014 and 2016. Then, under current head coach Jukka Jalonen, it was back to Bratislava for gold in 2019, followed by silver in 2021 and Olympic gold in Beijing. Saturday’s semi-final success guarantees another medal in Tampere – surprisingly, Finland’s first on home ice – and Granlund is thrilled to be a part of it.
“As soon as everything was sorted out I wanted to come,” he said of his dash from Tennessee to Tampere after the Predators came out of the NHL play-offs. “I wanted to play, it’s such an honour to play for team Finland. It’s a little gift, it’s the proudest thing to play for this jersey.
“I’m glad I came and it’s been fun.”
“When we won it before, it was 1995,” he said. “That was like 16 years, and the World Championship is such a big thing in Finland.
"My goal was big, but the bigger thing was that we actually won the gold medal.
“It was awesome to be a part of that. You could see how happy the people were, how proud to be from Finland. Hopefully I can get that feeling again.”
Granlund was on the World Championship roster in 2012 and 2013 when Helsinki was co-host with Stockholm. However, as he grappled first with the transition from promising youngster to high-profile leader, then with his first year in the Minnesota Wild organisation, he was unable to repeat his impact from Slovakia. The Finns, too, fell short of their highest standards, failing to medal in either tournament.
Since then, though, Finnish hockey has steadily risen. Olympic bronze in Sochi was followed by World Championship finals in 2014 and 2016. Then, under current head coach Jukka Jalonen, it was back to Bratislava for gold in 2019, followed by silver in 2021 and Olympic gold in Beijing. Saturday’s semi-final success guarantees another medal in Tampere – surprisingly, Finland’s first on home ice – and Granlund is thrilled to be a part of it.
“As soon as everything was sorted out I wanted to come,” he said of his dash from Tennessee to Tampere after the Predators came out of the NHL play-offs. “I wanted to play, it’s such an honour to play for team Finland. It’s a little gift, it’s the proudest thing to play for this jersey.
“I’m glad I came and it’s been fun.”
Mikael Granlund during an interview.
photo: Andre Ringuette / HHOF-IIHF Images
Working with the titled Jalonen and his assistant Mikko Manner is also a big attraction.
“They’re top class coaches,” Granlund said of the duo. “We’ve seen it for the last few years. Is this the fourth final in a row or something? It’s special.
“They’ve been doing a good job and the players are all buying into this. That’s why it’s fun to play for team Finland. Everybody buys in, we’re all the same.”
However, while Finnish players are making ever greater impacts on NHL rosters, so far the country’s coaching talent has yet to get a look across the Atlantic.
Granlund, though, believes that Jalonen and others have plenty to offer across the water.
“I don’t see any reason why they couldn’t,” the Oulu native said. “Time will tell what’s going to happen with that, but I think there’s a lot of things overall that European coaches could bring to the NHL.”
And if Finland can shoot down Canada in a World Championship final, that will only serve to further enhance the credentials of Jalonen & Co.
“They’re top class coaches,” Granlund said of the duo. “We’ve seen it for the last few years. Is this the fourth final in a row or something? It’s special.
“They’ve been doing a good job and the players are all buying into this. That’s why it’s fun to play for team Finland. Everybody buys in, we’re all the same.”
However, while Finnish players are making ever greater impacts on NHL rosters, so far the country’s coaching talent has yet to get a look across the Atlantic.
Granlund, though, believes that Jalonen and others have plenty to offer across the water.
“I don’t see any reason why they couldn’t,” the Oulu native said. “Time will tell what’s going to happen with that, but I think there’s a lot of things overall that European coaches could bring to the NHL.”
And if Finland can shoot down Canada in a World Championship final, that will only serve to further enhance the credentials of Jalonen & Co.