Finland names the first three members of its men's Olympic hockey team

In advance of NHL player participation at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has requested that all participating teams provide a list of three provisional NHL players to be included in the men's Olympic national team roster. Team Canada and Team Sweden have already done so (links to those stories at the end of this one). Now it's Finland's turn.

Provided these players are healthy and remain eligible to participate in the Olympic Games, Finland has chosen forwards Sebastian Aho of the Carolina Hurricanes, Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers, and Mikko Rantanen of the Colorado Avalanche. Finland strayed a bit from Canada and Sweden, as each of those teams picked two forwards and a defenceman as their first three.

Rantanen and Aho are making their debuts representing their country at the Olympic games. Both have played for Finland in various other international tournaments. Barkov played for Finland at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, winning a bronze medal.

The Finnish men's team has never won a gold medal at the Olympics. However, the team has two silvers and four bronze. Finland has won gold at the World Hockey Championship, with its most recent being 2019.

Related: CANADA'S GENERAL MANAGER DOUG ARMSTRONG CHOOSES FIRST THREE PLAYERS FOR 2022 OLYMPIC ROSTER

TEAM USA'S FIRST 3 PICKS LEAKED BY DFO'S FRANK SERAVALLI

TEAM SWEDEN NAMES ITS FIRST THREE PLAYERS FOR THE 2022 OLYMPIC TOURNAMENT

CZECH REPUBLIC NAMES FIRST THREE PLAYERS FOR BEIJING 2022 ROSTER

MUST READ

1 hour ago  |  By Aaron Itovitch 900-Game NHL Veteran Likely to Retire After Refusing to Sign With Canadian Team

2 hours ago  |  By Aaron Itovitch Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving Addresses Struggling Player Nick Robertson in New Interview

4 hours ago  |  By Julien Trekker Terrifying Scene for Carolina Hurricanes Goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov as He Blacks Out on the Ice

17 hours ago  |  By Tom Banks Angry John Tortorella Calls Out One Flyers Player: Trade is Likely Per Elliotte Friedman

19 hours ago  |  By Tom Banks Quinn Hughes Ejected: Suspension May be Coming for the Reigning Norris Winner

20 hours ago  |  By Tom Banks Matvei Michkov Stuns With Crazy Quote in Post-Game Interview Following OT Winner

21 hours ago  |  By Tom Banks Jeremy Swayman on the Verge of Losing the Starting Role in Boston: His Contract Looks Like a Disaster

Nov 23  |  By TJ Tucker Detroit Red Wings Place Massive Six-Foot-Six Forward on Waivers

MORE STORIES