Akademia Nauk magicznych im. Hermiony Granger

[Perfettis]

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is no stranger to the intense atmosphere of Finland-Sweden matchups, having backstopped his country to victory in previous encounters. Now, as part of Team Finland, hes excited for the next chapter in this heated rivalry at the 4 Nations Face-Off. The game between Finland and Sweden will take place at the Bell Centre in Montreal on February 15 at 1 p. m. ET and will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN+, SN, and TVAS.

"It's what you want when you're growing up; you want to be part of that game," Luukkonen told Shea Theodore 4NF Jersey. "The biggest game every year for us is when Finland plays Sweden, no matter the tournament. Everyone back home is watching, and it's what you dream about as a kid. It's going to be unreal to be a part of that. "

The 4 Nations Face-Off, an international hockey tournament, will feature teams composed of NHL players from Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the United States. The teams will compete in a round-robin format, beginning on February 12 at the Bell Centre in Montreal. The final round-robin game will be on February 17 at TD Garden in Boston, with the top two teams advancing to the championship match on February 20 in Boston.

For Luukkonen, this tournament marks his first time representing Finland at the senior mens level. He previously earned gold in the 2016 IIHF Under-18 World Championship in the United States, silver in 2017 in Slovakia, and gold at the 2019 World Junior Championship in Canada. Luukkonen was also the starting goaltender in Finland's 6-1 victory over Sweden in the 2016 U-18 final and in the 2019 World Juniors, where Finland defeated the U. S. 3-2 in the final.

"Ive never been part of the men's national team yet, so this being my first tournament, its a huge honor for me," said Luukkonen. "Its been a really good couple of years for me, finding my game and proving myself. This is one of the things everybody was looking forward to. It was a goal of mine, and it just proves that Im doing things right. "

The Finland-Sweden rivalry has deep roots, dating back nearly a century. Finlands first international game was a loss to Sweden in 1928, and the two countries met again in the 1952 Olympics in Oslo, where Finland lost 9-2 to Sweden. Despite Finland's smaller population of about 5. 5 million, the rivalry is intense, with each match treated as a national event, especially when Finland manages to secure a victory over its neighbor.

Swedens defenseman Mattias Ekholm, who plays for the Edmonton Oilers, reflects on the rivalry, saying, "Its funny how it works out; the big finals and the big games we've won have usually been against Finland. " Ekholm recalls key moments, such as Sweden's dramatic 5-1 comeback in the 2003 World Championship quarterfinal and the 2006 Turin Olympics final, where Sweden defeated Finland 3-2 for the gold.

Swedens forward Viktor Arvidsson, also part of Team Sweden for the 4 Nations Face-Off, added, "I think the rivalry has grown stronger over the years. When we won in 2006, it was a big point in the rivalry, and I think it sparked even more of a rivalry. "

For the 2025 tournament, Luukkonen will join fellow goaltenders Juuse Saros of the Nashville Predators and Kevin Lankinen of the Vancouver Canucks as part of Team Finlands impressive roster. Sweden, on the other hand, will feature players like Ekholm and Arvidsson. Finlands tournament begins against the United States on February 13 at 8 p. m. ET, while Sweden opens against Canada on February 12 at 8 p. m Kevin Lankinen 4NF Jersey. ET.

"I feel like we have a really balanced team," Luukkonen noted. "We have good goaltending, strong defense, and skilled forwards. I feel like we have a good roster to build a balanced team, and well be able to play the style our coach wants. "

The early start of Finland's game against Sweden will allow fans in Finland and Sweden to watch the match in prime time. Luukkonen mentioned that this timing is especially significant for his family and friends, who are often watching his games at odd hours due to the time difference.

"My dad wakes up at crazy times to watch me, but this game being in the evening is huge," Luukkonen said. "Not many times do your friends get to watch you play without it being in the middle of the night. This game will be extra important for everyone back home. "

As the rivalry continues to grow, the 4 Nations Face-Off promises to deliver a new chapter in this historic hockey clash. The competition will be a thrilling showcase of elite talent and national pride as Finland and Sweden go head-to-head once again.














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