There is a tendency to assume that all of the pressure is on Canada and the United States at this already compelling, oft-times surprising men’s hockey tournament in Milan.
That would be an incorrect assumption.
For instance, it’s fair to say there was a fair amount of angst in Finland, angst reflected in the media coverage of the team, after Team Finland dropped a 4-1 decision to a youthful Team Slovakia to open the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
The question, for National Hockey League players taking part in their first Olympic tournament since 2014, is how you deal with that kind of external angst. How do you deal with knowing an entire nation is on the edge of their collective seats with each goal scored, each goal allowed?
“Comparable is probably the Maple Leafs. Maybe something like that. Especially media. If you lose in a big tournament, especially against the worst team on paper, that they expect you to win and you lose, they think it's a disaster,” explained Finnish star Mikko Rantanen.
“But we don't really read the news. It doesn't bother us, but that's how it is,” added Rantanen who had an empty-net goal as the Finns bounced back in their second game of group play with a solid 4-1 win over arch-rival Sweden.
In this tournament it’s not how you start it’s how you finish, but for teams with high expectations, like the Finns, early wobbles can damage the confidence, especially when fans and the media are at your door clamouring for answers.
“We’ve been through it. I think everybody's been through that,” said veteran Finnish defenceman Olli Maatta. “Everybody knows what it is. You lose a game, everything's burning and you win a game and all of a sudden they're planning for a parade.”
“So, I think for us, the big thing is to stay an even keel and I think we have a veteran group here. The guys have been through a lot, so it really doesn't faze us a lot. It's the next game. You learn from that and what can you do better? Maatta added.
This is Maatta’s second Olympics having earned a bronze medal in Sochi 12 years ago.
He is grateful for the opportunity to be on this stage once again and maybe that helps with the perspective when there’s the odd hiccup on this current Olympic journey.
“What I remember from Sochi was an unbelievable experience. I always watched [the Olympics] when I was a kid from, I can't remember, 2002, Salt Lake City? But I woke up in the middle of the night watching those games and it's unbelievable that we're playing them now and I think you're more grateful and thankful that you have a chance to do this,” Maatta said.
The native of Jyvaskyla is 31. In four years, who knows whether a third Olympic will be on Maatta’s agenda. He sure isn’t contemplating that right now.
“I don't personally think like that. I think it's so far away that anything can happen really,” Maatta said. “My mind's where my feet are, that's probably a more good way to describe me. I just try to go to work every day and good things are going to happen when you do good things daily. That's what I believe in and let's hope I can be there too, but it's definitely special. It's not any more, not any less special than the last one and I do appreciate it, I am grateful to be here.”
(Feature photo courtesy of Getty Images)