Latvia vs. Finland: Finnish Player Hits Linesman with Helmet in Fiery World Junior Clash

The World Junior Championship is a respected hockey tournament and fans around the globe are treated to raw talent and ferocious competition. But in such a high stakes scenario, emotions can run high, as seen most recently with Finland’s Veeti Vaisanen.

Vaisanen, a prospect for the Utah Hockey Club, was on the receiving end of some bad headlines after an unfortunate incident in the group stage of the tournament as Finland knocked off Latvia by a score of 3-0. The Finns kept up their pressure to finish second in their group but the focus was on a flashpoint for the Finns late on as Vaisanen kicked their beer.

The Incident

Vaisanen was penalised for roughing but showed his frustration in an unusual way. After he tossed his helmet on his way to the penalty box, the helmet smacked a linesman in the leg, as he was on his way to the penalty box. However to his credit, the official he maintained composure and didn’t end up escalating things any further. But some spectators were confused because Vaisanen wasn’t punished any further than that for the incident.

The lack of supplementary penalties seemed surprising, Latvia was already on a power play at that time. The game was long over for Latvia, but if this could have sparked a reaction, it could have had much bigger consequences, in a tournament in which discipline and respect for officials are at the fore.

Latvia’s Impressive Run

However, the game had something else going for it. Host nation Canada was already facing very tough questions by the time Latvia had already turned heads by beating them earlier in the tournament. They secured a quarterfinal berth a surprise victory that also made them one of the tournament’s most talked about sides. Latvia’s journey here is a tribute to how far their determination and skill can get them, despite falling short in that effort against Finland.

Looking Ahead

Latvia vs Finland: Finland are through to the quarterfinals and so are Latvia, with their ties starting on January 2. While the Vaisanen incident grabbed headlines, it is no different from other confrontations that arise in any sport and which draw attention simply because the stakes are at their highest and athletes have to keep their cool. As the tournament continues, everyone will be watching to see if players can let their feelings affect their play on the ice.