LATEST | Former Canucks forward named making his way back into hockey
We're just over three months away from the start of the 2024 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship and teams are finalizing their coaching staffs for the event.
On Thursday, Finland named their coaching staff and among those on there are former Vancouver Canucks forward Jussi Jokinen, who retired from professional hockey back in 2021. Jokinen will serve as an assistant coach for Finland.
Jokinen, 40, appeared in 14 games for the Canucks during the 2017-18 season after being traded to them, along with Tyler Motte, from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Thomas Vanek. In those 14 games, Jokinen had ten points (four goals, six assists), two penalty minutes and was a plus-seven. The Canucks were also Jokinen's final NHL team as in the summer of 2018, he headed overseas, making a brief stop in Switzerland, before returning to Karpat in Liiga.
Jokinen's first game behind the bench will be tough as Finland takes on Canada on Boxing Day. They'll also face Germany, Latvia and Sweden in the preliminary round.
| POLL | ||
Who do you think will win the 2024 World Juniors? | ||
| Canada | 478 | 67.3 % |
| Finland | 66 | 9.3 % |
| Sweden | 107 | 15.1 % |
| United States | 59 | 8.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
