Ex-spitfires shine for Finland
Rafkin and Piironen both have gone pro, but were welcome additions for Finns
A pair of former Windsor Spitfires helped put Finland on the podium at the world junior hockey championship, which wrapped up Monday in Edmonton.
Defenceman Ruben Rafkin and goalie Kari Piiroinen, who was a standout in goal, walked away from the Spitfires to sign pro after last season, but celebrated a bronze medal for Finland after a 4-3 win over Russia.
“Probably one of the top moments of my career,” the six-foot, 190-pound Rafkin said Tuesday.
At just 18, Rafkin was young to make the Finnish squad with most junior teams relying on older players.
“It was definitely something I didn't take (as) guaranteed,” said Rafkin, who was named to the Ontario Hockey League's all-rookie team last season. “For sure, a big thing for me.”
After two seasons with the Spitfires, the 19-year-old Piiroinen opted to return home and sign with Tappara in the Finish Elite League in late March. A week later, Rafkin signed with TPS in his hometown of Turku.
With the Canadian Hockey League still trying to get back on the ice, Rakin believes it was the right move with a chance to play and prepare for a chance to the Finnish team by being in game condition.
“Definitely it helped because the CHL is not even playing and I think they should figure out a way to get games going in North America,” Rakin said.
In Monday's bronze-medal game, Rafkin got a chance to see former Spitfires teammate Egor Afanasyev, who was playing for the Russian team.
“Just a quick, ` What's up, man?'” Rafkin said of the greeting.
The 19-year-old Afanasyev had a solid tournament for Russia with two goals and five points in seven games.
However, Piiroinen played a key role in keeping the Russians from earning a medal for a third straight year. Finland lost just two games in the tournament. One was to Canada to close out pool play; Piiroinen was named player of the game for Finland. The other was in the semifinals to the gold-medal champion Americans, who beat Canada 2-0 in the final.
Piiroinen made 28 saves against Russia, and Finland scored three unanswered goals in the third period for a 4-1 win to help the team to its fourth medal in eight years and first since winning the title in 2019.
For the tournament, Piiroinen posted the third-best goals-against average at 2.18 with a .915 save percentage.
“It was nice being with Kari again,” Rafkin said. “Good guy and good teammate. He was good for us.”
The Spitfires dropped the rights to Piiroinen to select Russian defenceman Daniil Sobolev in this year's CHL import draft. However, the team retained the rights to Rafkin, who is set to return to his pro team in Finland, but has not closed the door on getting back to Windsor some day.
“There is always a chance for everything, but right now I am focused on getting back to my pro team and winning there,” Rafkin said.