It looks like Finland is feeling pretty sour after losing to Canada in the Olympic men’s hockey semifinal. They’re not happy about the way the game was officiated, especially a penalty late in the game that led to Nathan MacKinnon’s winning goal.
Teemu Selänne, a Finnish hockey legend, criticized the referees. He noted that both officials, Eric Furlatt and Dan O’Rourke, are Canadian. Selänne tweeted, “Beating the greatest hockey country in the world and Canadian referees on the same night is impossible, I guess. Absolutely embarrassing penalty 90 seconds to go in the Olympic semifinal.. what a joke 🤬”
While Selänne’s frustration is understandable, replays showed Finnish player Niko Mikkola’s stick did hit MacKinnon in the face. The penalty was hard to overlook. The Olympics mix NHL and international referees, and while there’s a preference for NHL refs in high-stakes games, it’s tough to argue with the call in this case.
Joel Armia, another Finnish forward, also voiced concerns about the refereeing. He believed there was goalie interference on Canada’s game-tying goal by Brad Marchand. Armia remarked, “Five-on-five, they got one goal. That was goalie interference.”
Many fans online shared Armia’s view. Interestingly, Finland had a challenge available but chose not to use it for that play. Instead, they challenged Canada’s game-winning goal, which didn’t change the outcome.
Chris Pronger, a two-time Olympic gold medal winner from Canada, weighed in too. He told Selänne that a team playing too defensively often puts itself in a tough spot, and that might have been the case here.
Despite the heartache, Finland put up a great fight. Marchand acknowledged their effort after the game, saying, “They pushed; they’re such a good team and they compete so hard. They’re very opportunistic and dangerous.”
Looking ahead, Canada needs to improve its game if they want to secure another gold medal. They’ll face off against the United States in the final on Sunday at 8:10 a.m. EST.
As this drama unfolds, it’s a reminder of the fierce competition in Olympic hockey. The stakes are high, and even small calls can change everything.
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Finland, Joel Armia, Brad Marchand, Teemu Selanne, Nathan MacKinnon, Canada, Teemu Selänne, Olympic tournament, Shea Theodore, NHL, Chris Pronger, Niko Mikkola, Seth Jarvis
