Hurricanes forward named to his country’s Olympic roster for the Beijing Olympics
Sebastian Aho’s plans for the hockey season have suddenly gotten busier.
But it’s a good kind of busy for the Carolina Hurricanes center.
Aho was one of three players chosen to play for Finland in the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing. He was selected along with Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers and Mikko Rantanen of the Colorado Avalanche as the NHL and NHL Players Association, along with the IIHF, requested each participating team pick three players as provisional selections for the Games.
“Obviously it’s an honor,” Aho said Thursday in a media interview. “As of now I’m just trying to get myself ready for this upcoming season. The Olympics are still pretty far away and I don’t think (of) that stuff that much as of now. But obviously it’s an honor to be on that team.”
While the announcement was made Thursday, Aho said he was contacted a few days ago and told he was one of three provisional selections — if healthy and eligible, he will be on the Finnish roster. The final team rosters will be announced in January 2022.
The NHL will take an Olympic break from Feb. 3 to Feb. 22, and the hockey competition in Beijing is set for Feb. 4-20.
Aho, 24, said he expects an “unreal atmosphere” at the Games, saying he can remember watching Finnish teams compete in every Olympics since 2006 in Torino, Italy.
“Team Finland played pretty well every time there,” Aho said. “It’s going to be awesome to play for Team Finland. Very special.”
Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour called Aho’s selection a “no-brainer” and said Thursday he expects a “handful” of his players to potentially be on Olympic rosters.
There also is a concern.
“I’m not a big fan of it as a coach,”Brind’Amour said. “Nothing good can come out of it as far as health. You’re just worried they’re either going to be worn out or you know ...
“But the experience of it, I’m really excited for them to go. I’d encourage all of them to do it because these are great moments that they’ll have forever.”
Brind’Amour was a member of Team Canada in the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan, as Canada’s best pro players were able to compete for the first time. Team Canada failed to medal, losing to the Czech Republic in the semifinals and then to Finland, but being a part that ‘98 team remains a special memory for Brind’Amour.
“When you put on the jersey and you’re playing for your country the stakes go up a little higher,” Brind’Amour said.
Aho has developed into one of the NHL’s most consistent stars in his four years in the league. He was on the verge of his first 40-goal season in 2019-20 when the pandemic brought the season to a close in March — Aho finished with 38 goals in 68 games — and has been a point-per-game player for the Canes.
“He’s matured, both as a player and as a person,” Brind’Amour said.
The NHL did not allow its players to participate in the 2018 Pyeongchang Games after an agreement could not be reached with the NHLPA. But they’re going back for the 2022 Games.
This story was originally published October 7, 2021 at 1:27 PM with the headline "Hurricanes forward named to his country’s Olympic roster for the Beijing Olympics."
