If Finland are to reach the Final at the Avicii Arena in the Swedish capital on 25th May, they must first finish in the top four of a competitive Group A, then twice do something they haven't done since clinching their fourth title in 2022 - win knockout stage matches at the World Championship.
Defeats to Canada and Sweden, respectively, at the Quarter-Final stage of the last two editions resulted in seventh and eighth-placed finishes, and the Finnish public is unlikely to tolerate a similar performance for a third year running.
Since the 2024 tournament, head coach Jukka Jalonen left to lead Italy into their home Winter Olympics next year. The task of returning Finland to former glories has fallen to former assistant coach Antti Pennanen.
He will be expected to get off to a good start tomorrow, when Finland open the championship by taking on Austria.
The Austrians are well-versed in playing at the top level of international hockey, with 2025 their sixth successive year at the World Championship. The tests don't get much easier for the Finns, who will also face Latvia, Slovakia, Canada, Sweden, France and Slovenia in Group A.
Preparations for the tournament will not have eased many nerves ahead of the tricky group - after a win and a loss to Latvia a month ago, Finland one three and lost one friendly to Sweden, but then were well beaten by Czech Republic, Switzerland and the Swedes in the Czech Hockey Games series.
A rapid upturn in form is needed if Finland want to make their medal ambitions a reality.
For all the information on Finland's fixtures at the 2025 World Hockey Championship co-hosted by Sweden and Denmark, plus all the other matches, frequently asked questions and Finland's acheievments over the years, click here.
Lehtonen leads the Lions
Earlier today, Finland announced that defender Mikko Lehtonen will captain the team at the World Championship, continuing his impressive 2025 after winning the Champions Hockey League with ZSC Lions of Switzerland.
Lehtonen was a vice-captain to Mikael Granlund 12 months ago, and this time he will be assisted by two forwards - Chicago Blackhawk's Teuvo Teravainen and Hannes Bjorninen, of Sweden's Orebro.
Terevainen is one of six National Hockey League (NHL) players among the maximum 22 skaters and three goaltenders named in the squad for the World Championship
Of the 25, all bar Joona Ikonen and Jan-Mikael Jarvinen are eligible to play in the game against Austria.
Jarvinen is one of five Liiga players selected, though none represent the four teams who reached at least the Semi-Finals, including champions KalPa.
The Finland squad in full:
Goaltenders: Justus Annunen (Nashville Predators), Emil Larmi (Vaxjo Lakers), Juuse Saros (Nashville Predators)
Defenders: Rasmus Rissanen (Linkoping), Mikko Lehtonen (Zurich Lions), Tony Sund (HIFK Helsinki), Vili Saarijarvi (SCL Tigers), Nikolas Matinpalo (Ottawa Senators), Atro Leppanen (Sport Vaasa), Robin Salo (Malmo Redhawks), Mikael Seppala (HV71)
Forwards: Mikael Ruohomaa (Frolunda), Lenni Hameenaho (Assat), Waltteri Merela (SC Bern), Eeli Tolvanen (Seattle Kraken), Patrik Puistola (Orebro), Hannes Bjorninen (Orebro), Joona Ikonen (Malmo Redhawks), Ahti Oksanen (Lausanne HC), Jan-Mikael Jarvinen (Assat), Eemil Erholtz (Assat), Juuso Parssinen (New York Rangers), Harri Pesonen (SCL Tigers), Teuvo Teravainen (Chicago Blackhawks), Juho Lammikko (Zurich Lions)