Here is an interview with Jussi Jokinen which was given before the Finnish Team had played Russia.  Juha Hiitelä has been a great friend of Caniacs and Canes Country.  It will be fun to show him Southern hospitality in Helsinki.  

(about Slovakia game) – It was a big win. Again it was a must win game, because otherwise we would have needed points from Russia to get quarterfinal. We've handled tough times very well in this tournament and now we have a chance to play for winning the qualifying round. But we still have big games ahead. We haven't gone anywhere yet.

(his first 2 goals of the tournament) – Of course it's relief. It's one of my job here in this tournament. So far, I've been mostly playmaker in our line. Team needs my goals if we want to go to the final game. Goals improve confidence on scoring chances.

(about Finland's power play) – It has gone the right direction. We've had good scoring chances on power plays all the time. In last three games we've scored a power play goal on each game. If you score one goal on the power play per game, that's a good result. Probably we need more pp goals in some games.

(about great pass of Nummelin for JJ's first goal) – If we go way back to Oulu, I've played with many good offensive forwards. There's been Kimmo Lotvonen (JH: former Finnish league pdlayer), Janne Niinimaa, Joni Pitkänen and obviously Petteri Nummelin on the national team. I like to play with top offensive defender and in this team it is Nummelin. 

It was a great pass, I got chance to score from a very familiar place and to put the puck into my favorite spot in the net.

(about Finland scoring only 7 goals in 4 games before Slovakia, and in that game 5 goals) – I hope it will help us. Many guys who needed goals, got one. That's important.

(about game against Russia) – The longer we can keep them scoreless, they will become frustrate and will try to play as individuals.