Finland secured the bronze medal in the 2026 men’s Olympic hockey tournament with a decisive 6-1 victory over Slovakia on Saturday. This win was not unexpected, as Finland has consistently been a stronger and deeper team than Slovakia, which was a surprising participant in the medal round. Finland has a history of winning medals at major men’s tournaments.
This is particularly true for events featuring NHL players.
Finland’s remarkable consistency and its ability to overcome challenges in this tournament highlight its status as one of the most underrated teams in international hockey.
Finland is among the elite hockey nations
In any international hockey competition, Canada is often seen as the top contender due to its talent. The United States has risen to this level over the last ten years, while Sweden has consistently been a powerhouse.
Russia is always a strong competitor and a favorite to win medals as well.
These four teams typically receive the most attention and recognition.
Finland, while respected for its solid two-way play, often does not receive the same recognition as these teams.
However, it should.
With Saturday’s bronze win, Finland has now earned medals in five of the six Olympic tournaments involving NHL players, the most of any country. Canada and the United States have won four and three medals, respectively, while Sweden, Czechia, and Russia each have two. No other country has achieved a medal in tournaments involving NHL players.
Including the non-NHL tournaments in 2018 and 2022, where Finland won gold in 2022, Finland has medaled in seven of the last nine Olympic tournaments, placing it among the top hockey nations.
This bronze medal is particularly notable because Finland achieved it without two of its leading players.
Star center Aleksander Barkov (Florida Panthers) did not play in the tournament, as he has missed the entire 2025-26 NHL season so far.
Additionally, just before the bronze-medal game, they learned that top forward Mikko Rantanen (Dallas Stars) would be out due to an injury sustained in the semifinal.
Despite these setbacks, Finland’s ability to win four out of six games and return home with another medal is a significant achievement. While they may not always showcase the biggest names in the league, their disciplined playing style, attention to detail, and depth of two-way players make Finland a constant contender.
They deserve to be recognized alongside Canada, the United States, and Sweden, especially as they continue to win at a comparable rate.