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Four years ago, when Finland won the silver medal in Turin, Italy, Calgary Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff was roundly criticized for bowing out the tournament to rest a chronic hip problem. Antero Nittymaki stepped in for the goalie-rich Finns and did a credible job, helping them get all the way to the gold-medal game.

This year, Kiprusoff says he's planning to play, if he stays healthy.

"It's a big competition and there are a lot of good goalies, but definitely, I'm interested to go," said Kiprusoff, who noted that the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver will represent a last hurrah for a generation of Finnish-born players, including the Anaheim Ducks duo of Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu. With not a lot of impact youngsters on the horizon, it may be their last best chance for some time to win a gold.

"Yeah, we talk about it. Finland is not a big country, but it's been pretty successful in those tournaments - like World Cup (second place in 2004) and Olympics (second in 2006). You have to play as a team to win against these bigger countries. Canada is always the favourite. Russia and Sweden - there are so many good countries.

"It's going to be, what seven games this year? So it's not like Stanley Cup playoffs, best-of-seven, you win or lose one game, it's okay. So it's real different. So I think, every one of those top countries has a chance to win."