Host and defending champion Finland announced its roster for the 2015 IIHF Inline Hockey World Championship that will take place from 5th to 11th July in Tampere.

Head Coach Timo Nurmberg’s squad includes 13 returnees from last year’s team that won gold at the 2014 Worlds in Pardubice, Czech Republic. For the most experienced player, Sami Markkanen, it will be the 14th IIHF Inline Hockey World Championship, for Kari Lohtander his 13th.

Most of the players play or played professional ice hockey too including Lasse Lappalainen (SaiPa Lappeenranta), Mikko Pukka (Vaasan Sport), Marko Virtala (TPS Turku) and Kristian Kuusela (Tappara Tampere), who all spent last season in the top Finnish league.

Finland will play archrival Sweden, the Czech Republic and Slovenia in Group A of the top division while Group B consists of Canada, the United States, Germany and Slovakia.

The Division I competition at the second rink includes Great Britain, Latvia, Austria and Bulgaria in Group C, and Australia, Croatia, Hungary and Argentina in Group D.

Click here for the event website.

Finnish inline hockey national team

Goaltenders:
Sasu Hovi, Pahalampi
Juha Taponen, Pepe Roller

Defencemen:
Jouni Aalto, KooVee Rollers
Lasse Lappalainen, Vuorelan Veikot
Sami Markkanen, KooVee Rollers
Petri Partanen, Vuorelan Veikot
Tomi Penttinen, Vuorelan Veikot
Mikko Pukka, Pahalampi
Jesse Saarinen, OSHC

Forwards:
Juho Joki-Erkkila, KooVee Rollers
Markus Jokinen, KooVee Rollers
Kristian Kuusela, KooVee Rollers
Tommi Laine, OSHC
Kari Lohtander, KooVee Rollers
Jimi Palanto, Pahalampi
Kim Stromberg, Pahalampi
Marko Virtala, OSHC