Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff wrote an article about Red Wings prospect Jesse Kiiskinen, who apparently feels that he can contribute more to the Finnish cause at the World Junior Championship:
On paper, the evidence is suggesting that Detroit Red Wings prospect Jesse Kiiskinen is enjoying a strong IIHF World Junior Championship for Finland.
He’s leading the Finns in goals (four) and points (five). Kiiskinen, though, is summarily unimpressed with his performance.
“I don’t really know,” Kiiskinen told Finnish website Ilta-Sanomat. “I haven’t played my best yet. Fortunately, I have been able to help the team by scoring goals.”
The winger Detroit was acquiring last summer from the Nashville Predators in a deal for defenseman Andrew Gibson, Kiiskinen and the Finns are facing Sweden and Red Wings defense prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka in Saturday’s semifinals.
Kiiskinen was playing a significant role in getting Finland to this stage. In their 5-3 quarter-final win over Slovakia, Kiiskinen would score the game’s opening goal just 1:10 into the contest. He would then set up Jesse Nurmi to make it 2-0 before the game was four minutes old.
“This was my best game in this tournament,” Kiiskinen acknowledged.
