Finland's players celebrate after winning the men's gold medal hockey game of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games against Russia's Olympic Committee at the National Indoor Stadium in Beijing on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022.KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP/Getty Images
Sheets of paper rained down like super-sized confetti on the bench, which players leapt off at full speed to pile on top of goaltender Harri Sateri with such force that they knocked the net off its moorings.
After finally accomplishing what so many Finland teams before were unable to do, there was plenty of strength to go around. Finland, known as Suomi in Finnish, is now synonymous with gold.
The Finns knocked off the favoured Russians 2-1 Sunday to win the men’s hockey tournament without NHL players at the Beijing Games, capturing an Olympic gold medal for the first time in the country’s history.
“We got what we came here for,” Finland defenceman Sami Vatanen said.
White papers are tossed in the air near Finland coaches after defeating the Russian Olympic Committee in the men's gold medal hockey game at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing.ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP/Getty Images
Finland had never won at the Olympics on the men’s or women’s side. It last reached the final in 2006 and lost to Sweden, matching the silver from 1988.
The defending champion Russians had to settle for silver instead of going back to back.
Finland's Hannes Bjorninen celebrates his goal during the men's gold medal hockey game against the Russian Olympic Committee on Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing.Jae C. Hong/The Associated Press
For the Russian hockey players, no matter the name, the silver in the men’s tournament was the 32nd medal the country’s athletes earned in Beijing. Just not the gold they expected.
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Finland players pose for a group photo with their gold medals.DAVID W CERNY/Reuters
Finnish fans celebrate early morning as Finland won the gold medal match against Russia's Olympic Committee ROC in downtown Helsinki, Finland, on Feb. 20, 2022.Antti Aimo-Koivisto/The Associated Press