Photo credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Hockey Hall of Famer Teemu Selanne took to social media to call out the officials at the 2026 Winter Olympics following Canada’s semifinal win over Finland on Friday.
It wasn’t easy for Canada, who went down 2-0 after a Mikko Rantanen power play goal in the opening frame, before Erik Haula extended Finland’s lead while shorthanded early in the second period.
Canada would bounce back though as Sam Reinhart scored on the power play late in the second period, while Shea Theodore tied the game with less than ten minutes remaining in the third period and Nathan MacKinnon potted the game-winner with under a minute to play, and his goal has caused some frustration among Finnish fans and former players, such as Teemu Selanne.
Teemu Selanne calls out officials following Canada’s semifinal win over Finland
With Canada pressing deep in Finland’s zone, defenseman Niko Mikkola high-sticked forward Nathan MacKinnon, which wasn’t seen by the official at the time, but a few seconds afterwards his hand went up, much to the dismay of the Finnish bench.
Just as the penalty was about to expire, Connor McDavid passed it across to a wide open Nathan MacKinnon, who one-timed a shot that just squeaked by short-side on Finnish netminder Juuse Saros, giving Canada a 3-2 lead with 35 seconds left in the game.
Some fans weren’t too happy with the call, whether it be about Nathan MacKinnon’s head snapping back “too violently” or that the Canadian star lifted Niko Mikkola’s stick prior to the penalty and in a post on social media, Hockey Hall of Famer Teemu Selanne shared his displeasure with the officials.
“Beating greatest hockey country in the world and Canadian referees same night is impossible I guess… absolutely embarrassing penalty 90 seconds to go in Olympic semifinal.. what a joke🤬” Selanne said.
While Finnish fans, understandably, took Teemu Selanne’s side, former Canadian Olympian and fellow Hockey Hall of Famer Chris Pronger shared his opinion on the game, saying that regardless of what the call was, Finland shouldn’t have been playing that defensively for the final 30 minutes of the game when they knew they needed more offense to defeat Canada.
I hear ya Teemu but you know as well as I do you cannot sit back for 30+ mins in this type of tournament and not expect bad things to happen. 🤷🏼♂ Just sayin” Pronger said.
With the loss, Finland’s dreams of defending their Olympic gold medal have disappeared and they’ll now have to get ready for today’s Bronze Medal Game against Juraj Slafkovsky and Team Finland, with puck drop set for 11:40 am PT.
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
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Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame legend blasts Olympic officials after Canada’s semifinal win over Finland
Do you think the officials made the right call on Niko Mikkola’s high-stick on Nathan MacKinnon?