A second member of the Flyers’ defense will be headed to the Olympics in Italy.
Rasmus Ristolainen will play for Team Finland. Two days ago, it was announced that Travis Sanheim made Team Canada.
From Feb. 6-24, the Flyers will go 19 days without a game because of the NHL’s participation in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Rosters, which had to be submitted Wednesday, are starting to be announced.
Rodrigo Abols, one of the Flyers’ forwards, has already been named to Team Latvia.
Ristolainen scored a gold-winning goal for the Finns as a youngster at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship. He last represented Team Finland at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
The 31-year-old missed the 4 Nations Face-Off last February because of an injury. This will be his first Olympics.
“Very special,” Ristolainen said Friday in a Zoom press conference. “Missed the last two Olympics, the NHL didn’t go, and obviously you never know what happens in four years, so it could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Very excited.”
Ristolainen is in his fifth season with the Flyers and returned to action two and a half weeks ago after recovering from a second triceps tendon rupture.
“Just been working my ass off for nine months to rehab and get healthy,” he said.
He’ll be rewarded with an opportunity on the Olympic stage.
“Finland always has a chance,” Ristolainen said. “We’re going to go there to take it all home.”