When the Blackhawks loaned Henri Jokiharju to Finland for the 2019 World Juniors, they were hoping it would serve as an important step in his development. He would eat big minutes, play in all situations and be a leader both on and off the ice as a 19-year-old in a high-pressure tournament.
And that’s exactly what happened.
Jokiharju was one of the best players for Finland, scoring two goals, adding three assists and averaging 22:32 of ice time per game, which ranked second on the team. He helped lead his country to a gold medal victory over USA, assisting on the game-winning goal with 1:12 left in regulation.
At the end of the tournament, he was named one of the three best players for Finland voted on by the coaches.
"It was awesome," Jokiharju said. "It was some ups and downs with the team, but we just figured out how to win the right games. ... A couple days ago it didn’t feel that big, but the players now in Finland and Finnish country is going crazy so it’s awesome seeing. You feel it more right now, a couple days after, and it’s a huge thing for Finland."
Said Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton: "It's exactly what we were hoping for when we sent him. Played huge minutes, went half the game, it's a high-pressure situation, he's playing for his country and he come through. Even just talking to him [Monday] morning, he's [got] great energy, really excited and just happy for him."
Initially, it was probably difficult for Jokiharju to leave the Blackhawks because he worked so hard to earn a spot playing on the top pairing with Duncan Keith. But those feelings quickly changed once he realized the opportunity that was in front of him.
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"It’s the NHL over here, you want to play in the NHL," Jokiharju said. "But when I headed on the plane over there I was getting more excited and it was fun. Memories for a lifetime."
Back with the Blackhawks, Jokiharju figures to draw back into the lineup on Wednesday, although it's unclear where exactly he'll slot back in with eight defensemen on the roster. To some degree he has already become a permanent fixture on the blue line, but his ice time has fluctuated under Colliton, so he's still getting adjusted to that.
Perhaps his World Juniors experience could serve as a springboard for the second half and reaffirming that he belongs in a top-four role, even though his confidence has never been an issue.
"It’s big for my confidence," Jokiharju said of the World Juniors. "I think everyone on that team — I was talking with some younger guys over there, I was like, 'Come on, it’s your draft year, come on.' Everyone was happy. Big confidence boost for everyone, for me, as well."