By: Ellie Man | Follow me on Twitter/X @ellieyym
Henri Jokiharju is representing his country for the second time this year – first for the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, then again for the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship. Team Finland turned to familiar talent in preparation for the tournament, and as a result, Jokiharji is playing alongside teammate Joonas Korpisalo in a repeat call-up.
The 6’0”, 205-pound defenceman took home bronze in the 2026 Winter Olympics, securing a podium finish in the first Olympic tournament to feature players from the National Hockey League since Sochi 2014. He achieved one assist over the six games played, though he saw limited time on ice. After a costly play in the first game, Juraj Slafkovský scored for Slovakia, and Team Finland suffered a sore and surprising opening loss. Having been under fire for this lapse in judgment, Jokiharju only saw sparse minutes for the rest of the competition, but he was able to support Sebastian Aho to earn a secondary assist point in a brutal 11-0 shutout against hosts Team Italy.
Over the same stretch, Jokiharju has shown a vastly different performance at the 2026 World Championship. The Oulu native has transformed into a two-way difference-maker, posting six points (2G, 4A) to average out at one point per game. This includes a game-winning goal against Latvia that saw Finland take the lead just 10:19 minutes into the matchup, with the Latvians unable to recover, and a goal against Great Britain to secure a tough 4-0 shutout.
The defenceman previously helped Finland to win gold in the 2019 World Championship, and will be hoping to repeat that success once more. The national team currently ranks second in Group A, with a perfect 6-0 record. They currently trail only Switzerland, with many anticipating a thrilling showdown between the two leading teams. Both have secured their place in the quarterfinals.
It’s no secret that the Boston Bruins have been inconsistent on their defense – a weakness that became particularly apparent in the team’s round one elimination in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Buffalo Sabres took advantage of this struggle, generating sustained pressure and dictating play to advance into the second round. This result has raised questions about Boston’s defensive structure, increasing scrutiny on the roster ahead of the next campaign. If the Finnish defenceman can maintain this level of performance and show greater reliability in the National Hockey League, he could push for a more prominent role.
The Bruins acquired Jokiharju from the Buffalo Sabres in 2025, in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round draft pick (originally from the Edmonton Oilers). He signed a three-year contract and has since been used in a middle-pairing capacity, most frequently partnered with Nikita Zadorov. While Jokiharju isn’t necessarily a standout defensive star, he offers consistency and composure while shutting down high-risk chances for opponents to score. This provides balance on the back end and keeps the team more stable overall, a foundation that is essential to remaining competitive. This is a quality that Finland is currently making the most of, and an approach that the Bruins will want to follow.
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