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Christmas Call Delivers Olympic Ticket to Haula
6 Jan
Summary
- Erik Haula received a surprise Olympic call on Christmas morning.
- He will represent Finland at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
- This marks Haula's first Olympic appearance after a 12-year wait.
Erik Haula received an unforgettable Christmas present as he was named to the Finnish Olympic team for the upcoming 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games. The unexpected call from the national coach arrived on December 25th, fulfilling a dream Haula has held for over a decade. This marks his inaugural Olympic appearance.
Haula will be joined by Predators goaltender Juuse Saros on Team Finland. Additionally, teammates Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi will represent Sweden and Switzerland, respectively. This year's Games will feature NHL players for the first time since 2014, making this a significant opportunity for many, including Haula.
The veteran forward expressed profound relief and emotion upon receiving the news. He emphasized his long-held desire to compete on the Olympic stage, noting his frustration with the previous NHL hiatus from the Games. Haula believes Finland possesses a strong team capable of competing for a medal.
