This past year in the 4 Nations Tournament was the first time that multiple Los Angeles Kings players, including winger Joel Armia, got to represent their home countries in a major international tournament on the ice in hockey.
Team Finland and Los Angeles Kings winger Joel Armia open up the 2026 Winter Olympics for men's ice hockey on Wednesday vs. Slovakia
At the time, Armia was playing for the Montreal Canadiens in the East this past season in the 2024-25 campaign when he represented his home country of Finland in the 4 Nations Tournament. It was a great experience for Armia, and it helped him build up to becoming a contributor for the active roster lineup with Finland in the 2026 Winter Olympics this year in Milan in Italy in mid-to-late February this month.
New Olympian unlocked 🇫🇮 pic.twitter.com/6p4p2C0W3l
— LA Kings (@LAKings) February 10, 2026
After playing for the Kings and head coach Jim Hiller this regular season in the West in the Pacific Division as the team-described "Swiss-Army knife", contributing both on the offensive side of the ice with the forward core group and on special teams on the penalty kill for LA in the past few months, he will play for Finland as a key forward player in the Winter Olympics.
Armia has shown to be one of the most versatile forwards in the league in the NHL on both sides of the ice in this past few seasons in the West and the Eastern Conference with the Kings and Habs in Montreal. But he will be asked to take on a big role offensively and as a contributor on special teams with Team Finland in the Winter Olympics.
"It’s great and I’m honored to represent my country. It’s going to be a great tournament and to be a part of that, I feel like it’s a big accomplishment, for sure. I think we have a great team too, so it’s not like we’re just going to participate, we’re going there to win games."Joel Armia
This upcoming week, Armia and Team Finland will be playing the best that the world has to offer in Olympic men's hockey starting on Wednesday (Feb. 11) against Slovakia in Milan. Finland has an impressive roster, that while it doesn't compete with the quality and top-end talent of the United States or Team Canada, is still among the best teams in the Winter Olympics this upcoming week.
Armia will be playing a quality depth role and a provide key special teams contributions on the penalty kill for Finland. Finland also has other quality two-way players on the team's active roster lineup for the 2026 Winter Olympics this year in Italy, like Florida Panthers' forward Anton Lundell, Carolina Hurricanes' center Sebastian Aho, and Dallas Stars winger Roope Hintz, among others on the team's roster.
The quality of the active roster lineup and the top-end talent Finland brings to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy this year should make them one of the favorite teams to get on the podium.