Selanne joins feisty Finns at World Hockey Championships

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2008

HALIFAX, Canada (AFP) — Finland's Teemu Selanne skated for the first time with his teammates Wednesday, just one day after agreeing to a request from GM Jari Kurri to play in the World Hockey Championships.

"It is hard to say no to the guy whose poster has been on my wall," Selanne said following Finland's practice at the Halifax Metro Centre arena.

This will mark the fifth World Championship for the 37-year-old veteran forward from Helsinki. It didn't take much coaxing from Finnish hockey icon Kurri to convince Selanne to come following the Anaheim Ducks early exit from the National Hockey League playoffs.

Selanne had an abbreviated NHL season for another reason. He took a longer than normal off-season break following Anaheim's Stanley Cup win in June....