HIGHLIGHTS
- Teemu Selanne blasts Canadian referees after Finland’s 3-2 loss to Canada
- Selanne calls late high-sticking penalty “absolutely embarrassing”
- See Selanne’s comments and watch video of the controversial penalty below
Teemu Selanne is not happy with the referees.
The Finnish hockey legend went off on social media Friday night after Canada beat Finland 3-2 in the Olympic semifinals. Selanne took issue with a late high-sticking penalty that led to Nathan MacKinnon’s game-winning goal with 35 seconds remaining.
“Beating greatest hockey country in the world and Canadian referees same night is impossible I guess,” Selanne posted on X. “Absolutely embarrassing penalty 90 seconds to go in Olympic semifinal.. what a joke🤬”
The penalty Selanne referenced came with under two minutes left in regulation. Finnish defenseman Niko Mikkola caught MacKinnon with a high stick, drawing a two-minute minor.
MacKinnon immediately threw his head back to sell the call to referees Eric Furlatt and Dan O’Rourke. Both officials are Canadian, which didn’t sit well with Selanne.
MacKinnon Penalty Video:
Here Nathan MacKinnon lifts Niko Mikkola’s stick into his own chin, sells it like he’s been high-sticked, and the Canadian referee calls a penalty. As a result, Canada scores the game-winner and advances to the final. This is justice and impartiality the Canadian way. pic.twitter.com/AhSKEPkjiS
— Jussi Lehtinen (@jussi_lehtinen) February 20, 2026
The call was pretty obvious. Mikkola’s stick made clear contact with MacKinnon’s face. MacKinnon embellished a bit, sure, but it’s a penalty every time.
MacKinnon scored on the ensuing power play with a one-timer, beating Juuse Saros to complete Canada’s comeback. Finland challenged the goal for offside on the zone entry but lost the review.
Selanne got roasted on social media for the complaint. Fans and former players pointed out that the high stick was blatant regardless of the timing.
“Hey Teemu, high sticking is still high sticking, regardless of how much time is left in the game or if it’s a semifinal,” one prominent hockey account replied.
Even Selanne’s former Anaheim Ducks teammate Chris Pronger clapped back.
“I hear ya Teemu but you know as well as I do you cannot sit back for 30+ mins in this type of tournament and not expect bad things to happen,” Pronger wrote. “Just sayin’.”
Pronger’s got a point. Finland dominated early, jumping out to a 2-0 lead. But they sat back defensively over the final 40 minutes, managing just nine shots in the final two periods.
Canada peppered Saros with 31 shots over that same stretch. The Canadians outshot Finland 39-17 for the game. Brad Marchand said afterward it “was a matter of time” before they broke through.
Finland also took issue with Shea Theodore’s tying goal in the third period. Brad Marchand made contact with Saros in the crease just before Theodore’s shot found the net. Finland didn’t challenge, but players complained afterward.
“Five-on-five, they got one goal that was goalie interference,” Finnish forward Joel Armia told reporters.
Saros also called out Sam Bennett for running him over in the first period, saying “he does that all the time” and suggesting it was intentional. Bennett was penalized on that play.
Connor McDavid broke two of Selanne’s Olympic records during the game, adding insult to injury for the Finnish legend.
Finland isn’t the only team complaining about officiating. Czech Republic head coach Radim Rulik went viral after his quarterfinal loss, saying referees are “afraid to call anything against Canada.”
Canada faces the United States in Sunday’s gold medal game. Finland plays for bronze Saturday at 2:40 p.m. ET.
