Lions accorded heroic reception on return home

The Finnish Ice Hockey team was accorded receptions after the 2026 World Champions returned Helsinki on Monday afternoon.

The aircraft bearing the team members was escorted by two fighter jets before landing at Helsinki Airport at about 3:00 pm, said Finnish Air Force.

Finnish Air Force F/A-18s escorted Finnair flight AY7516 - on board the Finnair flight was Finland’s gold medal-winning men’s national ice hockey team , returning from Zurich to Helsinki, the Air Force wrote in a post on its social media platform X.

"Two Finnish Air Force F/A-18 Hornets flew together with the Finnair aircraft over the sea south of Hanko and escorted it towards Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. At the same time, the Air Force pilots conducted identification procedure training," Air Force added.

President Alexander Stubb accorded a reception to the Finnish Ice Hockey team at the Presidential Palace at 4:00 p.m.

Stubb congratulated the team for the victory and thanked the team members.

“Congratulations, Lions. Thank you for all the wonderful moments. Always proud of you,” Stubb wrote in a post on his social media platform X after the reception.

A national celebration took place near Helsinki Olympic Stadium in the evening to honour the Champions.

Noted singers and musical artists performed on the occasion.

Earlier on Sunday night, Finland won the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championship title beating host Switzerland in Zurich.

With this Finland won the Ice Hockey World Championship for the fifth time.

Earlier, Finland won World Championship title in 1995, 2011, 2019 and 2022.