Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen has been named as Finland's assistant general manager for the 2014 Sochi Olympics, the team announced Tuesday.
Kekalainen will serve under Finland general manager and Hockey Hall of Famer Jari Kurri.
"I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with Jari Kurri, head coach Erkka Westerlund and the Finnish Ice Hockey Association at next year's Olympic Games in Sochi," said Kekalainen, a native of Tampere, Finland. "Representing your country at the Olympics is a tremendous honor, so this is a very proud moment for my family and I."
Kekalainen was named GM of the Blue Jackets on Feb. 13 and helped guide the franchise to within a point of its second-ever berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Blue Jackets moved to the Eastern Conference for the 2013-14 season and are currently in fourth place in the Metropolitan Division.
Kekalainen joined the Blue Jackets after serving as the president and general manager of Jokerit in the Finnish Elite League since 2010. Prior to his stint with Jokerit, he spent eight seasons with the St. Louis Blues from 2002-10, including three as director of amateur scouting and five as assistant general manager and director of amateur scouting. He was a member of the Ottawa Senators hockey operations department from 1995 to 2002 and also served as general manager of IFK Helsinki in the Finnish Elite League from 1995 to 1999 and led the club to the league championship in 1998.
NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. NHL, the NHL Shield, the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup, the Stanley Cup Playoffs logo, the Stanley Cup Final logo, Center Ice name and logo, NHL Conference logos, NHL Winter Classic name, and The Biggest Assist Happens Off The Ice are registered trademarks and Vintage Hockey word mark and logo, The Game Lives Where You Do, NHL Winter Classic logo, NHL Heritage Classic name and logo, NHL Stadium Series name and logo, NHL All-Star logo, NHL Face-Off name and logo, NHL. TV, NHL Premium, NHL After Dark, NHL GameCenter, NHL GameCenter LIVE, NHL Network name and logo, NHL Tonight name and logo, On The Fly, NHL Awards name and logo, NHL Draft name and logo, Hockey Fights Cancer, Because It's The Cup, NHL Green name and logo, NHL Vault, Hockey Is For Everyone, NHL Thanksgiving Showdown name and logo, NHL Centennial Classic name and logo, NHL Centennial Season logo, NHL100 Classic name and logo, NHL Global Series name and logo, NHL China Games name and logo, and Don't Miss A Moment are trademarks of the National Hockey League. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. © NHL 2018. All Rights Reserved. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. The Zamboni word mark and configuration of the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine are registered trademarks of Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. © Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. 2018. All Rights Reserved. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.