Sabres' defenseman Teppo Numminen is a veteran of 17 NHL seasons and is no stranger to international hockey competition.

Olympics never get old
to Numminen
By Randy Schultz | NHL.com correspondent
Feb. 13, 2006

Teppo Numminen, at 37, is considered the "elder statesman" of the Buffalo Sabres. Since joining the team, the veteran defenseman has heard just about every "old" joke on the planet. After all, the veteran of 17 NHL seasons is at least six to seven years older than most of his teammates.

The 2006 Winter Games will be the fourth Winter that Numminen has participated in with Team Finland. The other years include 1988, 1998 and 2002.

"It is such a huge thing to represent your country with all the other athletes that are there," said Numminen, a native of Tampere, Finland, now in his first season with the Sabres. "The older you get, the older being in the Olympics doesn't get. I know that time is running out on my career. You don't get that many chances in a hockey career to go to the Olympics. As I've gotten older, I appreciate the opportunity to go even more. I know that I was only 19 when I got my first chance to go. You appreciate it. But maybe not as much when you were 19."

Numminen is no stranger to international hockey competition. Prior to his participation in the 1988 Winter Olympics, Numminen played in the World Junior Championships that same year. He played so well that he was named to the all-tournament team, as well as being named the best defenseman. Numminen has also played on several World Championship and World Cup teams representing Finland.

The veteran defenseman remembers the days when only amateurs represented their countries in Olympic hockey competition.

"It seems like many team sports are going that way with having professionals represent their countries," Numminen said. "I guess it's a natural thing for hockey to be in there as well. I think people want to see the best athletes of their sport at the Olympics."

Does the veteran defenseman feel that the United States takes the Winter Olympics hockey competition as seriously as they do in Europe?

"Maybe the Americans take the Summer Olympics more seriously than the Winter," said Numminen, who has also played in the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes and Dallas Stars. "In Canada and the Scandinavian countries, the Winter Olympics are just as important, if not more, as the Summer. Hockey is the No. 1 sport in Finland. I know hockey isn't No. 1 in the U.S., with other sports like football, baseball and basketball ahead of it. I think that's why people in Finland are more interested in international hockey than some other countries are. The attention that international hockey gets over in Europe is unbelievable."

With age comes respect. And Numminen is one of the most respected members of the Sabres.

"Nothing really bothers Teppo," Sabres defenseman, Jay McKee said. "He's has a very calming influence when he's on the ice. And he really doesn't say much when he's in the room with us between periods, after a game or after a practice. But he will do the little things on the ice that makes him such a good defenseman. He's not big and he's not fast. But he certainly knows how to use his stick. He uses that stick to tie up guys and he uses it to take the puck away. Teppo has been a great addition to the Sabres."

Talk about Numminen with any of his teammates from Finland and the respect goes to a higher level.

"Timmo has lots of experience in the sport of hockey and he really knows how to play the game," said Sabres goaltender and fellow Finn Mika Noronen. "He really sees the game well. Because of that he makes great passes. He's a really, really smart player. Timmo can certainly play against any guy in this league. And he can certainly play against any player playing in the Olympics. He can handle any situation. There is no doubt in my mind that Finland will use Timmo any time they want in any situation. It won't matter if it's a power play, penalty kill or even stength. Finland will not be afraid to use him."

The 2006 Winter Games will be the fourth Winter Olympics that Teppo Numminen has participated in with Team Finland, following 1988, 1998 and 2002.

Another Finn and Sabre teammate who will be making the trip to Torino for the Winter Olympics competition will be defenseman Toni Lydman. Like Noronen, Lydman has a high amount of respect for Numminen, but in a different sense.

"He plays the game so well back on defense," stated Lydman, 28, now in his fifth season in the NHL, his first with Buffalo. "There is so much I can learn from him. It's an honor to be playing on the same team as Teppo and even a bigger honor to be playing with him on the Olympic team. He is such a great hockey player with everything he can do on the ice. I think I'm more of a defensive-style player.

"Teppo can play well defensively, but he can also skate with the puck as well. He's not afraid to shoot the puck either."

Numminen was signed by the Sabres last summer as a free agent. He was very impressed with what the Sabres had to offer.

"They made me feel that this was the right place to be and that there were a lot of great things about the Sabres," recalled Numminen. "After talking to the GM and the coaching staff, I knew that this would be an exciting, young team. After thinking it over, I really felt that I could fit in with this team. And so far it has been a good fit."

One of the nicer things that Numminen has enjoyed since coming to the Sabres is the fact that they are in the Eastern Conference and the travel is much easier than playing in the Western Conference.

"There are a lot of places I haven't seen in the East that I'm now getting the chance to see for the first time," Numminen said. "Plus the travel is much easier in the East than in the West. It seemed as though in the West you were on the road for a week and then home for a week. It could really wear you out. But in the East, you can play one game and be home again right after that."

Numminen is well aware that he could have enjoyed the time off for the Olympics and spent it with his wife and three children. But he knows that this may be his last Olympics.

"As I've said before, this is a great honor to be asked by your country to play for its hockey team," concluded Numminen. "I may not get another chance at an Olympics. I'm 37 now and would be 41 when the next one comes along. I'm looking forward to this Olympics and I'm going to enjoy every minute of it."