Kotkaniemi: Special meetings on the horizon

MONTREAL - After being selected third overall at the 2018 NHL Draft, Jesperi Kotkaniemi was asked about countryman Saku Koivu.

"I hope someday I will be as good as him," said Kotkaniemi in late June at American Airlines Center in Dallas. "That's my mission."
On Friday, the 18-year-old Finn will finally have the opportunity to meet Koivu in conjunction with a charitable game being held in the town of Rauma on Finland's west coast.
Kivikylä Arena will play host to the 2018 Liiga Alumni All-Star Game featuring West Coast Alumni - including players from Liiga clubs Lukko, TPS and Ässät - against the League Alumni.
Both squads feature current and former NHL players.
Kotkaniemi and Koivu will be teammates on the West Coast Alumni for the contest, which will be raising money for three local funds designed to support recreational activities for youngsters.
"I'm very excited about meeting Saku. It's a great chance," said Kotkaniemi, who is still back home training with Ässät. "We are there for a special reason, raising money for special kids. I will love to be there."

The Canadiens' most recent first-rounder is eager to chat with the former Canadiens captain. Having never met before, Kotkaniemi is keen to pick his brain.
"I think he will give me good advice about Montreal," mentioned Kotkaniemi, whose All-Star side also includes Joel Armia, Mikko Koivu, Sami Salo and Antti Raanta, among others. "He knows how things work there and how the NHL is different than the Finnish League. I think that will help me a lot."
While Kotkaniemi will be suiting up alongside one of his hockey heroes, he'll be going up against another in Teemu Selanne. "The Finnish Flash" - whom he hasn't met yet, either - was his hockey idol growing up.
"He wasn't always the biggest guy on the ice, but he was the best. He was a great skater and he scored goals. He always knew where he should be and the puck always went there. That's the big thing about him," shared Kotkaniemi. "It's maybe a once-in-a-lifetime chance to play with or against those guys."
The Pori native is coming off his first full preseason outing last Friday night, picking up two assists in a 3-2 loss to Vaasan Sport.
"It was a great feeling to get my game face on again," affirmed Kotkaniemi, who will be in preseason action again on Thursday when Ässät battles Lukko. "It was fun to get on the ice and play with the guys. I enjoyed that very much. I felt a bit stronger, like I had more power in my body. It was a better feeling on the ice than last season, I think."

Since departing for Finland following Development Camp, the young centerman has focused his efforts training-wise on improving his skating. He's hoping the results will show come the start of Rookie Camp in Brossard in early September.
"I work with my dad and one of our assistant coaches. He's a skating coach. The guys at Development Camp were great skaters, so I think I needed to improve after that," explained Kotkaniemi. "I think I've gotten better and I'll be better when I come back. I'm looking forward to coming back there."
For more information on the 2018 Liiga Alumni All-Star Game,
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