Liiga Alumni Game pays tribute to Finnish, Winnipeg hockey history

Photo Credit: Tomi Natri
Normally, the Kivikylan Areena in Rauma, Finland is home to Liiga's Lukko Rauma team.
But that wasn't the case on August 17, 2018.
That night was a special occasion. An occasion that brought together some of the best players to ever skate in Liiga's history, and Finnish hockey history.
Names from the past like Teemu Selanne, Teppo Numminen, and Saku Koivu joined current stars Patrik Laine, Mikko Koivu, and Aleksander Barkov in the Liiga Alumni All-Star Game.
"The way they put this together, we have players who are playing right now, we have players who have just retired, and we have really older players. It's a good mix of people here," said Numminen, who played 1,372 NHL games (547 of those with the Winnipeg Jets).
"Everybody getting together and spending time together makes everybody realize how important the game is for everybody, for the players and the fans as well."

In total, 43 players were split into two teams. Eleven of those players own Stanley Cup rings, while another three had won Avco Cups back in the World Hockey Association days.
It was only the second year this game had been played, with all proceeds going to the Alumni Support Foundation. In addition, funds would also be disbursed in the cities of Turku, Rauma, and Pori.
The capacity crowd inside the 5,400 seat building was loud early, as each player was introduced individually prior to the playing of the national anthem.
From the first puck drop, public address announcers commented on the action, often drawing laughter from the fans - and even the players on the ice.
The teams traded All-Star Game quality scoring chances throughout the first 30 minutes of action, until a trade was announced with 10 minutes left in regulation.

It was a deal that would make any fan of the Winnipeg Jets, or Winnipeg hockey history, smile ear-to-ear.
A team filled with a mix of four current and former Jets - Laine, Numminen, Selanne, and Sami Niku - acquired Finnish hockey legend Veli-Pekka Ketola from the opposing team.
Ketola played 218 games with the Jets' WHA squad between 1974 and 1977, scoring 80 goals and amassing 173 points in that span.
All five swapped their jerseys for current white Jets jerseys, and skated together for a few shifts. It was a moment that celebrated the history between Finland and Winnipeg, one that Niku won't forget.
"It was amazing. The jerseys and everything, it was really nice," said Niku, who looked up to Selanne and Numminen growing up.
"It's a big honour to play with those guys. There are so many NHL games there. It was amazing."
The squad with five Jets would end up winning the game 7-6, with Laine scoring three times and earning MVP honours. To top it off, he also won the Hardest Shot competition, his hardest blast clocking in at 104 miles-per-hour.
"I had a blast. It was so much fun. Doing it for the good cause, especially winning and scoring a couple goals, it was fun," said Laine, before joking about the trade that sent his good friend, Barkov, to the other team to create the Jets line.
"We can afford to lose a guy like that. We have enough good guys. It was a good trade for us. We got a good player from the other team, so I was satisfied with the trade."

As Laine and Selanne left the ice, young fans reached from the stands to hopefully snag an autograph before the two players went down the tunnel to the dressing room.
Both players took their time, making sure as many fans as possible got the moment they waited all evening for.
In Selanne's mind, the NHL Global Series coming to Helsinki this November will be an incredible experience for hockey fans in Finland.
"All the Finnish people are so excited about these two games. I think the tickets went right away," said Selanne. "It's like a treat for the Finnish fans when you get your star players here, either with the national team, but especially for two NHL games.
"I always tell the young players, especially the forwards, watch Laine, watch Ovechkin, watch Matthews, watch Crosby, watch all the best players how they score goals and how they play different situations. I always believe that by watching, you learn a lot. It's a good way to learn."
Selanne's 76-goal campaign with the Jets back in 1992-93 is a vivid memory for both the player and for hockey fans in the Manitoba capital. The Finnish Flash took part in the Heritage Classic Alumni Game (scoring the winning goal, fittingly) in 2016 and was in attendance during the Second Round of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs, as the Jets took on the Predators.
Now 48, Selanne still enjoys keeping an eye on his former city.
"Every time I see Winnipeg is going to get some Finnish players, it makes me feel good," he said. "The roots, and the history with the Finnish players and Winnipeg, it goes a long way."