Hello hockey fans:
It's been great to be healthy again and back playing the past couple of weeks. In my first game back (Oct. 19), I played center on a line with Samuel Valkeejarvi and Joakim Kemell (an A rated skater on Central Scouting's players to watch list).
Samuel is a great skater and really good at holding the puck and making plays in the offensive zone. Joakim was having an awesome start to the season and leading the league in scoring at the time. He's also a great skater, plays physical and has a great shot. We hang out together quite a bit off the ice since we're the same age, so it was good to play with him. I don't know for sure, but I think it might have been the first time two 17-year-old players were on the same line in a Liiga game.
Unfortunately, Joakim got sick and had to miss the next game, and then got hurt the following weekend (Oct. 29) and is out for a couple weeks.
The last three games I've played left wing with Braden Christoffer and Reid Gardiner. Braden is really good at winning puck battles, creating loose pucks and net-front battles. Reid is really good at finding open ice and has one of the best shots in the league. So it's been great playing with them, and I think we've been getting better together each game.
Last week was busy. In addition to four Liiga games, I spent a lot of the day (Nov. 4) at an informational meeting with the Finnish Army. In Finland, all males who are physically/mentally able are required to serve in the military at some point after they turn 18. I'm turning 18 on Dec. 19 so the meeting was first to find out if I am considered physically/mentally able to serve (I am) and then to find out more about what is required. You don't get to decide if you will serve or not, but you do have some choice about when you will serve depending on your education or work schedule. Some of my teammates with JYP who are in their early twenties started their Army service last summer.
This week marks the November national team break for Liiga and many other leagues in Europe, so our last league game was Nov. 6, and we don't play again until Nov. 18.
The Finland Men's National Team is playing in the Karjala Tournament against Sweden, Russia and the Czech Republic in Helsinki. It's part of the selection process for the IIHF World Championship next spring. I flew to Sweden on Tuesday with the Under-20 team for three games this weekend against Russia, Sweden and Czech Republic.
There is another U-20 team playing a three-game series against the Czech Republic this weekend in Vierumaki, Finland. These are all part of the selection process for the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5. The Under-18 team is playing in a Five Nations Tournament in Switzerland and the Under-17 team is playing in a Four Nations Tournament in Vaasa, Finland.
As I wrote last month, these national team events are always a lot of fun. It's a great experience and something I really look forward to.
As a Finnish/Canadian, we don't celebrate American Thanksgiving, but from friends and family in the United States, I know it's a very important holiday and time with the family, so I'd like to end by wishing all the American readers a Happy Thanksgiving.
Until next month!
Photo credits: Jiri Halttunen, JYP photographer
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