An Opportunity Of A Lifetime

The road to the NHL Global Series has taken the Avalanche from Denver to New York to Helsinki before reaching Tampere, a hockey-mad area of Finland that was recently the host of the 2022 IHHF World Championships.

It's a time for the Avs to sightsee and enjoy Finnish culture. But for four of the Avalanche players and staff, it's bigger than that.
For Finland natives Artturi Lehkonen (Piikkio), Mikko Rantanen (Nousiainen), goalie coach Jussi Parkilla (Tampere), and Colorado Eagles netminder Justus Annunen (Kempele) - who joined the Avalanche for the trip - it's not just an opportunity to play in their home country in front of family and friends, it's fulfilling a dream.
Their anticipation was shown during the Avs weekly press conference that featured the three Finns, Lehkonen, Rantanen and Parkilla.

They know the impact of playing a National Hockey League game in Finland. It's a little different than just going home.
It's inspiring the next generation to let them know you can make it to the highest level of hockey.
Rantanen reiterated multiple times when referring to the popularity of hockey in his home country, "All my lifetime, it's (hockey) been the number one sport in Finland."
"Every morning when I woke up, I always checked the scores in the NHL, especially what the Finnish guys did," said Rantanen, who has represented Finland eight times in international competition.
Hockey is not just a sport to the Finns. It's a lifestyle. It has the praise and intensity of a southern town cheering on its local high school football team every Friday night.
Fans look at players who come back as not just role models but heroes.
Whether it's watching one of their local Liiga (men's) or Naisten Liiga (women's) leagues or staying awake until 3:00 A.M. for an Avalanche 6:00 P.M. MT puck drop, they will tune in.
No doubt about it, hockey is ingrained in their culture.
Finland is the seventh largest country in Europe. With a population of just over 5.6 million people, Finnish registered hockey players account for 1.3% or 66,687+ people.
That ratio is second in the world for the percentage of the population participating in ice hockey and the highest percentage of any country outside of North America.
Passion and influence have translated into Finnish hockey player development.

"I find them to be humble, hard-working guys," said Avs Head Coach Jared Bednar. "It's part of their culture to be hard-working and competitive. You watch the Finnish teams play world championships, world juniors. They are disciplined, committed. They always play a solid 200-foot hockey game".
Although half the size of Texas, the Finnish presence has steadily increased over the past ten years. In 2021-22, 60 Finnish players appeared in at least one game - the most in any campaign in NHL history.
With two Finns currently playing for the Avs, Bednar looks forward to the benefits the trip could bring the team.
"I think it's going to be a good team-building, team-bonding experience for us," said Bednar. "I know that the Finnish guys are excited to get us there and show us their home country. It was a lot of fun in Sweden when Landy (Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog) did that."
After three games in New York and New Jersey, the trip to Finland could be advantageous for the Avs.
"It's coming at the right time." according to Bednar. "We're playing a highly-competitive Columbus team. It's (the trip) very important. It's growing the game. I think it can be a lot of fun for our team."