2009/2010 NHL season to open with matches in Helsinki and Stockholm

Helsinki strong candidate to host NHL visits in future seasons as well

Ken Yaffe

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According to Harry Harkimo, the owner of Helsinki's Jokerit pro ice hockey team, it does not really matter which teams play in the opening of the NHL season in Helsinki.
      ”What is crucial is that we are getting the NHL opening here”, Harkimo says in Helsinki’s Hartwall Arena while standing next to Ken Yaffe, Senior Vice President of NHL International.
     
The NHL season 2009-2010 is scheduled to begin with double-header matches both in Helsinki and Stockholm.
      The Swedes get to see the Swede-packed Detroit Red Wings play St Louis in Stockholm’s Globen Arena, while the Finns are to settle for the Chicago Blackhawks and the Florida Panthers.
      Or is there any reason to say “are to settle for”?
      “There is no particular reason to which teams were chosen. We are excited to have a team here that belonged in the original six”, Yaffe comments. “Furthermore, Florida is a growing market area.”
      “Hopefully this is the beginning of a tradition to play some NHL matches in Helsinki every year”, Yaffe says.
     
The tickets to the two NHL games played in Helsinki on the 2nd and 3d of October will cost between 100 and 200 euros.
      “The recession has little to do with the ticket sales”, Harkimo says. “People have to have some fun even when there is a slump on.”
      On September 30th the Florida Panthers will play a practice match against Jokerit of Helsinki.
      This will provide Florida’s Finnish veteran forward Ville Peltonen with a chance to play against his former team in his former home arena.
      The arrival of the North American teams was formally announced on Tuesday, but has been a done deal for several days.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Harkimo: NHL ice hockey will almost certainly be played in Helsinki this autumn (18.2.2009)

Links:
  Hartwall Arena (Wikipedia)

Helsingin Sanomat