NHL opens in Helsinki: 8,400 kilometre trip to watch a hockey game

Florida Panthers fans like the Finnish capital - and fights on the ice

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He skates.
      He shoots.
      He's cute.
      Winger David Booth is Florida Panthers fan Jennifer Ellison’s favourite player, because:
      “He is cute!”
      “A typical comment from a teenager”, laughed Julia Cypress and Rusty Billie at the statement by their young relative.
      The three had flown from Miami to Helsinki to attend the NHL season-opening games between Chicago Blackhawks and Florida Panthers.
      According to a newly-established custom, some of the opening matches are being played overseas. Stockholm and Helsinki are in the frame this year.
     
On Thursday there were a couple of dozen Florida Panthers fans in Helsinki.
      The 8,400 kilometre trip all the way from Miami was reason enough to ask what attracts the Sunshine State residents about hockey.
      ”The fights”, another young female fan yells from behind them before Cypress, Ellison, and Billie manage to get a word out.
      Julia Cypress, in turn, represents a more moderate, ”Slavonic” school of thought.
      “I enjoy watching the players’ graceful skating.”
     
Both Panthers and Blackhawks supporters had gathered in the Esplanadi Park in downtown Helsinki, on the stage of which the two NHL teams and their directors made an appearance.
      The Miami trio had already been taken with by Helsinki.
      ”Everything is so clean here. And there are no skyscrapers, which is great”, Cypress enthused.
      Their dinner plans included a visit to the G. W. Sundmans restaurant around the corner, although Billie reckoned he might settle for traditional American cuisine instead and go to McDonalds.
      There is only one Finnish player on the Panthers roster, Ville Koistinen.
      So far he is still fairly unknown to the supporters, but in general everyone has become familiar with the Finnish players.
     
Apparently Olli Jokinen, the former Florida captain for many years, divided the fans’ opinions, however.
      “Many of the fans did not like him”, Billie says. “He was not necessarily a real leader, who would have stood as an example to others.”
      Cypress disagrees.
      “I liked Jokinen. I think it is sad that he was sold away. One gets attached to the players when they are with the team for many years.”
      Billie understands the human trade side of professional sports.
      “The business comes first. It is OK.”
     
The NHL games between the Chicago Blackhawks (who feature Finnish goalie Antti Niemi) and Florida Panthers are being played on Friday and Saturday in Helsinki’s Hartwall Arena at 7 p.m.
      Urheilukanava and Viasat Hockey television channels will air both matches live.
      The Stockholm hockey fans will meanwhile be getting a pair of matches between the Detroit Red Wings and the St. Louis Blues.
     
This season a total of 32 Finnish players are plying their trade in the NHL.
      One of the most interesting prospects is seeing how well veterans Saku Koivu and Teemu Selänne link up in offense for the Anaheim Ducks.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  2009/2010 NHL season to open with matches in Helsinki and Stockholm (25.2.2009)

Links:
  Hartwall Arena
  NHL: Hawks, Panthers face off in Finland

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