Tuula Puputi45, didn’t have to think long when he received a job offer from the general manager of the Toronto team of the new PWHL hockey league.
The North American Professional Women’s Hockey League, established at the end of August, is exactly the kind of league that Puputti said she dreamed of as a child. In addition, Toronto, which is considered one of the meccas of hockey, brings him fond memories of his first World Cup, which ended with Finland’s bronze medal ceremony.
– I was immediately like wow, of course! Great opportunity! When the job description got word that I believe that I have added value to the team, then there is an exciting challenge, says Puputti, who was reached by phone from the packing house.
There were two professional leagues in North America last season, but now all the guns have been put into the PWHL, which is also supported by the NHL. Six teams will play in the new series: Boston, Minnesota, Montreal, Ottawa, New York and Puput’s new employer, Toronto.
After his playing career, Puputti has worked in, among other things, the Olympic committee and the hockey World Cup projects, but most recently as the general manager of the national women’s hockey team. Contacts through work helped her in the Toronto position, as she was recruited by the GM of the Canadian women’s national team Gina Kingsburywho was named Toronto’s GM in September.
Puput’s title in the new organization is hockey operations manager, and his tasks include developing match events and the business side, as well as communication. In practice, the agreement is valid indefinitely with a reasonably reasonable notice period.
– I personally think that sports tasks are always result-based. After the season, we will surely evaluate both sides, how we succeeded and how to continue. The purpose is to build the league in the long term, and of course the idea is that I will work in such a way that the continuation is known.
A product that interests the public
Puputi’s employment begins with the first person to tell about it Central Finland along next Monday. After that, we proceed quickly, because the camps start in November, practice games in December and the puck drops on the ice in January.
– I am ready to roll up my sleeves and do what is needed so that we are ready when the games start.
Puputti wants to build the PWHL into a product and an environment where players can show their best skills. He hopes that the league as an organization is also such that there would be jobs for players who have finished their sports career.
Professional women’s leagues have not been very long-lived so far, but the PWHL is expected to be a different product. Puputti reminded that the league has a convincing group of investors behind it, as it includes a billionaire among others Mark Walter and tennis legend Billie Jean King investment company.
– I like the basic idea that from players to players. I believe that those who are now hired for this are serious and know the industry. I believe that we have a good chance to make the league one that will carry further.
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In Puput’s opinion, the development of all women’s leagues is important, because it should be possible to follow players and games in ways other than the World Cup or the Olympics every four years.
– Even though we now have the PWHL, we are not ready yet. We definitely have to meet the challenge of being able to present a product that is clearly of interest to the public.
In Europe, the Swedish SDHL and the Swiss league are good examples of active women’s leagues. In Puput’s opinion, the Finnish women’s league has also shown the right direction when it hired a manager Henni Laaksonen.
In Finland, changes do not bring results overnight
As a former top goalie, Puputti has seen the development of Finnish women’s hockey and has been part of that successful generation that brought several prestigious medals from both the World Cup and the Olympics.
Recently, the Lionesses have not been successful and have twice been out of the medal games. However, Puputti wants to look at the big picture and reminds that the women’s national team is undergoing rejuvenation surgery, among other things.
As the GM of Naislijonien, Puput’s duties also included the preparation of the league’s development measures. He reminded that the Women’s League has recently received full-time head coaches and a new boost can be expected from Laaksonen’s hiring.
– Those are things that don’t bring results overnight.
According to Puput, with the number of players in Finland, it is natural that there is a cycle of 8–12 years in success. When the activities are put on the right track and more players are added, it is possible to get the same kind of life cycle thinking in the women as in the men’s national team.
– The men have elevated themselves to the ranks of regular achievers. The goal is that the women would also be able to be there in the top group and challenge the North Americans, more often than every eight years.