The Montreal forward wasn’t sure if he would be selected for the NHL’s four-nation tournament.
The hockey world’s absolute elite players will be seen for a long time at the four-country NHL tournament in ice hockey in February. One of them also included a man who was excited to enter the tournament until the final stages. And when the name was in the Finnish team published on Wednesday, Patrick Laine smiled with satisfaction in Montreal.
Lainea has had enough setbacks: a year ago she broke her collarbone, in January she enrolled in the treatment program for NHL players, and in September she suffered a knee injury before the start of the season at her new club, the Montreal Canadiens.
– The journey has been quite different. But it’s really great to be able to play again and enjoy what I do for work. In a way, I’ve found it again, and that’s a really significant thing, Laine said on Thursday on the NHL’s Finnish-language website.
– I knew I was on the lists (a candidate for the NHL tournament), but I didn’t really set any expectations because I hadn’t played. But I felt that if I was in good shape and there were games below, I would be able to help the team and maybe I would belong. So I was really happy when I was named in the team. It’s always great to wear the national team shirt. And it’s always an honor to represent your home country.
On Saturday, Laine received a call from the head coach of the Lions From Antti Pennase.
– I wasn’t sure if he would say that I didn’t make it to the team or that I was in it. I was hoping to make the team. But you never know, in which direction the selections will go and how the players will be evaluated. However, I knew what I was capable of and that I could be useful to the team.
Laine firmly believes that a couple of months’ preparation time is sufficient before the tournament.
– In that time, I managed to get on top of my game and get to a good level. I appreciate the fact that they trusted me so much that I made the team, says Laine.