The NHL’s booking ceremony was as quiet as expected by Finns, as no Finnish players were called in the first round. A year from now, the situation will be different.
Aron Kiviharju is a name worth remembering. The defender is expected to be in the top five of the booking event.
Kiviharju’s appeal is primarily based on the contests of values among young people. He has scored a total of thirteen power points in two under-18 World Cup tournaments.
Few players also get to debut in the SM league at only 16 years old. Aron Kiviharju received his league baptism last fall at Turku Palloseura, from where the journey now continues to HIFK.
Father Jani Kiviharju won three Finnish championships in his career in a TPS shirt, so it’s no wonder that deep inside the ice rinks, the younger edition has been reduced for a while.
And soon we will downsize elsewhere as well.
Kiviharju, 17, may grow up to be the next Finnish NHL-level star defenseman Miro Heiskanen. That’s how well he moves and reads the game.
At the beginning of June, HIFK published Kiviharju’s two-year contract. The talent has been preparing for an important “booking year” in a new environment for a couple of weeks.
– My guess is that the more you think about the reservation, the worse the end result will be. It’s a big deal if you want to make one of it, Kiviharju acknowledges the thoughts of the draft, which is a year away.
In Nummelin’s footsteps
The importance of the background team is emphasized in the career of a young athlete, whether it is a transfer to a new team or a future NHL dream.
For the second-generation hockey player, hockey has always been a part of his life.
The defender was born in 2006 in Denmark, where Jani’s father played the last season of his career. The father’s streaky playing style is well known to the son.
– Father was said to be quite a rat in the rink, Kiviharju’s younger version laughs.
Aron Kiviharju resembles another TPS legend Petteri Nummelinia. The defender promise can free the attacker to drive through with a long opening between the opponent’s decks, like Nummel used to do.
Kiviharju mentions the Lions legend as his mentor.
– When we talk (with Nummelin), it takes a long time. I have received good tips from him for charging for special situations and games.
An exceptional character
At HIFK, we are excited about the new arrival.
– I know that Aron will turn over all stones to maximize his own potential. However, it will ultimately be the thing that will determine how far he goes, the club’s sporting boss said Tobias Salmelainen tells.
He says that he is convinced of the 17-year-old’s maturity and desire to move towards his own dreams.
– Aron has a completely exceptional character. He thinks about things through sportsmanship and at the same time has comprehensive life management.
For Kiviharju, the transfer to IFK also meant moving into his first own apartment and away from the watchful eyes of his parents.
Kiviharju believes that independence outside the rink is also an asset on the ice.
– The fact is that you have to play through one series first before you can dream about the next level, the defender reflects.
– However, I have made the decision that one day I will play in the NHL.
Yellow ribbons
There is no information about the summer heat in Helsinki’s Salmisaari on Monday morning. On the ground floor of the huge sports center, there would be use for a fur hat and a topcoat, because IFK’s morning exercises are about to start in the rink.
The field of vision of the reporter behind the bench is partly limited, because in front of him sits almost two meters and more than one hundred kilograms of the cornerstone of the Helsinki team next season.
In other words, an experienced defender Ilari Melart34.
Pakkijärkäle has decided to use the short waiting time to get to know the new player of the team, Aron Kiviharju. The relaxed, fatherly discussion session also includes a long-term four-chain credit horse, Micke-Max Åsten31.
– Yes, you have to question the whole choice a little. You can find out for yourself what the problem is, Melart acknowledges to young Kiviharju.
– Well, these are my style, there’s nothing more special about it, the package promise replies.
– Well, there’s nothing wrong with that, but you’ll probably have to pay a bit of a fine for those, says Melart.
– We’ll probably start talking about five hundred, Åsten interrupts and stares at Kiviharju’s feet.
HIFK is known for its traditions and, for example, the use of long trousers has been prohibited in the team throughout the years.
Now it’s about the yellow ribbons decorating Kiviharju’s skates, which do not please the eye of the experienced department.
– I’m prepared to pay, isn’t it, Kiviharju smiles, swings his skates over the edge and jumps onto the ice.
Konkari is coldly left on the bench to watch the self-confident youngster go.
However, it is easy for the reporter standing behind to sense that the chemistry of the team has just warmed up by at least a degree.