NOKIA.
Teemu Selänne experienced and won a lot in his career, but the offspring has experience in something that the father knows nothing about.
Started in Mestis a year ago Eetu Selänne, 27, is playing for the second spring in a row from a league position. Last season, Selänne had to qualify for the Mestis place with Heinola’s Peliitto, now Kajaani’s Hokki. Both times the road took Nokia away from the local Pyry.
A year ago, Peliitat defeated Pyry, who won the Finnish series, in the qualifiers with a 4–0 victory.
After Sunday’s overtime victory, the situation in this spring’s qualifying series is now 2–0 for Hokki.
The pressure is intense, but Selänte’s record against the best team in the Finnish series is so far a flawless 6–0.
– These are really distressing, but certainly also developing games. However, the games are really tough and stressful. It’s still been fun and I’ve enjoyed it, Selänne, who was left without power in the second match of the qualifying series, gave Urheilule the atmosphere at Nokia.
Name job visibility
Although Selänne hasn’t broken the piggy bank with his performance in the regular season of Mestis, he has found a grain in the qualifying games. A year ago, three (1+2) power points were created in four matches, and in this spring’s scrimmages, the balance is 3+2 after six matches. In the first stage of the qualifier against FPS, Selänne scored the first hat trick of his adult career.
– I definitely enjoyed these games. These are great games because I got to develop. If you can still help the team win, that’s great and amazing. It gives a lot of self-confidence in one’s game and I believe that it works in the same way for others, Selänne stated.
However, in the name of honesty, Selänne has not been one of his team’s decisive players in a wider perspective. During two Mestis seasons, 82 regular season matches have produced 27 (13+14) power points. The reading of the power statistic was below freezing by 25 hits.
Right now, Selänne is operating in Hokki as the center of a triple chain. Brother Leevi Selänne23, was not in the playing lineup for Nokia and played in the regular season in a smaller role than his older brother.
At the same time, however, Eetu and her little brother Leevi, who also represents Hokki, have received a lot of media coverage. Born in California and raised in hockey, Eetu says there are two sides to the attention coin.
– After all, it brings its own pressure, but at the same time it’s been a lot of fun. Yes, on the other hand, we knew what was going to happen when we came here to play. However, Faija’s last name is so big that it brings a lot of attention.
– In the final games, this has been a good experience and fortunately we have played well and were able to show what we are capable of. It’s been fun, good-natured Selänne chatted.
Of course, this is not the first time the Seläntees operate in front of the media. In the 2014–2015 season, Eetu already played four under-18 national matches for the Lions.
The offspring of the already known puck legend was followed very closely in the media. Selänne doesn’t even try to claim that the setting is completely stress-free.
– We are quite stress-free types, but sometimes it weighs more and sometimes less. Fortunately, the majority of people have been on our side and wanted us to succeed. It’s been cool, Selänne praises.
Citizenship for parents
At Easter, there was news from the Selänte family regarding the parents, because Teemu and Shard were reported to have obtained US citizenships.
The Seläntees have lived most of their lives in America after the couple headed to Canada after Teemu’s games in the summer of 1992. The Seläntees’ three sons and daughter were born in the United States and thus operate with the tactic of two passports.
– An amazing thing for them. At least traveling becomes easier when you don’t have to go through customs, but can press straight through as a US citizen.
According to Eetu, there are no bigger celebrations in terms of citizenship.
– I am not quite sure. At least I haven’t heard, Selänne finally stated before running to his team’s meeting.
Hokki won the opening of the qualifying series at home 5–0 and on Sunday at Nokia after extra time with a score of 4–3. It leads the series with a 2–0 win. The Mestis place for the 2024–2025 season is clinched with four wins.
The double champion of the Finnish series, Nokian Pyry, is already playing for the second year in a row from the Mestis place, but none of the six qualifying games have yet ended in a victory for the Nokians.