Ville Kuusela, who represented SPV throughout his career, won three Finnish championships and eight SM medals during his career.
Joel Sippola,
Henri Pitkänen
Jyväskylä’s Happee beat SPV 8–3 in the floorball quarterfinals on Sunday and advanced to the semifinals with a 4–1 victory. The game remained an SPV icon at the same time Ville Kuuselan37, for the last match of his career.
SPV grew up and represented seinäjoki club throughout his playing career. In the representative office, including all matches, he accumulated close to 800 games.
Kuusela, who started his representative career in Divar, was building SPV’s rise to the main league and to the absolute top of Finnish floorball. SPV’s long-time captain won three Finnish championships (2012, 2013 & 2015) and eight SM medals for the club.
Kuusela also got to celebrate winning the Finnish Cup twice with SPV.
Kuusela recalls how he worked as SPV’s head coach for 16 seasons Tommy Koponen once came to ask a first grade boy for the SPV representative team.
– Then it was not really in mind that the story would continue for so long. At first there was a long-lasting takeoff. We pushed ourselves piece by piece towards the top, Kuusela recalls to Urheilu.
Kuusela lists three SM golds as the brightest achievements of his career.
– When you look back, they are always the biggest things.
– Above all, I have been able to play with great teammates. Friends have become friends and it’s still been nice in the booth. There are stories to remember and tell from there.
The architect of the skyrocketing rise
When talking about Ville Kuusela’s performances, the most memorable moment was seen in October 2015 against Tapanilan Era. In the last four minutes, SPV inexplicably came from a 0-6 deficit to levels.
Kuusela scored four of the goals.
– It was such a bad day for us. We were pretty weak for 55 minutes, but we came into the game with a special story. Successes came from the conveyor belt.
According to Kuusela’s own calculations, he missed only eight regular season matches.
Was it pure luck that you avoided the worst injuries?
– Yes, it must have that too. I have taken care of my body, which is why I have been able to avoid major injuries. I haven’t had to miss these clinkers because of the flu either, so in that sense I’ve definitely been lucky.
Floorball is very much in Kuusela’s everyday life even after her playing career ends. He currently works as the executive director of the club.
– Floorball and SPV will be really close to me. The work is now continuing on the club’s side and the junior work is being tried to move forward towards better years.