Finnish hockey legend Riikka Sallinen (formerly Välilä, born Nieminen), will be officially inducted into the hockey Hall of Fame on Monday Finnish time. The 49-year-old Sallis, who ended her career three years ago, is considered one of the greatest players in the history of women’s hockey.
Sallinen is the first female hockey player from outside the United States and Canada to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
– Of course, this is a crazy thing, the best tribute to a hockey player. When you look at which club I will join, you understand how big it is, Sallinen tells Urheilu.
Only two Finnish hockey players have received this recognition before Salli. They are Jari Kurri and Teemu Selänne.
– Women’s latäk is really coming fast and gaining more and more appreciation among the general public, Sallinen says.
Sallinen, who lives in Sweden, works as a physiotherapist, and was therefore unable to go to Toronto.
– I deal with clients who are in poor health every day. The corona situation is still on the surface so much that I decided not to leave just in case, says Sallinen.
The beginning of a career – the whole family joins the rink
Sallinen, who dominated the position of center forward, played for the Finnish national team in four different decades and contributed to increasing the popularity of women’s hockey in Finland. When Sallinen was a child, however, there were no female hockey players as role models yet.
The biggest inspirations for the sport were French Canadians Guy Lafleur and later Jari Kurri and Wayne Gretzky.
– That’s when the VHS tapes came unwound when I looked at the pattern again and again, Sallinen laughs.
Hailing from Jyväskylä, Sallinen spent practically her entire childhood playing yard games with her two older brothers, and the little sister refused to be left behind.
– I played with the boys in between, whatever I could, Sallinen recalls.
Sister Katra played hockey in the winters and baseball in the summers. Sallinen has also played the national sport at the top level. She has been chosen three times as female baseball player of the year. Ice hockey won, however, and Sallinen quickly became one of the country’s most talented female players.
Riikka Sallinen’s plaque found its place in Toronto next to Daniel Sedin.
A lion shirt at the age of 15
Sallinen first played competitive ice hockey for the Finnish national team in the 1989 European Championships. He was 15 years old then. The first women’s World Cup in history was played in 1990 in Ottawa, when Finland won bronze.
– There was a hall full of audience and the setting was completely different from what we Finnish girls were used to. It was incredible, Sallinen times.
Women’s ice hockey participated in the Olympics for the first time in 1998. Finland achieved Olympic bronze in Nagano, and Sallinen won the entire tournament with a score of 7+5=12.
– The Olympics are the dream of all athletes, not just ice hockey players. I thought then before the Games that I won’t believe this to be true until I see it myself.
A 10-year break and a return to hockey
Salelli’s successful career can also accommodate a completely exceptional 10-year break from hockey.
Sallinen ended his playing career in 2003, but returned to the rinks in 2013 and continued his career until the World Championships played in Espoo in the spring of 2019. Before his return, Sallinen served as the team manager of the Women’s Lions, when the temptation to return began to smolder for the first time.
– When I quit in 2003, at that point it was supposed to be permanent, I had no idea about returning. Ten years later, the idea of a comeback was completely at the level of a joke at first, says Sallinen.
A long-term physical trainer and friend provided the impetus for the return Erkki Sääkslahten comment.
– Eki said that without anything else you can make a comeback. Afterwards, he has admitted that he was very uncertain about it at the time, Sallinen laughs.
Sallinen admits that he was not in top shape at first. Good bottoms ten years ago guaranteed that the body responded quickly and things returned from the spinal cord. Sallinen made a comeback in the ranks of his breeding club JYP, even though he was already living in Sweden. Sallinen spent the last years of his career in Sweden in the ranks of HV71.
Sallinen’s career got the crown it deserved in 2019, when the Women’s Lions won a historic silver medal at the World Cup home games.
– Of course, the world championship would have been the best climax, but I don’t rate this any lower than that. However, we played in the World Cup final for the first time, and you couldn’t have hoped for a better feeling and climax, Sallinen emphasizes.
Ice hockey was much more than just a sport
Sallinen is remembered above all as a hockey player, but he was a top talent in many other sports as well. Sallinen has won the Finnish championship in hockey, rink, ice and baseball.
In ice hockey, he achieved two Olympic bronze medals, one World Cup silver, six World Cup bronzes and three European championships in his national team career. He became the oldest discus player to win an Olympic medal at the age of 44 in Pyeongchang. Sallinen played a total of 11 seasons in the Women’s SM League. Sallinen won five SM golds, three of which were in JYP’s ranks.
According to Sallinen, it is almost impossible to choose the best memory of the sport, because all the national and club teams have been unique.
– Most of all, I am grateful that I have been able to be part of so many wonderful teams.
However, Sallinen won the first World Championships in 1990 in Ottawa and the 1998 Olympics in Nagano.
– They have their own charm, especially when you think about the starting point. Before these moments, female players didn’t even dare to dream of international games. The mere fact that he has been allowed to participate in this story is insane, says Sallinen.
The most important lesson from playing hockey has been challenging yourself and testing your limits. Sallinen also emphasizes the social side of the sport and lifelong friendships.
– Sport provides a framework for not giving up. Team sports also emphasize how you can best help the team develop together. It is the most important award, Sallinen points out.