NEW JERSEY. The best-known feats of hockey in New Jersey, which lies in the armpit of the Big Apple, on the other side of the Hudson River, are associated with the NHL club Devils. Now new names on the ice hockey map are emerging from the wake of the devils.
The dark blue windsuit rustles and the cap with the club’s logo is deeply printed Venla Hovin on his head as he happily greets the reporter while sitting on a metal bench borrowed from the cafe next door.
Metropolitan Riveters’ morning practice has ended a while ago. Before the start of the interview, Hovi gives a few instructions to the passing players in fluent English.
Hovi, who has been the head coach of the adult team since his first season, set out to conquer North America as a young player. Since then, the hockey-playing heart has taken root in the new world.
– I was 16 years old when I first went to Canada as an exchange student. Nowadays, I already sometimes feel that my own personality is better suited to North American culture than to Finland, Hovi recalls his first contact with the cradle of ice hockey.
Later, playing experience from Canada was also gained from Manitoba and Calgary, as well as Niagara University from the United States.
North America also became familiar during Hov’s national team career, which lasted more than two hundred matches. Three World Cup tournaments in the United States and two in Canada, in addition to which the attacker participated in the 2010 Olympic tournament in Vancouver.
Let’s create something new
In recent years, women have been seen in increasingly larger roles in men’s hockey as well. Jessica Campbell action Toni Söderholm in the coaching team of the German A national team he piloted in last spring’s World Championships.
The Vancouver Canucks made a hire to their coaching staff last season Rachel Doerrie and in addition, the Olympic champion of Nagano works as the assistant GM of the same NHL club Cammi Granato.
Here are just a few examples.
– It doesn’t matter if there is a woman or a man in a certain frame, as long as it has the best possible person for that particular job, emphasizes Hovi, who works in the adult team in his first season as head coach.
– In women’s hockey, we have to trust that there are creators. People who are able to change things and create something new, he continues.
The allure of novelty is available at the Metropolitan Riveters’ home hall, which is located in the American Dream entertainment center, in the middle of cafes and clothing stores.
Everything starts from examples
The ice machine has left the ice and the Metropolitan Riveters’ home arena has been taken over by elementary school-aged children and their parents. Glistening snowflakes have been glued to the plexiglass of Kaukalo, and the ice is used to cool down potential ice hockey players.
Like many children of the eighties and nineties, the role models for Venla Hovi were also familiar names from the male side: Saku Koivu, Teemu Selänne, Pavel Bure…
Before, there were no girls or women available as role models, and Hovi wants to offer role models for the heights of the future.
– If even one girl gets lost in the hall, sees me and gets a spark from playing or coaching and goes to chase her dreams, this will all be worth it, Hovi opens his own view and glances in the direction of the children cooling off in the rink.
In terms of the number of hobbyists, Finland is naturally far behind North America. There are a total of approximately 180,000 registered female ice hockey players in Canada and the United States, while the corresponding number in Finland is just over 6,000.
– However, the fact is that we need more women to join the sport and also to stay in it after their playing career. Again, let’s go back to examples and their meaning. We have to see that things are possible, Hovi continues.
Finns at the tip of the spear
A total of six Finns play in the women’s professional series PHF: Emma Nuutinen and Jenna Suokko represent the Buffalo Beauts, The sea Räisänen on the other hand, the Connecticut Whale.
Metropolitan, coached by Venla Hov, has a goalkeeper Evelina Hilly and defenders Minnamari Importing and Give it Kilponen.
Although Hovi has had a hand in the acquisition of Finns and there is a common history, the head coach does not get special treatment, even though the passport says the same nationality.
– Our relationship has changed. Even though they are my old friends, now they are above all my players, Hovi opens a joint game for Finns.
– Of course, it makes it easier that I know their abilities and can trust that they will lead the team by example, continues the head coach with a big smile.
In the middle of the interview, the Finnish trio arrives to wait their turn.
Eveliina Mäkinen is holding a leash, at the other end of which an eager four-legged animal is waiting.
The tail-wagging haired cat named Beaudin belongs to Venla Hov.
Dreams in big lights
As with players, also with coaches, situations sometimes change quickly and new challenges may appear unexpectedly. Even last season, Hovi coached under-18 girls at the Okanagan Ice Hockey Academy in Canada.
– At the moment I am really happy. Here, the possibilities for hockey are huge. We are talking about such big countries (the United States and Canada) and potential.
Hovi’s essence exudes that life is smiling on the young Finnish coach.
Nevertheless, the former top striker still dreams of bigger halls and bright lights.
– One day I would like to coach in the NHL, he says.
– Whether it’s the men’s or possibly the women’s NHL, but at a level where all the best players in the world play, Hovi continues.
The national team shirt became very familiar to Venla Hov during his playing career. What if Venla Hovi could coach the women’s national team someday?
Hovi looks around for a while and then mumbles under his cap.
– Mmm… Possibly.