Ice hockey fan Mikko Lantta drove hundreds of hours around Finland, even though his favorite team was stuck in the mud – now he tells why

Ice hockey fan Mikko Lantta drove hundreds of hours around

Mikko Lantta from Lappeenranta saw all 60 regular season matches of the hockey team SaiPa on site this season as well.

From Lappeenranta Mikko Lantta sits at the service station table and sips tea. Huolta has become familiar to Lanta, as he went to watch all the games of the hockey team SaiPa this season as well. There were 30 matches in the home hall and another 30 matches in other locations.

– The last time SaiPa’s game was missed in the ice rink was in October 2016. I remember that in nine years there have been five matches missed, says Mikko Lantta.

According to Lanta, traveling is nice, even if it eats physically. At the same time, however, it brings a spiritual charge.

– After a losing game, you take on quite a lot, but there has never been such a feeling that I wouldn’t go to an away game on the spot, Lantta states.

Long trips to almost every league location

When viewed from Lappeenranta, the league locations are quite far away. Trips to away games must be planned in advance.

– Lappeenranta is by no means the easiest place to operate away games. Tampere, which is three and a half hours away, is also close to us.

Lappeenranta’s SaiPa season ended a few days ago in last place in the regular season. Mikko Lanta also has time to rest now, at least because of SaiPa he no longer has to travel for half a year.

– After the last match, I felt relieved. This team didn’t deserve to play more, Lantta refers to SaiPa’s weak season.

Listen to Mikko Lanta’s interview below. The reporter is Ville Toijonen.

In Lanta’s opinion, the fact that good players are sold in the middle of the season affects the mood of the supporters.

– There is a stupid system in the league that something like this is possible, but still we start as normal. Game day is always game day, Lantta sums up.

Hundreds of hours in the car

SaiPa had 30 home games and 30 away games during the season. Lantta went to away games twice in a fan bus, once he drove alone in a car and the other times he carpooled with other supporters.

– Even carpooling, I mostly drove by myself. I think I was on board five times just as a passenger.

There are two to four overnight stays in guest locations during the season. Lantta often returns to Lappeenranta immediately after the games.

– There have been times when you came home from Oulu right after the game. I was sometimes around six in the morning in Lappeenranta, Lantta says.

Mikko Lantta remains loyal to the team and plans to continue attending games. He does not count the money spent on travel.

– I wouldn’t be able to handle it if I started calculating how much money is spent on this in a season.

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