The Lions’ team visited the residence of the Finnish embassy in Prague on Sunday.
The Ice Hockey World Cup will be played in the Czech Republic from 10 to 26. May. follows the events in the app, on the website, on the Sports Screen and on Urheiluradio.
The Finnish national ice hockey team had a day off in Prague on Sunday. The program included a visit to a garden party organized by the embassy.
Ambassador Pasi Tuominen In addition to the Lions, guests from other missions, local politicians, media representatives and a few well-known Finnish hockey personalities were present at the event hosted by
The hockey legend also enjoyed the atmosphere of the invitations Brother Pekka Ketola.
– Just then I told my friends that I was here in Prague for the first time at the World Championships in 1972, Ketola recalled.
According to him, Prague was – and still is – one of the best places to host the World Cup tournament.
– There should be competitions here every year! The feeling is quite unique. I read somewhere that the average audience (per match) has been more than twelve thousand, Ketola beamed.
In the 70s, the competitions were quite different from a player’s point of view.
– Then we played on an amateur basis. Now that we play on a professional basis, this is maybe a little… more difficult, the hockey legend said and let out a small laugh.
The World Cups of previous decades were mostly alcohol-fuelled.
– It was a very relaxed time. If we lost, the biggest reason was the night before, Ketola stated.
The difference to modern times was also noticed at these garden parties. The lions’ players had water glasses in their hands.
Ketola has been watching in Prague with a close eye Jesse Puljujärvi excerpts. A special relationship developed between them at the turn of the year 2015-16.
– When I joined the national team in my twenties at the age of 16, Vellu was then the team leader. Fatherly advice came from there, Puljujärvi said.
The home games of the Young Lions then became a fairytale success story, which ended with the world championship. Puljujärvi sparkles as one of the brightest stars of the junnu competitions.
“Pulju”, who entered the NHL with the highest hopes, has since been looking for his place on the puck map. There have been enough problems, the most recent being recovering from a major hip operation.
In the current World Cup, the winger seems to have gotten his career back on track. Ketola has followed Puljujärvi’s results with satisfaction.
– Hell yeah! I’m so happy for him. He played against Canadian NHL men and was more manly than they were, Ketola praised.
The two talked for a long time at the garden party. The legend’s advice was simple.
– Be yourself. Play like you played against Canada, were Ketola’s instructions.
There was no end to Ketola’s praises. After the outgoing tournament of Puljujärvi’s career, he made a handsome rise.
– Pulju is a child of nature. He has enormous capacity in that body alone. Will drive himself through. As long as it stays intact. And understands his own way of playing. It’s that directness.
If Puljujärvi has enough capacity in its stem, the same can still be said about the 76-year-old Ketola. It has also been noted by Puljujärvi.
– You wouldn’t believe that Vellu has already played these games back then (in the 70s). The guy is still in pretty good shape. Tough guy, he marveled.
Puljujärvi stopped to compare the mood of the 1970s with today.
– I can’t imagine the games of that time. It’s been quite a while, huh huh. And the year 1972, by the way, our father was born then!