HIFK captain Tommi Niittylä played his record 554th main league match today. Niittylä is already in its 28th season at Finland’s highest league level.
Bettina Törnvall,
Olli-Pekka Lukka
When elementary school age Tommi Niittylä started playing ice ball in the mid-80s, he had no idea how long his playing career would last.
– I don’t know if I thought about life that far back then. Hardly, Niittylä laughs.
The 45-year-old HIFK captain is already in his 28th season at Finland’s highest league level. The fact that Niittylä played his 554th main league game on Saturday against league leader JPS shows his perseverance. Thus, he became the player with the most Bandyliga matches of all time. Niittylä HIFK lost to JPS 1-4.
Mikkelin Kamppareid Joni Maaranen the previous record, 553 matches, is from the 2021–22 season. Maaranen managed to play 26 seasons in the main league.
One of the reasons for Niittylä’s long career is that he has remained in relatively good shape for his age. The meter has more than 5,000 training hours.
– I guess it has been practiced relatively well. Of course, with age, there have started to be small problems with condition and staying intact.
The decision to quit has crossed my mind from time to time.
– Young guys go so hard. It doesn’t matter how good it is, because you can’t keep up with it at this age.
There have been many moments in my career
The Culosaari Vesta graduate has played in HIFK for a total of 21 seasons. In addition, he has played a few seasons in the ranks of Botnia. Niittylä is known for his tough, but fair defensive style. The ice bench has become familiar to the defender from Helsinki.
The championships, of which Niittylä has three in his pocket, are memorable from a long career.
– After all, this whole thing has been somehow really cool. The fact that everyone works together for the same goal.
There have also been difficult moments in the career, such as a few major injuries. Returning to the ice has not always been easy.
– And of course, when the team has had a hard time for several years in a row, that motivation has been needed.
The future of the sport is worrying
Niittylä debuted in the Bandyliiga in the 1996–97 season. According to the Konkar defender, the game has developed especially on the defensive end.
– Sometimes before, the defense department was more of a “track department”. Nowadays, even a defender is required to have ball skills.
Iceball has been overshadowed by many other ball sports in Finland. The future of the sport raises concerns. Niittylä needs a boost for the sport.
– I hope that oxygen could be breathed into the sport again. At the moment it does look bad and it is extremely unfortunate.
Do you believe your match record will ever be broken?
– Yes, there are a few players coming from behind. You’ll see how the boys get on there, Niittylä answers with a smile.