The Blue Jackets’ journey to Finland is formally again on.
After two deliberate video games in opposition to the Colorado Avalanche final season in Helsinki had been postponed by the pandemic, it was introduced Thursday that each groups will play Nov. 4-5 next season in Tampere’s Nokia Arena.
“I haven’t talked to anyone (back home) about it, but I’m sure everyone is going to be excited to get to see me play,” mentioned ahead Patrik Laine, who’s from Tampere. “It’s been a couple of tough years with COVID and all that, so it will be fun for everyone over there, for the fans and everyone else, to watch me play and just watch NHL hockey overall.”
Laine, one among two Finnish gamers on the Jackets’ roster, connected a major qualifier to most of his feedback concerning the journey. He’s a pending restricted free agent and not using a contract extension for next season, so there’s an opportunity he won’t be with the Blue Jackets. The similar applies to goalie Joonas Korpisalo, a pending unrestricted free agent.
“It was exciting to hear the news and hopefully I’m still here,” Laine mentioned after taking group photographs on the ice at Nationwide Arena. “That’s the next step (agreeing to an extension), but it should be a lot of fun. … It’s different here, for North American guys. They get to play in their hometowns, usually, but for Europeans it’s pretty rare that we get that opportunity. So, yeah, it’s pretty sweet.”
According to Laine, the Blue Jackets will spend roughly 5 days in Helsinki earlier than heading to Tampere for play back-to-back video games in opposition to the Avalanche. Helsinki, which is nearer to Korpisalo’s hometown of Pori, is the place the groups had been speculated to play earlier this season, earlier than the NHL postponed all worldwide video games for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Moving the video games to Tampere places them in Laine’s hometown at a brand new area that simply opened in December. It additionally harkens particular reminiscences for Blue Jackets basic supervisor Jarmo Kekalainen, who was born in that metropolis, earned a advertising diploma from the University of Tampere in 2000 and performed professionally for each Liiga groups based mostly there, Tappara and Ilves.
“I’m looking forward to showing a little bit of Finland to our team, our staff and our players, so it’s going to be exciting,” Kekalainen mentioned. “I’ve spent some of the best years of my life in that city, so it’s great to go back with our team and show these guys what that city’s all about.”
A brand new addition to Tampere is Nokia Arena, which has a capability of 13,455 and was simply accomplished in December. It will even be a venue used for the upcoming 2022 IIHF males’s world championships, which will be held May 13-29 in Helsinki and Tampere.
Laine, who’s presently out with an undisclosed upper-body damage, isn’t positive whether or not he’ll be part of the Finnish group vying for a world championship in the identical 12 months a Finnish contingent received gold on the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Korpisalo hasn’t performed since Mar. 22 and is scheduled to bear hip surgical procedure.
Other Finnish employees inside the Blue Jackets’ organizational construction embrace head novice scout Ville Siren and European participant growth coach Jarkko Ruutu. The Avalanche make use of Finnish forwards Mikko Rantanen and Artturi Lehkonen plus goaltending coach Jussi Parkkila.
As for the matchup, the potential is there for 2 thrilling video games.
Columbus swept the season sequence in opposition to Colorado this 12 months, downing the Avalanche twice in a four-day span. Each recreation went all the way down to the wire. The Blue Jackets received the primary in additional time Nov. 3 at Ball Arena in Denver, when Laine strained an indirect muscle, and then received the rematch Nov. 6 at Nationwide Arena on a purpose by rookie Cole Sillinger late in the third interval.
The Blue Jackets sunk out of playoff rivalry afterward, taking part in with out Laine for 20 video games, whereas the Avalanche rose to the highest of the NHL’s general standings as Stanley Cup contender.
“It’s one of the best teams in the league, so it’s a great challenge,” Kekalainen mentioned. “There’s four points available, just like for our games played here and in Denver, but as we can see, we’re out of the playoffs and they’re the number one team in the league. We had some success against them this year, so you never know. We’ll just look forward to two exciting games and battle for four points.”
They’ll additionally get pleasure from their environment whereas making a uncommon street journey outdoors of North America.
“It comes with challenges, but it’s a great opportunity to go over there and grow the game, showcase (the NHL),” mentioned Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen, who hasn’t beforehand visited or performed in Finland. “It’s regular-season games, so it’s even better. I don’t look at it as a negative. You’re getting your group together to go out there and it’s a really neat experience. I’m looking forward to it.”
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Blue Jackets and Avalanche will face-off next season in Finland & More Latest News Update
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