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Independent hockey blogger from Finland. 100% original content, sharing authentic behind-the-scenes stories and non-mainstream angles.
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Finnish wooden stick manufactures KOHO, TITAN, (COOPER) and MONTREAL dominated over half of the global hockey stick market for 30 years
The dynasty of Finnish wooden sticks, which began in the 1960s and ended in the 1990s, is still remembered by many hockey connoisseurs. Finnish wooden sticks became the best-selling sticks around the world, thanks in part to legends like Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri and the Soviet national team. Before the development of carbon fiber sticks, Finland was the undisputed leader in wooden stick manufacturing. In addition to their own brand names, sticks for other suppliers, such as Cooper, were also manufactured in Finland. As we all await the start of the NHL season, I decided to take a trip to Forssa to pass the time. It is a 100-kilometer drive from Finland's capital, Helsinki. Forssa is a very small industrial town located between Helsinki, Tampere, and Turku, yet it holds immense significance in Finnish hockey history. Not just on a national scale, but globally, Forssa is renowned for manufacturing wooden hockey sticks! Although ice hockey has been played in Forssa for nearly a hundred years, the production of hockey sticks has gone hand in hand with Forssa's hockey culture. For example, the story of KOHO began in Forssa in 1964. Right up until the 2010s, brands such as KOHO, Titan, Cooper, Bauer, and Nike were manufactured in the Forssa region. For instance, Wayne Gretzky played 11 seasons with a Finnish Titan wooden stick and won 4 Stanley Cups during that time. Rumor has it that he even visited the factory in Forssa, though there is no paperwork to confirm it. It is estimated that at least 15 million Titan sticks alone were sold. I began my visit to Forssa at the ice arena. The place oozed legendary status in many ways. Originally built in the early 1970s, the arena features player benches built on two levels! The benchwarmers truly had their own peace up on the top shelf, on a completely different floor. I have never encountered a similar setup in any other ice arena. Furthermore, the Cooper promotional clock ticking on the arena wall is completely unique and surely the only one of its kind in the world. The Forssa ice arena houses one of Finland's most fascinating hockey exhibitions. It all started thanks to Jan Alitalo, a local hockey enthusiast from Forssa. Ever since he was a little boy, he collected sticks—just like juniors do all around the world. However, juniors in Forssa were in a uniquely fortunate position because they actually got real sticks! Sticks could be found in factory trash cans, arena hallways, and dozens of other places, simply because sticks were manufactured right there in Forssa. Jan Alitalo initially donated 450 wooden sticks from his personal collection to the Forssa ice arena. Naturally, the most valuable sticks in the exhibition include Wayne Gretzky's Titan stick, but the sticks of Bobby Orr and Bobby Hull are also highly prized. For example, Bobby Orr’s blade was extremely curved and custom-designed for him. Additionally, among the older sticks on display was Gary Dineen's straight-bladed stick. Players like Frank Mahovlich, Lanny McDonald, Mike Bossy, Bernie Geoffrion, Vladimir Krutov, and Ulf Samuelsson could all be found in the display cases. Likewise, Finnish stars Jari Kurri and Teemu Selänne had donated their sticks. Selänne made his donation personally and brought the stick to the venue in person. After admiring the sticks, I was able to visit Jan Alitalo's private garage. He had collected items deeply rooted in local history, and there was plenty for both Forssa locals and hockey fans to marvel at in the garage! In total, Alitalo owned about 1,300 wooden sticks, and a quick look around the garage revealed the wooden sticks of many 1990s NHL stars. The sticks and gear of Forssa's sole NHL player, Antti Laaksonen, also held immense value. To wrap up the trip, I drove over to the courtyard of the old KOHO factory. The logos were still in place on the wall, but otherwise, all the old history was gone. The machinery and tools of the wooden stick factory were rusting outside in the courtyard. It felt incredible to think of all the global stars who had visited the place. This sad sight also mirrored the shift and fierce competition that KOHO, Titan, Montreal, and many other Finnish stick brands failed to keep up with. Later on, Finnish giant NOKIA suffered this very same defeat in the mobile phone market after losing the battle to APPLE. But we Finns do not give up. We are resilient.
Sep 24, 2026
The Hockey News
Could this be one reason why some people become NHL players while others do not?
Could this be one reason why some people become NHL players while others do not? Throughout history, there have been fewer than 300 Finnish players in the NHL in total. Of those, 11 played for Etelä-Vantaan Urheilijat (EVU) as juniors. Among the most famous players are the Filppula and Ruutu brothers. Both pairs of brothers launched their international careers wearing the EVU jersey. Valtteri Filppula, a member of the Triple Gold Club, is especially remembered for bringing the Stanley Cup on display to his childhood neighborhood in Vantaa. It all started at the Myyrmäki ice rink. Last Friday, I went to play ice hockey at the Myyrmäki ice rink. Built in 1981, this arena has served as EVU's home lair ever since. In all its brutality, the ice rink is quite functional, and the ice quality is good after all. Everything except the rink itself looks original, and time seems to stand still when you arrive at the hall. Last summer, the Mikko Rantanen Academy was also held in the same arena. Location-wise, Myyrmäki is central and close to Helsinki. I recently listened to a podcast where Valtteri Filppula talked about his career. He mentioned a shooting area located behind the Myyrmäki ice rink. For Valtteri and, for example, Tuomo Ruutu, it was a place where they shot a lot of pucks outside of team practices. Even today, that same shooting area is still there behind the arena. Inspired by this, I visited this almost sacred spot myself after finishing my own game. The more I listen to or read stories about players, the more it seems that players who reach the NHL share a common trait: an inner passion for playing and for hockey itself. Shooting areas, outdoor rinks, and indoor arenas are still the places where development happens. Maybe that is precisely the reason why some become NHL players and others do not. When it is dark or cold—as it usually is in Finland—you do not stay home to play PlayStation; you go out to play.
Sep 15, 2026
The Hockey News
In two months, #NHLGlobalSeries will be played in Finland!
In two months, #NHLGlobalSeries will be played in Finland! Yesterday, I drove past Veikkaus Arena. At the same time, I glanced at my calendar and noticed that in exactly two months, the NHL Global Series games will be played here in Helsinki. Everyone knows it already, but the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Carolina Hurricanes, will face the Seattle Kraken. The Stanley Cup will also be present here in Finland, and we’ll get to see the trophy live. Since the games in North America are starting soon, this Finland matchup hasn't gained much spotlight yet. And I'm not surprised at all, as we all want to live in the moment. Surely when November comes, the media and hockey fans will start talking more about this event as well. Looking at ticket sales again today, there are still tickets left for both games. The games will be played on Thursday and Saturday. The NHL Global Series week is going to be fantastic here in Helsinki! Before that week, the NOCCO tournament will be played at Veikkaus Arena, featuring Finland, Sweden, Czechia, and Switzerland. The games will already be played on an NHL rink, which will be narrowed from the standard Liiga rink. In addition, the "Stadin derby" between IFK and Jokerit will be played on Wednesday. There are also tickets left for this game, as local fans plan to boycott the match due to high prices. When both teams arrive in Helsinki on Monday, they will have time to do many Finnish things here. Neither Kaapo Kakko nor Sebastian Aho is originally from here, so they can't act as full locals, but I believe both teams have plenty of scheduled activities. Most likely, the teams will at least go to the sauna and eat salmon soup. Downtown Helsinki is small enough that you might also spot NHL players in cafes or restaurants. On top of these, I also hope for open practices, just like in Sweden last year. Having lived in Helsinki for a long time, I know these parts well myself. If any of you readers are coming to watch the #NHLGlobalSeries games, feel free to contact me via X, for example. I'd be happy to give tips and advice on local offerings or guide you on Finnish customs and habits. In November, the first snow sometimes falls, but it will likely be cold and dark. That’s why going to the sauna is perhaps the best thing you can do here besides watching hockey. Welcome to Finland!
Sep 15, 2026
The Hockey News
Welcome to Helsinki #NHLGlobalSeries – here are my tips for the city!
Once again, the NHL Global Series is coming to Finland. And what’s more, the event will be held in Helsinki again rather than Tampere. That is purely a good thing, as two official NHL games will be played at Veikkaus Arena. The arena is located just 10 kilometers from my home. This year, the Stanley Cup winners Carolina Hurricanes will face off against the Seattle Kraken. We’ll see at least a few Finnish players, with Sebastian Aho and Jesperi Kotkaniemi playing for Carolina, and Kaapo Kakko and Eeli Tolvanen for Seattle. Tolvanen’s contract is still up in the air, but we trust he’ll sign a deal with Seattle. Usually, the teams arrive in Finland about a week in advance. So one could assume that this November as well, the teams will arrive on Monday, November 9th, and head back to North America on Sunday, November 15th. A lot of people arrive along with the teams, including management, support staff, and fans. It’s quite the circus when the NHL comes to Finland! A local’s tips for Helsinki Helsinki is a typical Nordic city. It’s much smaller than Stockholm or Copenhagen. However, you can find really high-quality restaurants, saunas, shops, and architecture here. Since it’s November, we might get the first snowfall, but the weather will most likely be windy and gray. Because of that, going to a sauna is probably the best thing you can do at that time of year! With almost 100% certainty, both teams will also go to the sauna. 1. The many saunas of Helsinki - Löyly. A popular restaurant with a great sauna and access to sea swimming. - Lonna. A popular restaurant and a beautiful spot near the city center, accessible by boat; offers sea swimming. - Kulttuurisauna. An authentic and quiet place. Architecturally impressive. Not for groups. - Kuusijärvi. A bit further away, but a really great smoke sauna and ice swimming spot. Well worth a visit and cheap, too. - Furuvikin rantasauna. Near the sea. Always open. Affordable. - Kotiharjun sauna. Helsinki’s last remaining traditional wood-fired neighborhood sauna. Pst. I’m a sauna enthusiast. I actually know dozens of other saunas, so feel free to ask if you’d like any recommendations! 2. Hanging out, walking, and coffee in the surroundings of the Market Square in the city center - Way Bakery / Old Market Hall - Helsinki Cathedral - Bistro Bardot - Market Square - Uspenski Cathedral - Esplanade Park - House of the Estates - Bank of Finland Pst. The city is located by the sea, so the weather can be very windy. If the weather is clear, it can still be warm enough to sit outside at cafes. 3. Helsinki restaurants - Palace - Bas Bas * - Grön - Jason - Alexanderplats - Savoy * - Luovuus kukkii kaaoksesta - Vinkkeli - Demo - Olo - Finnjävel Salonki * - Bona Fide - Teller - Kuurna * - Le Grec - Shii - Hook * Pst. Helsinki is the food capital of Europe. * The ones with a star are my personal favorites. The rest are from lists of top-rated restaurants. Finland also has lots of local grill spots, and chicken wing restaurants are a total favorite for hockey players. Hook is the best one for that—a proper sports bar! 4. Helsinki museums and sight seeings - Ateneum is the largest and most beautiful. - Kiasma, the museum of contemporary art. - The Parliament House and Finlandia Hall are magnificent. - For a smaller museum, check out the Design Museum, which showcases Finnish architecture and design. - Alvar Aalto's home museum. - Oodi library is a public library open to everyone and a stunning new building. From the top floor, you can see other central Finnish landmarks. - Helsinki Cathedral is a distinctive landmark in the Helsinki cityscape, with its tall, green dome surrounded by four smaller domes, the building is in the neoclassical style. - The Sibelius Monument is a public art memorial in honor of the Finnish composer and national cultural icon Jean Sibelius, who died in 1957. Pst. If the weather is nice, you can take a ferry to Suomenlinna Island. Located near the city center, this is a historic UNESCO World Heritage site. You can spend time outdoors walking around, but if the weather turns bad, head inside the restaurants and indoor spaces. NOTE: It’s not a single castle, but a sea fortress spread across islands. 5. Shopping Shopping locations are almost all found along Aleksanterinkatu. You can start your tour at the Stockmann department store and walk down Aleksanterinkatu. For example, Stockmann Herkku, located in the basement, sells chocolates and other Finnish souvenirs. - Marimekko - Artek Helsinki - Cos - Kämp Galleria - Beamhill - Beam - Beyond Pst. You should buy some chocolate, salty liquorice, rye bread, and various candies to take back home with you from Finland. When you go to a regular grocery store or supermarket, you'll get to see high-quality, local products. 6. Local sport Helsinki has a lot to offer when it comes to sports, with various disciplines played here at the top national level. Ice hockey is visible everywhere in the city, as both Helsingin IFK and Helsingin Jokerit play here. Before the Global Series games, there will be a local derby match between these two teams. That game is definitely worth watching, either live at the arena or in a sports bar. Besides ice hockey, basketball is also played in the city. On Friday, right between the NHL Global Series games, you’ll have plenty of time to catch a Helsinki Seagulls match. At the same time, you can visit the Olympic Stadium or the Sports Museum of Finland. They are located right next to all the sports venues. In Helsinki, distances are short and almost everything is within walking distance. Pst. Helsinki has so much more to see, but I can't list everything here. It's also worth checking the City of Helsinki's official website to see what's happening during that week. I’m also happy to help you with more tips on things to see and do.Find me on Instagram and X using the same handle!
Aug 4, 2026
The Hockey News
