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Deep-dives into NHL Finns and pure Finnish hockey culture. 100% original behind-the-scenes stories from an independent blogger.

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Nearly 800-game NHL veteran Niklas Hagman now works as a skills coach: "Ultimately, all decisions that matter for hockey are made during the game."

NEARLY 800-GAME NHL VETERAN NIKLAS HAGMAN NOW WORKS AS A SKILLS COACH: "ULTIMATELY, ALL DECISIONS THAT MATTER FOR HOCKEY ARE MADE DURING THE GAME." Having played 770 games in the NHL, Niklas Hagman is a second-generation NHL hockey player. His father, Matti Hagman, was the first Finnish-born player to play in the NHL—a milestone that reached its 50th anniversary this year. Niklas concluded his own playing career in the spring of 2017, but spent nearly ten years away from hockey. Today, he works as a skills coach for Viima Hockey. I had the opportunity to meet Hagman in person in Espoo before his upcoming shift and sit down to talk with him about hockey and life in general after an active career. His career skyrocketed after an Under-20 World Junior Championship gold medal and Hagman's clutch goal For our generation, Niklas Hagman was a shared role model and a Finnish star player. In 1998, he scored the overtime winner to capture the U20 World Championship gold for Finland on home ice, which propelled him into the bright lights of the NHL for a long career, while also playing through the hockey rinks of Finland and Europe. Our generation barely had a chance to see Niklas's father, Matti Hagman, on the ice, even though every well-informed hockey fan knew the father and son's shared hockey background. "My father was a playmaking center with exceptional hockey sense. He was extremely well-known in Finland, especially here in Helsinki. My father's own playing career and history usually meant I was heavily compared to him as a player. That's why, at a very young age, I started playing wing, and my main strength was my skating. In reality, my father and I were completely different types of players, and because of that, it was hard to genuinely compare us on the ice," Niklas Hagman says. After finishing his hockey career at age 37, Niklas Hagman stepped away from hockey. Because of his father's playing career, hockey had followed him since childhood. He felt that he was completely burned out on hockey. However, through starting therapy and processing personal matters, his positivity and joy for life returned, and Hagman rediscovered hockey post-career—though roughly ten years passed in between. He started as a skills coach for Viima Hockey, taking on the responsibility of teaching Finnish juniors. In the summers, Finnish professional players joined the sessions as well. "I work as a skills coach for Viima Hockey on weekdays and evenings. The practices focus on various core areas, such as goal-scoring, board play, battle work, and edge control. Individual players can purchase Viima Hockey training packages and come in during their own time to practice under the guidance of myself and the other coaches," Hagman continues. Ice hockey is a fast-paced game on a small ice surface Although Finland has plenty of arenas, North American-sized small rinks are quite rare. According to Hagman, the small rink located at Espoo's HYPE Hybrid Arena, used by Viima Hockey, is an exceptional environment to practice in tight spaces. Juniors, in particular, hardly need a full-sized sheet for anything. Right next to the rink, there are off-ice training facilities where players can practice shooting and other drills without skates. Viima Hockey's summer sessions have also featured NHL players. Yours truly got to write an article on Miro Heiskanen, who trained with Viima last summer. According to Hagman, the constantly accelerating speed of modern hockey challenges players more than ever in terms of technical skill and, above all, skating speed. From his own career, Hagman remembers summer training sessions when Finnish hockey players and speed skaters trained together during the summers. Hockey players had explosive first steps, but the speed skaters would catch up in distance skating. In running tests held in Helsinki as well, hockey players and speed skaters loved competing against each other. Hagman mentions that he also learned how to master crossover and corner skating back then, an area where speed skaters excelled, allowing his corner speed to increase even further. "My own game never lagged because of my skating. My legs were always in top shape, and I frequently won various speed tests and other drills thanks to my legs. In hockey, the first 2-3 strides are the most crucial, and if you win those, you can execute dekes and make plays in peace afterward. My game was built heavily around that, alongside forechecking and puck-reception. I was a hardworking and skating winger," Hagman recalls. During the interview, it becomes clear that Hagman finds it difficult to praise himself or his own play. Yet all of us fans remember him as a fast and highly skilled player. After a brief silence, he admits that even now, at 46 years old, he can still match or beat several young Finnish players in skating speed and fitness tests. Hagman still actively pursues various sports and takes great care of himself, putting a heavy emphasis on lifestyle and nutrition habits. "As a former player and current skills coach, I also know that ultimately all decisions that matter for hockey are made during the game. Anyone can shine in practice or warm-ups, but if you don't know how to play hockey during a game, all of that is useless. That is why all training must develop the game itself and aim at improving game performance," Hagman reflects. After his career, there has been time to reflect and think Following his long hockey career, Hagman has recognized and understood many things in his life and career, learning perhaps even more about himself than he did during his playing days. He shares that he was always very talented and athletic across all different sports. In addition to hockey, he played soccer and bandy. Skating plays a major role in bandy since it is played on a large sheet of ice. Regarding current players, Hagman has thought about the current developmental trend where children no longer play pickup street games or engage in diverse physical activities. The most critical point is that, at least in his case, learning and daring developed naturally without him even noticing. You learned to play by playing. "In pickup games, every player was allowed to try different moves and dekes. It fostered creativity and gave us players entirely new experiences. You were allowed to make mistakes. If you don't play those games, you easily start playing it safe, and that's when development stops. That's why pure skills training or anything similar isn't enough if you lack hockey sense and don't know how to play the game. That only develops through playing," Hagman explains. Hagman's father Matti was known as an elite player but also as a larger-than-life personality. Partly for this reason, young Niklas often wanted to do things independently and on his own terms. He admits that at times he was a very difficult player to coach and resistant to advice. Perhaps he subconsciously rebelled against authority. After heading to the NHL, however, his eyes began to open to the reality that there were actually quite a few other very good players in the world. That brought humility and broadened his understanding on many levels. Now, after all of this, he has learned a lot about his own behavior. "Now as a skills coach, I can perhaps recognize those same personality traits in practices that I had when I was younger. I can tell many young players that right now, it pays to listen and look at things from multiple perspectives instead of just doing things your own way. I don't want to look back too much, but maybe I could have squeezed even more out of myself—simply through attitude," Hagman reflects aloud on his past career. As a player, Hagman felt he was at his best when facing high-pressure situations. Although he dealt with significant pre-game nerves—especially in the stands—once he stepped onto the ice, he felt at home and thrived under pressure. Today, he understands that for his own trainees, 770 games of NHL experience alone isn't enough; coaching and helping others requires heart and passion. Authenticity and genuine care deliver the message much more effectively. As a skills coach, he wants to be open and honest with himself and others. "I got everything from hockey that I could possibly hope for. Now, post-career, I've learned to love myself again and gone through a journey where I feel truly strong right now. My identity is no longer defined solely by hockey. Here in coaching, I've noticed that if I believe in my own vision and myself, others find it much easier to believe in me too. And when I go home or step away from hockey, I am so much more than just a hockey player," Niklas Hagman concludes with a smile. After shaking hands, Hagman greets the young players who have arrived and begins running a shooting drill for them. It is a normal Tuesday evening in autumn in Espoo.Oct 22, 2026

The Hockey News

Underneath the Veikkaus Arena, there is a practice ice rink located at a depth of 20 meters

Underneath the Veikkaus Arena, there is a practice ice rink located at a depth of 20 meters Yesterday, I went to play ice hockey at the practice rink of the Veikkaus Arena in Helsinki. In Finnish, the place is called the 'ice cave' (jääluola). And that's exactly what it is, as the location is deep within the bowels of the earth. The rink is built inside an area excavated into the bedrock, and you walk to it along a long corridor starting from the backyard of the Veikkaus Arena. The rink is used daily for practice by Jokerit and other users. The ice rink has been reopened for use, as it was closed for nearly four years! Russians were co-owners of this exact same ice rink, which is why it couldn't remain open. Now the ice rink is once again fully Finnish-owned and its name is Veikkaus Arena. The ice rink itself doesn't differ from a normal ice rink other than through its exotic nature. There wasn't a terrible echo, and the ice is really good. The ice doesn't collect loose snow and stays good for a long time. For example, yesterday we played 75 minutes of intensive ice hockey and there weren't many marks on the ice at all. The locker rooms and other facilities were good and up to the standard of Jokerit's professional team. The representative (main) team also practices there a lot. At the end of the ice slot, I still had to get back up to the surface. It was surprisingly tiring to carry wet gear and walk uphill. A 20-meter journey from the depths doesn't sound like much, but when a driveway is built down there that cars can also use, the distance feels long. By the way, the place is open every single day of the year. If you are ever in Helsinki or just passing by, be sure to check it out!Oct 15, 2026

The Hockey News

It is definitely worth a visit if you are visiting Helsinki (#NHLGlobalSeries) during the winter!

I started the weekend with nostalgia again. Right in the morning, I contacted Padasjoki, where Mikko, who used to work as the production manager at the Montreal stick factory, answered the phone. I asked Mikko about the history of Montreal sticks, and the conversation also turned to Mikko's mentor and the founder of Titan, Antti-Jussi Tiitola. We agreed during the call that I would visit Padasjoki later and write an article about Montreal's history. The history of Titan is also very interesting, so I want to create separate content for that as well! During the call, I drove to the newly opened exhibition at Cultural Centre Tahto. This was the first day that the Sports Museum of Finland's exhibition "Leijonat - Koko kansan joukkue" was open to the public. People started gathering as the doors opened at 10:00 AM. Yesterday's opening event included Jere Lehtinen and many other former Finnish national team players. The idea of the exhibition is to bring memorable moments, players, and phenomena of Finnish ice hockey to life for people to experience. The Finnish ice hockey national team, the Lions, still holds an almost exceptionally unifying power in Finland. It is similar to what many other countries have in sports like football, for example. Honestly, I don't remember anything about Finland's first World Championship other than the newspaper articles. They also appeared in my older brothers' rooms. I was under 6 years old back then, and it was only when I entered school that the World Championship really hit me. It's a bit of a pity that I wasn't any older so that I could vibe with the Lions' first World Championship in the same way. Actually, the Slovak national team's World Championship silver in 2000 was my first real memory of a match that I followed from start to finish. Back then, Slovakia lost to the Czech Republic 3-5 in the final. Later on, I have gotten to witness many finals won by the Lions. The 2011 final is memorable because it was only the second World Championship since 1995. For our generation and younger ones, it was a new and unique experience. A long time had passed since the previously won gold. After 2011, the championships won by Finland haven't quite felt the same. I remember when one of my friends jumped into the sea with all their clothes on to celebrate. It was wild! The Finnish Ice Hockey Museum is located in Tampere. However, a new exhibition has now been put together from Tampere and other parts of Finland, which will be open all winter. The exhibition featured a lot of historical information spanning a long journey. All the texts were also translated into Swedish and English. What stood out most from the exhibitions was perhaps the world's most legendary VHS cassette. Petteri Poukka recorded the 1995 World Championship final on a VHS tape. Later, he has carried the tape with him on travels in Finland and abroad. Now the cassette has visited over 40 countries and more than four continents! So as not to spam the entire content of the exhibition, I strongly recommend visiting it if and when you are in Helsinki during the winter. For instance, fans of the Canes and Kraken traveling here during the #NHLGlobalSeries week should definitely check it out. It gives some perspective on this country and the status of ice hockey here. You might even learn something along the way.Oct 9, 2026

The Hockey News

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