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.