Mikko Rantanen was honored with his own disc golf course in 2016 / 2017. He won the World Junior Championship and a silver medal at the Men's Ice Hockey World Championship. He had also been drafted by the Colorado Avalanche and recorded 60 points in the AHL, earning the title of AHL Rookie of the Year.Before this morning, I had no idea that Mikko Rantanen had a disc golf course named after him. The course is located in his hometown of Nousiainen, a small municipality of fewer than 5,000 people near the city of Turku in southwestern Finland.
I had a work trip near Turku, and left Helsinki early in the morning. I ended up arriving too early at my destination, so I decided to take a quick detour to see what kind of place Mikko Rantanen comes from.
The first thing I did was try to find out if there were any buildings, statues, or landmarks related to Mikko in Nousiainen. One result stood out: a disc golf course named in his honor, located not far from the town center. I drove there in the dark, and soon a sign appeared in front of me — I had arrived!
The course has 18 holes and is located in the middle of the forest. It’s playable year-round, but locals describe it as challenging.It’s currently very dark and gloomy in Finland. There’s already snow up north, but since Nousiainen is located near the coast, there was no snow on the ground yet. I was also on the move early in the morning, so the only person I saw at the course was a local out walking their dog.
I read more about the course and found that Mikko Rantanen mentioned in a 2016 interview that he enjoys playing disc golf in his free time. He appreciated the gesture by his hometown to build a new course in Nousiainen — the interview was done in the summer of 2016 (Turun Seutusanomat).
“This is of course a great honor. I always try to mention Nousiainen when I get the chance. I’ve lived here my whole life, and being from Nousiainen is an important part of who I am,” Rantanen told the media at the time.
What Rantanen enjoys about disc golf is that it’s something he can do together with friends. Summer is short in Finland, so people want to make the most of it — outdoors and in good company. According to Rantanen, disc golf also helps him disconnect from hockey, making it a perfect way to take a mental break from the sport, especially during the off-season.
In Finland, this type of trail is called a "pururata". It has a surface made of wood chips or sawdust, which makes it ideal for running. In winter, ski tracks are often laid on top of it. Mikko Rantanen’s disc golf course began with a view just like this.I didn’t have time to stay long in Mikko Rantanen’s hometown, but I did remember that in 2022, a big public celebration was held there. That’s when everyone had the chance to see the Stanley Cup, which Rantanen brought home after the Avalanche’s incredible season.
Before leaving, I grabbed a quick coffee at a local café. I asked the owner if I could have the same porridge that Mikko Rantanen was rumored to enjoy. I didn’t get the porridge, but the coffee and pastries were excellent. 
In addition to ice hockey and disc golf, Mikko Rantanen has also played track and field, soccer, and floorball.Thank you, Nousiainen, for a great morning! Maybe we’ll see the Stanley Cup return here again as soon as next summer. And if Mikko Rantanen doesn’t win it, Artturi Lehkonen’s home is also very close to Nousiainen.