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!