Growing the Game: Hiirikoski Returns to Worlds, Kraft Hockeyville and More

Growing the Game is Ian Kennedy’s weekly feature examining the global game, how social issues impact the sport, and how hockey’s important cultural shift continues to evolve.

Two weeks ago, Finnish captain Jenni Hiirikoski suffered a frightening injury as a skate sliced her neck while playing for Lulea in the SDHL final. Rushed to hospital by ambulance, Hiirikoski underwent surgery to repair the wound, putting her season and World Championship status into question.

On the opening day of the 2023 women’s World Championship, however, Hiirikoski was back in action captaining Team Finland to a 14-1 win over France. She recorded two assists while logging 21:27 in ice time.

“I’m really enjoying every second I can be here,” Hiirikoski said following the game of the opportunity to play following her injury. “It was so scary of a moment.”

Hiirikoski only missed five days following her injury before returning to skating. In that time, her Lulea team captured its fifth straight SDHL title.

“It was really important for me to get back on the ice,” she said of the quick return.

The seven-time World Championship top defender and two-time Olympic best defender, who has 11 medals at the events, is destined to someday join the Hockey Hall of Fame and IIHF Hall of Fame. Until then, Hiirikoski, 36, is happy to be back with a group she hopes will help Finland regain their place among the top women’s hockey nations in the world.

“We have good energy in the group and good new players this year, I’m really enjoying working with everyone,” she said.

“It has been a really good focus the whole season after last Worlds,” she said. “We’ve played many tournaments in Europe and we have really wanted to focus on every game we are together and our own performance.”

In partnership with the NHL and NHLPA, West Lorne, Ont., was named the winner of Kraft Hockeyville 2023. 

The community will receive $250,000 in arena upgrades and $10,000 worth of youth hockey equipment from the NHLPA Goals & Dreams fund. The town will also have the opportunity to host an NHL pre-season game.

“Our vibrant community is growing at a frenetic pace, and winning Kraft Hockeyville will help ensure that our community hockey program and infrastructure can keep pace with the rising demand,” said West Lorne’s community representative, Chelsea Vergeer.

“We want to continue to foster an environment where everyone in West Lorne and the surrounding area has access to the game they love and feels included, from the moment they step into our arena to the moment they hit the ice. West Lorne Arena will continue to be a place that ignites the passion of new generations of players and fans. We couldn’t be more excited.”

West Lorne, home of the West Lorne Minor Hockey Association, has seen many notable players use their arena facilities growing up in the area, including current NHLers Bo Horvat and Travis Konecny, as well as pro hockey player Justin Azevedo.

This week, the NHL announced its annual Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award nominees in the United States and Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award presented by Hyundai nominees in Canada.

American nominees included Jason McCrimmon (Detroit, Mich.), Karen Ota-O’Brien (Coconut Creek, Fla.) and Marty Richardson (Littleton, Col.), while the Canadian nominees were Derek Klein (Shellbrook, Sask.), Dean Smith (Halifax, N.S.), and Saroya Tinker (Toronto, Ont.).

McCrimmon is the president and founder of Detroit Ice Dreams Youth Hockey Association and a member of the NHLCA BIPOC Coaches Program. Richardson is the founder of Dawg Nation Hockey Foundation, an organization helping youth and families facing hardship, while Ota-O’Brien founded the South Florida Women’s Hockey Program, the Lucky Pucks Hockey Club and co-founded and serves as current president of the Florida Women's Hockey League.

In Canada, Tinker is a professional hockey player with the PHF’s Toronto Six, the executive director of Black Girl Hockey Club Canada and the founder of Saroya Strong. She’s joined by Smith, who is the chair of Hockey Nova Scotia’s Diversity and Inclusion Task Force and serves as secretary to the Black Ice Hockey and Sports Hall of Fame Society. Finally, Klein, the CEO of Big River First Nation, is a longtime supporter of the game for Indigenous youth.

With controversy over Pride events in NHL arenas seemingly occurring every day, the Nashville Predators and Toronto Maple Leafs both came out in strong support of the LGBTQ+ community. This support included Pride night celebrations, but as notably, included the supportive voices of members of both organizations.

“It’s something that’s really close to my heart,” said Predators blueliner Tyson Barrie.

“I’ve got family members and best friends in the community, and I think there’s a little bit of frustration on my end with what has kind of transpired this year with everything. I know how hard it can be for people to come out and live their authentic lives, and I hope that none of the stuff that has gone on has pushed anybody back, young kids who were thinking about it.”

It was a sentiment echoed by Nashville coach John Hynes.

“It's something that we've talked about as an organization, and we believe we're an inclusive organization and truly believe that hockey is a safe place for everybody. It's something that our players are all on board with, and (they) want to represent everyone involved, from the organization to people outside the organization."

In Toronto, defender Morgan Rielly, who is an ambassador with the Alphabet Sports Collective, also spoke to the media in support of the LGBTQ+ community.

"The belief within the organization has always been there in terms of including people and having our team be a place where everybody's welcome and safe," said Rielly. "Whether you wear jerseys or not, I believe actions speak louder than words. And especially speak louder than attire."