We meet Teuvo Teräväinen on a weekday evening in the lobby of the Herttoniemi ice rink. Summer league game by the hockey collective Puita Hockey Club has just ended on the ice. This match featured Finnish professional players and celebrities, among others.
Teräväinen played in the game for the second time and thoroughly enjoyed playing with his familiar friends. Last week’s Puita Hockey Club's game featured not only Teräväinen but also several other Finnish NHL players, including Miro Heiskanen, Roope Hintz, Joel Kiviranta, Mikael Granlund, Anton Lundell and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. The games are free to attend in person and can also be watched via YouTube.
"Summer always goes by quickly, even though I arrived in Finland right after the World Championships. I've been training and spending time at the cottage, and of course, playing all the summer sports, like tennis and golf," Teräväinen says about his summer.
Finnish NHL players train together with other NHL professionals during the summer. In addition to hockey, forward Teuvo Teräväinen is also known in Finland for floorball. He played floorball for Helsinki-based Tapanilan Erä until he was nearly 15, but then chose hockey. It was no longer possible to play two sports at a professional level at that age. Some signs of his current and very clever playing style might be traced back to his floorball background.
"I haven't played floorball in a while, but I liked that sport a lot too," Teräväinen continues, wiping the sweat from the previous game off his forehead.
Back to Chicago and a Familiar City
As the Finnish summer cools down, Teräväinen will pack his bags and return to Chicago within a couple of weeks. According to him, players return to Chicago according to their own schedules, but they must be in the city before training camp begins. Fall camps mean hard training and shedding sweat. Teräväinen starts his on-ice training in late July and has now been on the ice daily.
"My summer includes playing different sports, especially summer sports. I've gotten used to the idea that in the winter, everything revolves around hockey, and during the season, you just take care of your body and focus on the games. I also only get to visit Finland in the summer, but I've already gotten used to that. We go by hockey's terms," Teräväinen explains.
Chicago will have a young team again next season. Teräväinen wants to do the things that bring the team wins and is committed to playing on the line and at the position the coaching staff wants him to. With over 12 seasons in the NHL, Teräväinen is a veteran player, and he wants to serve as an example for the young players on the Blackhawks team.
"We can do really well if every young player takes developmental steps. Of course, a lot of things have to go right for us to make the playoffs, but I believe in our potential and in us developing during the season. We're going out to win games," Teräväinen reflects.
From his own team, Teräväinen highlights three players for the public to follow. The team's brightest star is naturally center Connor Bedard, and he's worth following again this year. In addition to Bedard, Frank Nazar, who just signed a long-term extension, is one of Teräväinen's favorite players and a key player for the upcoming season. Lastly, Teräväinen mentions defenseman Sam Rinzel.
"University-backgrounded Rinzel played really well at the end of the season and has a lot of potential. I believe he'll continue his development this season as well," Teräväinen says.
Dreaming of the Olympics
Before Teräväinen leaves for home, we also have time to talk about the upcoming Olympics. Teräväinen says he dreams of a spot on the Finnish team, just like many other Finnish NHL players. The upcoming Olympics will be played with the best players, and the tournament is a goal for all NHL professionals. Teräväinen predicts that the Finnish team will do well and believes Finland can compete with almost any country due to its team play.
"Personally, I need to have a good start to the season and earn a spot on the Finnish team. The tournament will be really tough, and every player and team wants to succeed in it," Teräväinen concludes the interview.
As he calmly walks toward the ice rink's parking lot, a few fans stop him. Teräväinen signs autographs and takes a selfie with the fans. It's easy to notice his popularity among fans in his hometown.
Follow the writer on X as well:
Valtteri Karjula (@valtterikarjula) on X
A curious writer chasing captivating stories and intense steam. Skater. Sauna fanatic. @nhl enthusiast. PR.