LVVK

Lvvk_lvvk@RTBDigital

Copied to clipboard

More on X and IG: @lvvk_lvvk

Deep-dives into NHL Finns and pure Finnish hockey culture. 100% original behind-the-scenes stories from an independent blogger.

Posts

1Followers

15Following

Mikko Rantanen is on the cover of and being interviewed in a new Finnish crossword magazine

SOLVES 5+1 PROBLEMS EVERY SINGLE NIGHT During a single ice hockey game, a player makes thousands of decisions within milliseconds. A large portion of these happen out of habit, especially when a player has more experience. The same things repeat themselves on the ice. In addition to routine decisions, creativity is needed—the ability to make impulsive decisions on the fly. It is a skill that not everyone necessarily has. "Game sense and fast thinking on the ice are things that you either have or you don't," says Finnish NHL star Mikko Rantanen. According to the Dallas Stars star forward, game sense is improved if a person has practiced multiple different sports when young, for example. You develop by playing. "But if you still don't have game sense by the age of 15, then you certainly never will—to put it somewhat exaggeratedly." No matter how good a player's game sense is, decisive puzzles appear before the player like on an assembly line. Every situation is unique, as is every game and opponent. A category of their own are the mental puzzles that arise, for example, when a referee makes what I feel is a wrong decision. "The big question is, can you keep your composure in that situation?" "And you can't always do it," Rantanen laughs. AN ANGRY OPPONENT SPARKS FIRE When things start getting physical in the hockey rink, a player's nerves are always tested to a greater or lesser extent. You need to have a strong head—especially against an opponent who tries to get under your skin. "I don't know if I get provoked by an opponent's talk that much," Rantanen says. He learned already as a young player that you shouldn't take those things to heart—or at least you shouldn't show it. The opposing side just gets a boost from it. "I get fired up inside myself if I see that an opponent loses their nerve and starts raging." If the Finnish star's fuse blows for some reason, the trigger is most often found in the referees' decisions. "Wrong calls, those are hard for me to swallow. I get annoyed by them," Rantanen says. "I get provoked more by that, or if my own or the team's play isn't working." There are opponents who cause Rantanen more headaches than others. These share one thing in common: they play on the edge of the rules. One dislike above all others is the massive Czech defenseman Radko Gudas. Known by the nickname "The Butcher," the Florida Panthers player is considered one of the dirtiest and most heavy-handed players in the NHL. "They might not be their team's best players, but they make sure you have to stay alert all the time, because anything can come from around the corner," Rantanen says. THE LONGEST SEASON EVER The freshly started NHL season will be historic, as the number of regular-season games increases from 82 to 84 for the first time in nearly thirty years. For comparison, Finland's domestic @smliiga is played with about twenty fewer games. A long series takes its toll, and no one can be the best version of themselves on the ice every single time. Often, even people in the stands notice if one of the players is not performing at their own level. Off-games happen inevitably, and often the player is aware of it even before the puck drops. The body doesn't feel good or there is a feeling of fatigue – the legs simply don't work. "You can feel it already during the warm-up, and you just think to yourself, what is this going to turn into," Rantanen says. An eternal problem in a hockey player's job is that you are always a little tired. A matter of career choice, then. The sport is evolving and getting faster. The biggest thing that has changed during Rantanen's long @NHL career is the quality of the players. The crash-and-bang grinders and agitators of the third and fourth lines seem to have disappeared completely. Or if there are agitators, they know how to play nowadays too. Because of that, more goals are scored as well. The spectator rejoices. NO SURRENDER Mikko Rantanen has also changed. He has acquired patience and that famous wisdom brought by age. His standards for himself have increased, and games no longer make him nervous the way they used to. Good routines before every single game take care of that. However, the start of the season and the playoffs still cause extra excitement. "You can still notice it when there is more than the usual amount at stake in the games". Mikko Rantanen turns a milestone age in the autumn. He hits thirty in October. At the same time, his eleventh season in the NHL begins. During his career, he has had time to represent the @Canes and the @Avalanche, winning the @StanleyCup with the latter in 2022. Now he has an eight-year contract with the Dallas Stars in his pocket. The long deal brings Rantanen peace of mind. "You don't have to be afraid as much. If an injury happens, for example, you know that things are secured". The hunger to play is still fierce, however. There is no giving up. The desire to win drives the star forward forward. "My own ambition is such that I want to be worthy of the contract. That comes from professionalism." 4 QUICK QUESTIONS - When was the last time you solved crosswords? – My partner likes doing them a lot! In my own case, the exact time was the Sunday after Midsummer. - Who among the Finns in Dallas will be the toughest solver of Sportti-Crossword? – Esa Lindell has potential. Such a calm guy. - You are on the cover of the first-ever Sportti-Crossword magazine. How does it feel? – A great honor to be on the cover of the very first issue of all time! Let's hope this magazine will one day even become a collector's item. - What greetings do you want to send? – Fill out crosswords, and don't be on your phone too much.Oct 9, 2026

Dallas Stars

Arttu Hyry's podcast appearance before returning to North America

Dallas Stars forward Arttu Hyry recently appeared on a podcast just before returning to #TexasHockey, sharing a detailed look into his career trajectory, life off the ice, and transition to North American hockey. Arttu Hyry has always loved soccer and continues to play whenever he can, his main journey in sports took a dramatic turn when a late physical growth spurt sparked rapid muscle development, earning him his way back into the Oulun Kärpät organization. Growing up in Oulu alongside a remarkably talented 2001-born age group where every player elevated one another, Hyry eventually signed his first professional contract in Finland, making just $290 per game. Hyry’s career milestone came when he debuted for the Leijonat at the World Championships in Prague, playing against the Czech Republic in an electric atmosphere. When choosing his path to North America, another team made a last-minute push, but Hyry ultimately selected Dallas Stars due to Texas itself, the strong Finnish presence, and a clear organization-wide development process for bringing players up from the AHL.Adapting to life on and off the ice in the United States has brought plenty of new experiences for the Finnish forward. While living in Texas, Hyry has thoroughly enjoyed Austin for its sights, older architecture, and peaceful outskirts, and he strongly recommends the brisket at Terry’s Black's BBQ. On the road, his favorite destination is Coachella Valley—home of fellow Oulu native Ville Ottavainen—thanks to its warm weather and endless golf courses. On the flip side, he considers Rockford the grimest road destination, while the Chicago Wolves feature the worst ice in the league, so soft that players are forced to switch to different skate blades. Around the team, Hyry notes that his last name remains notoriously difficult for North Americans to pronounce, and his rookie dinner is still pending, which he hopes to finally get out of the way if he secures a permanent roster spot this season. He also shared a fun piece of hockey trivia, mentioning that Dallas coach Glen Gulutzan and former Kärpät head coach Mikko Manner were actually teammates for Vaasan Sport 🇫🇮 back in the 1997–1998 season. When it comes to competition and player development, Hyry actively works to refine his craft while learning from the best. He has put in extensive faceoff work alongside Aatu Räty, noting that experience is immediately obvious in the faceoff dot and that the extra practice significantly helped both of their games. Out on the ice, he singles out J. T. Compher as his toughest faceoff opponent and considers Quinn Hughes the hardest overall player to play against, while also keeping an eye on fellow Finn Emil Hemming, who he believes is on a great track to break through. Outside of hockey, Hyry maintains a remarkably disciplined mindset by actively minimizing his social media use to focus on productive habits. Most notably, he is concurrently studying for a Master’s degree in Engineering at the University of Oulu, completing coursework in his free time as he nears his Bachelor's degree with the goal of graduating with honors. Looking ahead, his ultimate focus remains set on securing a permanent spot in the NHL and winning the Stanley Cup.Sep 4, 2026

Dallas Stars

Miro Heiskanen’s Finnish Summer Includes Hard Training and His Own Hockey Camp

Miro Heiskanen’s Finnish Summer Includes Hard Training and His Own Hockey Camp The Dallas Star defenseman Miro Heiskanen, who just turned 27, is spending his summer in his hometown of Espoo. Located near his Espoo home is the Hypridiarena Hype training center, where Miro spends nearly all of his summer training hours. I got a unique opportunity to follow Miro’s summer training in the gym. Miro Heiskanen’s own hockey camp kicks off the following day, bringing plenty of eager players born between 2010 and 2020 to train and develop. After the 2026 NHL season concluded, Miro Heiskanen stayed in Dallas for about another week. As per usual, Miro wanted to take a summer vacation right after the season and just rest. His early summer also included short trips, such as the FIFA World Cup in Dallas and a trip to Spain with friends. During the football trip, he was able to stay at his own home in Dallas. Summer training called Miro right from the beginning of June. He started his training a bit lighter, and true to his style, did not hit the ice at all during the early summer. It wasn't until Midsummer that Heiskanen added ice sessions to his training program. Hypridiarena Hype, which currently serves as Miro Heiskanen’s training center, features a small rink and ice sheet in addition to the gym. In the same facility, Viima Hockey — Europe's leading individual hockey coaching organization and player development company — is also running its own training sessions. "This training center meets the needs that I require from summer training. A good gym, a small ice sheet, and good saunas and a restaurant. On top of that, there are professional coaches and a good training group here. I can't really think of anything else I'd need." Miro's regular summer off-season workout Every NHL player builds their own summer training routine. In addition to data, there are many metrics, and development is monitored with a close eye. Miro has noticed that his current template suits him well, involving roughly 5 gym sessions and 2–3 ice sessions per week. Moving toward the late summer, the number of on-ice practices is increased. "You can't really say whether someone else's training program is good or bad. Every player has to find their own way to train. This has worked for me, as I've stayed healthy and developed. I listen to my body a lot, and that's also where I get insight into which direction the training has gone." At the end of this morning’s workout, Miro Heiskanen is developing his speed attributes. He does quick changes of direction on the running track and pulls weights on a sled. The workouts take place in his own space, yet as part of a larger group. The coaches from Viima Hockey are there to help and support the players with their training programs. "In Finland, we did a lot of jogging when we were younger, but over in North America, we don't do that at all anymore. All the running now is just these quick, explosive drills." Miro Heiskanen Hockey Camp Miro Heiskanen’s own hockey camp sells out every year. There are plenty of youth hockey players in Espoo for whom Heiskanen is a major role model. Heiskanen says that he gets excited about the camp and the energy of the kids every year himself. Every day, he manages to spend about 4–5 hours with the campers, and after a camp day, he feels tired but happy. "I go and do my own workouts before the camp. When I was young, I got to participate in a few camps. However, I played football as a child, so my own summers were heavily spent around that sport." When asked about his own role models, Miro Heiskanen mentions Finnish defenseman Kimmo Timonen. Ever since he was a young player, Heiskanen admired Timonen’s skating and offensive contributions. Among forwards, he says he watched Pavel Datsyuk’s play a lot. In Finland, many other youth hockey players admired Datsyuk’s wizardry as well. "I get a lot of joy from seeing that the kids love being at the camp. The camp is a success when everyone is having fun and the atmosphere remains good from start to finish." One Goal: The Stanley Cup In Dallas, there is a chance to go all the way to the Stanley Cup next season as well. The team remains strong. Heiskanen does not want to talk so much about his personal goals, but puts chasing the Stanley Cup ahead of everything else. It is the biggest single goal that he wants to be moving toward. If the Dallas Stars win the Stanley Cup, Miro Heiskanen knows that he, too, has done things right. "The Stanley Cup is the biggest goal, and that's also why I train. This summer will be a success if I can stay healthy and my body feels good after the summer. I believe I can still develop and raise my game to the next level." Fortunately, an NHL player's summer in Finland is more than just pure training. Heiskanen also wants to see his family and friends. Even though there are plenty of events and other commitments in the calendar, the Dallas star defenseman says he also finds time to just enjoy the Finnish summer. Saunas, good food, and rest—what else does a Finn need during the summer. PST! If you want more off-season content, especially from Finland, make sure to follow me on X and Instagram!Jul 20, 2026

Dallas Stars