Former Seattle Kraken forward Joonas Donskoi isn't just known as a hero for his clutch overtime goals, but for saving a skate hall in his hometown in Finland. Henri Ylikulju / IG : @heimoart [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/78077990-c672-4a33-84bb-87a8c15c3f08.jpeg] Henri Ylikulju / IG : @heimoart Donskoi suffered multiple concussions throughout his career, and it's why he was forced to retire from hockey at just 31 years of age. Throughout his career Donskoi would play 474 games, scoring 80 goals and 208 points. 75 of those games came with the Kraken, where he scored two goals and 22 points. During his NHL career, he was known as a hard worker with quiet skill but, more importantly, as a fun teammate to be around on a daily basis. His character as a person was personified when he gave a donation to a skatepark in his hometown, Raahe, Finland. "I heard they had some problems, so I just wanted to help a little bit," Donskoi said in an interview with Pat Pickens in 2019. [https://www.nhl.com/news/joonas-donskoi-generous-donation-short-shifts-307359420] "I used to skateboard a lot when I was younger so I think it's important for the kids, that they have different hobbies and opportunities and that they have something to do, so that's why I wanted to help." Valtteri Karjula, a co-founder of the park who grew up skating with Donskoi, had shared the story about the donation and reached out to me to once again share the generosity of Donksoi. In 2022, three years after the donation, the local skateboarders planned to raise Donskoi's Kraken jersey to the ceiling at the skate hall [https://www.nhl.com/news/joonas-donskoi-has-seattle-kraken-jersey-raised-to-rafters-of-skate-pa-335070862]to show their appreciation. Donskoi returned to Raahe and the skate hall, holding an open event for all the fans, as he signed autographs for everyone, told Karjula. Just a year later, the fourth-round pick (99th overall) in the 2010 NHL draft was forced to hang up the skates and retire from the game he loves, but it hasn't affected his passion for the sport. Henri Ylikulju / IG : @heimoart [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/32490f42-deea-4864-9705-c504e6f2c4ca.jpeg] Henri Ylikulju / IG : @heimoart According to Karjula "Donskoi began a coaching career with the local Minnesota Rogers Royals team. In March 2025, Donskoi returned to Finland and his hometown Raahe, where one of the founders of the park, Valtteri Karjula, recalled that Donskoi had once promised to come back and do a kickflip." Donskoi kept his promise, returning to attempt a kickflip without any practice. "To keep his promise, the former NHL star had no choice but to put his helmet back on and do it. Okay, there was no time to practice the kickflip, so the kickflip turned into a kickturn. That's also a good achievement for a hockey player!" The hard-working and beloved teammate has carried on the positive impact he made on the ice, off the ice and in his retirement. Stay updated with the most interesting Kraken stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwrODfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] to never miss a story.
