Finnish Hockey Fever: Panthers and Stars Highlight NHL Excitement in Tampere

Thursday, October 31st, 2024

When Paul Maurice, the Florida coach, first traveled to Finland, he was not fully aware of the country's deep enthusiasm for hockey. It didn't take him long to understand the sport's worldwide allure.

Finland represents around 5% of NHL players, a figure that rivals the per capita presence of Canada and Sweden, underscoring the country's profound passion for hockey.

The forthcoming games in Tampere, Finland, featuring the Panthers and Stars, will be particularly meaningful for the seven Finnish players across both teams. Aleksander Barkov, who hails from Tampere, expresses his excitement, while Jake Oettinger looks forward to an atmosphere reminiscent of playing in Minnesota, his home state.

Despite the extensive journey, both teams value the chance to engage with Finnish culture. Florida's general manager, Bill Zito, speaks highly of the country's ambiance and motivates players from outside Finland to immerse themselves in the experience.

The teams have enjoyed Finnish traditions such as saunas, cold sea plunges, smoked fish, and chocolate. A specialty from the region, reindeer, has also been tasted, with players like Matt Duchene and Tyler Seguin having mixed responses.

Finnish fans are eager to see the matchup between two competitive teams. Due to high expectations for both the Panthers and Stars, tickets were swiftly sold, ensuring Finnish players will feel well-supported in the stands.

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