The NHL held two regular-season games in Helsinki in October as part of its Global Series initiative. Though the NHL has been keen on cultivating its European audience for some time, the timing in Finland could not be better. Finnish interest in the NHL has never been higher. And Finnish players have never been competing at a higher level in the NHL.
"It's a pretty exciting time for Finland, for sure," says 19-year-old Henri Jokiharju, who is logging big minutes with Duncan Keith on the Chicago Blackhawks' top defensive pairing.
"It's always been big back home," says Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov, who spent the Finnish leg of the Global Series as one of the main ambassadors, alongside good friend Patrik Laine of the Winnipeg Jets.