ST. PAUL, Minn. — There is a word that was created by residents of this state to describe themselves and their Scandinavian heritage.
For Golden Knights forward Erik Haula, the term has an even deeper meaning.
He is a true “Finnesotan.”
“That’s home,” Haula said. “That’s the easiest way of saying it.”
The Finnish-born Haula was a prep school and college star in Minnesota and spent the past four seasons with the NHL’s Wild.
He returns to the state as a visiting player for the first time in his career Thursday when the Knights (15-7-1, 31 points) meet the Wild (11-10-3, 25 points) at 5 p.