The Ducks Invade Finland
By Editorial Staff
Ever wondered how much of a star Selanne is in Finland? Now you know.
The Ducks arrived in Finland Sunday Morning and headed straight to the arena to work out some kinks and to try to get the team used to the time difference. They will face Selanne’s former Finnish team, Jokerit, on Tuesday and then play the Buffalo Sabres on the 7th for their first regular season game. This will be a huge benefit for the Ducks, seeing as they will have time to get used to everything, whereas the Sabres will most likely still be jet lagged.
Following practice, Selanne took the team aboard his boat, named Lucky 8, for a sightseeing tour around Helsinki and a visit to Sauna Island. In case you were unaware, sauna’s are HUGE in Finnish culture. Sauna Island is one of 330 islands off the coast of Helsinki.
How big are they? Well according to Tuomo Ruutu, a native Fin and Center for the Hurricanes:
“I think (sauna) is the biggest thing in the Finnish culture,” Ruutu said. “They made a calculation over the past summer and there are about 5.5 million people living in Finland, and they calculated that there are about 3 million saunas, so it gives you that idea that we really like our saunas”.
Now getting back to the mural.
Selanne, along with countrymen Saku Koivu and Tony Lydman, will be feted this week as returning heroes of Finland. The reason Selanne’s face in particular is draped over the arena is because that is where Selanne played as a youth and learned his legendary skills (playing for Jokerit).
This could be the last time he plays in Finland, professionally that is. Playing against his former team might be a little odd, but I am sure he will enjoy it, as well as the crowd. The media couldn’t get enough of Selanne, posted by the Anaheim Ducks on their official Twitter. The man is loved all around the world.
Selanne, Koivu and Lydman aren’t the only ones on the Ducks with Finnish roots. Randy Carlyle also has some Finnish in him. His grandparents were from Finland and grew up there. It should be a great trip for the whole team.
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