A Personal Connection to Saku Koivu

When you hear the name Saku Koivu, what comes to mind?

Was it the fact that he played 18 seasons in the NHL, for both the Montreal Canadiens and the Anaheim Ducks? Was it that Koivu represented his country, Finland, in the Olympics on four different occasions, winning a medal in each of his Olympic appearances? Was it the fact that Koivu wore the ‘C’ on his jersey for 11 seasons, matching the mark that Canadiens-great Jean Beliveau set?

Was it the fact that Koivu was diagnosed with Burkitt’s Lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkins Lymphoma? Was it that Koivu, having been diagnosed in the fall of 2001, remarkably came back to play for his Canadiens in the end of that same 2001-2002 season?

When I think of the revered center, I think of his character. The way Koivu carried himself on and off the ice is something that we can all admire. I have met Saku a few times, and can honestly say that he will go down as one of my all-time favorite players in the history of the NHL.

When a good friend of mine was diagnosed with Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma a few years back, it was Koivu himself who went to CHOC Children’s Hospital in Orange County to spend almost all of his day off with my friend.

I can only imagine what it was like in that room, to see my friend’s face light up at the site of seeing not only a professional hockey player in Saku Koivu, but one who carried himself like a professional.

More from Ducks News

• Who could the Anaheim Ducks consider presenting offer sheets to?
• Is Pierre-Luc Dubois on the cards for the rebuilding Anaheim Ducks?
• Making the case for the Anaheim Ducks to trade with the Edmonton Oilers
• Anaheim Ducks might benefit tremendously by trading John Gibson
• How close are the Anaheim Ducks to becoming contenders again?

Koivu gave my friend a tour of the Ducks locker room later that year, and introduced him to another Finnish-great, Teemu Selanne, amongst other Ducks players.

Throughout his 1,124-game career, Koivu never complained. The native of Turku, Finland, simply went about his business doing as much as he could to help whichever team he was playing for.

Often times, I would see a lot of Saku Koivu in my friend, who also played hockey.

Both him and I played for our school, and played passionately at The Rinks in Irvine. I wouldn’t hear any complaints from my friend at all (despite the pains he was experiencing) for his love of the game was that great, that he never wanted to miss a shift.

Despite the fact that Koivu never won a Stanley Cup, Koivu’s lion-sized heart and his unique, gutsy brand of hockey are just parts of the legacy of Saku Koivu that will continue to live on.

To learn more of Saku Koivu’s foundation, click here.

To learn more of another great cause in the Southern California area called Give Blood Play Hockey, click here.