The World Championship invitation surprised the hockey player and his spouse.
Mikael Pyyhtiä’s departure to the hockey World Championships caused joy, but also a little annoyance in her girlfriend.
The couple was on vacation in California when the hockey player played and were asked to help the Lions in Stockholm.
– The girlfriend was a little disappointed when the holiday was missed, but then we were on vacation after the tournament, Pyyhtii grinned.
The 23-year-old Columbus Blue Jackets contract player did not expect to choose the race.
– Yes, that time came from the bump. The races have been gone for the second week. The last week and the final crunch is ahead, he wondered.
Representing the Lions is an honor. Mikael Pyyhti could not refuse to invite the race. Pasi Liesimaa
Pyyhtiä’s interest in the Lion had been inquired earlier in the spring. After that, however, the matter remained in the background.
-It was tentatively asked if there is interest if the games ended in the regular season in North America. As the games continued in AHL’s playoffs, there was nothing more after that.
– Then on Thursday it was called that if the situation demanded it, I would come along. Of course I answered in the affirmative.
Are you tired?
Pyyhtiän season ended in the first round of the Blue Jacket Farm team Cleveland Monsters in the first round of the playoffs. It is less than two weeks since the last game.
The striker arrived in Stockholm to replace the injured Mikael Ruohoma.
Wipe played a total of 47 NHL matches during the season with 4+3 and 28 AHL matches at 3+13.
The wiper jumped on the ice as soon as he arrived in Sweden. Pasi Liesimaa
A trip from the United States to Sweden took two days. Wipe came to Stockholm on Sunday morning and jumped into the lions only hours later.
– After nine, the machine landed. Through the hotel breakfast directly to the hall, he said.
Time difference fatigue didn’t bother the young man, at least not yet.
“I hope I can watch until evening and get to sleep all night,” he said.
How many coffee cups did you have at the hotel breakfast?
– It didn’t work, but this afternoon you probably have to take a few to stay awake.
The radar pair is back
In the World Championships, Pyyhtiä will again meet with his good friend and TPS’s radar pair Juuso Pärssinen. The two are remembered for the Ball Club League for 2020-2022.
– We have been teammates for probably ten years before the roads were divorced after TPS. For many years we played in the same chain. Chemistry is at least preserved, Pyyhätti said.
– We are really good friends outside the ice. We are in touch almost daily and talk about them.
Pyyhtiä has old acquaintances in the Lion. Pasi Liesimaa
Antti Pennanen, head coach of the Lions, is also familiar to Turku. Pennanen coached him at the Under-20 World Championships in Edmonton during the corona.
The placement of the towel in the configuration makes his versatility easier. The Turku resident can play both in the middle and on the edge and can handle many different roles in the rink.
In the NHL, the role of the top chains did not come off this season, but the 182-centimeter gamer still got a fair chance in bright lights.
– The season started well when I got straight from the training camp to the team, which was the goal. More than 40 games were played. Perhaps I had a slightly smaller role I wanted, but everything would be accepted when I could play in the NHL, the wiper summed up.
– Next year I was hungry, he added.