Urho Vaakanainen’s road to bright lights has been long.
Anaheim Ducks is the second club of Urho Vaakanainen’s NHL career. AOP / USA TODAY Sports
- Urho Vaakanainen’s NHL career is on the rise.
- The player left his hometown Joensuu at the age of 14.
- The 108th regular season game finally brought the opening goal of his NHL career.
Defenseman Urho Vaakanainen is the latest Finn to score his opening goal in the NHL.
The goal came at the end of January in the Dallas net from a minus corner. Stars cashier Jake Oettinger couldn’t wait for the shot, and the puck slipped in through his skates.
Finally, many could say.
And so the player himself states.
– In a way, it was the fourth opening goal of my NHL career. Now it stays in the statistics. It was such a relief. You were supposed to be stressed about it, when you didn’t go inside, the defender tells Iltalehte.
Three times before, the Joensuu native has scored a goal, but each time the goal has been missed. Twice it was changed to a different player, and once a historic goal was ruined by offside.
Against the top players
Vaakanainen operates in the Anaheim Ducks’ backcourt with an average of about 17 minutes of ice time.
– I am having a very positive season. Little by little, I have gained more responsibility. I’ve played quite good minutes and against the top players of the opponents, the 25-year-old pack thinks.
– I have taken a big step compared to previous seasons. Self-confidence has increased, and it has been nice to play. The previous seasons have been broken. It’s really cool to be able to play.
Ducks head coach By Greg Cronin gives the Finn responsibility even with inferior strength. Vaakanainen plays a lot as Radko Gudas’ kit pair.
A long way
Urho Vaakanainen interferes with San Jose Sharks’ Logan Couture. Vaakanainen has stayed healthy this season and is playing the best season of his career. AOP / USA Today Sports
Vaakanainen has traveled a long way from Joensuu to the warmth of Southern California. He joined Espoo Blues at the age of 14.
– It was an early departure. It had to be done, at the right time then I left. There might not have been any opportunities for success in Joensuu back then.
The entire Vaakanainen family made a huge sacrifice for the son’s puck career.
– Father and stepmother went with them to Espoo. Mother stayed in Joensuu. Yes, overall it was the right move.
The player spends his summer in Espoo and trains with Raimo Summanen and Janne Hännenen in jumps.
– Espoo is our home. I go to Joensuu in the summer to hang out, of course.
To the lion?
During the next 11 months, two interesting national team tournaments will be played.
In the spring, the World Cup tournament is on the calendar, and in less than a year, the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off, i.e. the top event between Finland, Sweden, Canada and the United States.
The best NHL hockey players are there.
In 2019, Vaakanainen won the under-20 World Championship gold. The 188-centimeter Vaakanainen is a good candidate for the Lions’ defense.
– Of course it’s interesting. If the games go well and the coaches are interested in me, I will gladly go along.
World Cup: No
The Ducks are not playing in the NHL playoffs this season. Vaakanai will still not be seen at the Czech World Championships.
– Yes, I don’t have a contract after the season. That’s why the World Cup tournament will be missed now anyway. If there was a contract, I would be interested. I have never played in the men’s WC.