Hockey player Lauri Kärmeniemi plays in Hungary, where hockey is overshadowed by other sports.
The first match of the final series of the Hungarian-Romanian joint hockey league Erste Liga had been played a quarter when an unconscious player was lying on the surface of the ice.
He was the defender of the Romanian team SC Csíkszereda Alpár Sallo.
Sallo’s helmet came off in a collision between the two players and he had no protection around his head when he fell. The game situation, which looked harmless, quickly turned into an accident.
The situation was witnessed by the Finnish reinforcement of the opposing team Ferencváros, the defender Lauri Kärmeniemi.
– Stopping situation. After all, no one there is trying to hurt anyone. Everyone was pretty shocked because we didn’t know what had happened and what condition that player was in.
Sallo was rushed to the hospital and during the examinations he was diagnosed with cerebral edema, meaning that his brain had swollen as a result of a severe blow. The injury was life-threatening.
The situation was made worse, as Erste Liga said on his Facebook page that Sallo has recovered well in the hospital.
Season by season
The season of the Hungarian team Ferencvárosi TC, which played in the final series of Erste Liga against SC Csíkszereda, ended in disappointment. The team lost the match series 4–1.
For Kärmeniemi, 30, from Hämeenlinna, the season was fourth in Ferencváros’ shirt.
– All the years I’ve been here have been a good team. On top of that, there is still disappointment. I have to remember that second place is a good performance. However, we were the best team in Hungary.
The past season was Kärmeniemi’s seventh abroad. The trip started in 2015 from Denmark, where Kärmeniemi played for one season. The next stops were Belarus and France with agreements of the year as well.
– When I changed teams, countries and leagues in the first three years, of course it feels good to have found a place where we are comfortable. And however, the team has been so pleased that I have been able to continue.
The Finnish community
Ferencvárosi is satisfied with its Finnish confirmation. Fradi.hu
In Hungary, too, Kärmeniemi has made progress in contract matters year after year. Persistence can also be found in teammates.
– I enjoyed being here. There are probably ten players on this team with whom I have been on the same team these four years.
Kärmeniemi is not the only Finnish reinforcement of the Hungarian team.
– Kulmalan Rasmus has been playing here for three years at the same time, and then is another from Hämeenlinna, Tamminen Juhani. We spend a lot of time together because we all live in the same apartment building.
In the same characters
The season has been applauded and the gaze has shifted to the holidays. Game cravings can still be found in Kärmeniemi and injuries have been spared, so the games will continue. But the team for next season is not yet clear.
– Everything is still open. After the season, we usually sit down with the coaching and chat, but that hasn’t been done yet.
Kärmeniemi, who represented HPK in the league, does not see him returning to the Finnish courts.
– Isn’t that what I drive abroad? There are fewer years ahead than behind, so yes, I am prepared for what is being circulated in Europe. Time will tell if I will continue here, but there is no point in coming to Finland.
Mestis level
There are known to be large pay gaps in the European hockey leagues.
What is the wage situation in Hungary?
– No money will be used to build any stone houses. But if you played Mestis in Finland, then you should go to work. Average, good salary. In a way that is able to live.
A total of 11 teams from Romania and Hungary play in the Erste League. Foreign reinforcements raise the level of league games.
– Here, the top teams would be able to play in Mestis. The pace may be louder there when there are young players. There may be six foreigners on the team, and in the top teams, those seats are filled with good players.
– The level of the game is good, and over the seasons there will be better foreign players all the time. The same teams will succeed from year to year and the level of the series was raised this season by the teams that moved from the Slovak series to the Erste League, Kärmeniemi continues.
Water polo takes
As a hockey country, Hungary is unknown to many. It plays at the national team level in the 1st division, ie one notch below Finland and other top countries.
Having played in the Erste League for four years, Kärmeniemi has been able to see and experience the kind of hockey culture found in Hungary.
– After all, this puck culture is not comparable to Finland. The biggest are football, handball and water polo. The setting is good when a couple of years ago was moved here into the downtown hall.
Kärmeniemi describes the team’s previous home courtyard as a “barn”.
According to Kärmeniemi, the halls in the playoffs in Romania were almost full. In Hungary, the situation is different, but it can be described that quality replaces quantity.
– The fans are good, but they aren’t terribly there. Those who fan will fan properly. There is still room for improvement in fan culture. Yes, it will help when the team succeeds.