Eeli Tolvanen asked the Jokers for a good start to his NHL career.
Eeli Tolvanen’s summer is spent training. The man will return to his workplace in August. TIMO KUNNARI
Seattle Kraken forward Eeli Tolvanen spends the summer of a hockey player in Finland. It includes intensive training, as well as golf and padel.
The young man from Nummela rose to the top of the puck and became known to the public in the 2017–18 season in the Jokers.
At that time, he played 49 matches in the team and scored 19+17=36 power points. The series was KHL.
– I came from the American junior league to play for the Jokers. There was a lot of talk about my role at the time, that it has to be earned, the player said in an interview with Iltalehti.
Hats off right away
Tolvanen’s professional career began on August 23, 2017 in a away game against Dinamo Minsk. It started like a fairy tale, as the striker scored a hat-trick in the final set in 8.49 minutes.
At the age of 18 years, four months and one day, he became the youngest player in KHL history to do a helmet trick.
– Things started going right away. It was fireworks. It’s nice to remember that from time to time, says the now 24-year-old hockey player.
– I was able to train and play under Jukka Jalonen. There were still national team games that season. It was indeed a sweet time, Tolvane’s time.
The striker was second in the Jokereris’ internal point exchange by Nicklas Jensen after.
“Something successful”
Eeli Tolvanen scored 19 goals in the 2017–18 season for the Jokers. The league was KHL. More experienced teammates supported the 18-year-old newcomer well. PETRI SAARELAINEN / AOP
When you flash the red light in the Stadion team at the age of 18, it also means a lot of publicity.
This was also the case with Tolvanen. The name and face of the teenage sensation was suddenly found in every media, fans liked it and even a book was written about the teenager.
– At no point did it feel like there was too much publicity or hassle. It was nice for the young boy to be in the media, says Tolvanen.
– If you are in the media a lot, then something has been successful, the NHL hockey player reminds.
The big publicity didn’t interfere with the player’s private life either.
– There were no disturbances. It went just fine. Those media things were positive.
To Nashville
After the end of the Jokeri season, Tolvanen headed to the shirt of the Nashville Predators, who booked him in the first round. The man played three games there in the spring.
The season also included the under-20 World Cup, the Olympics and the men’s World Cup.
After that season, the forward’s NHL career opened up, and the man is on his way. The club was changed to Seattle Kraken last season.
Tolvanen has now scored 183 NHL regular season games. 41+37=78 points have been generated.
Jokers to the League
This is what it looks like today. Eeli Tolvanen fights against the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL playoff match. AOP / USA TODAY Sports
With the support of the new ownership group, he wishes success for the new arrival of the Jokers.
– I hope that they will get promoted soon and that the Jokers will be seen again in the League as soon as possible. That’s where the team belongs. So many miss, for example, the local games between the Jokers and HIFK, Tolvanen thinks.