The book Out of the Booth will be published this week.
Janne Puhakka played in the Finnish Championships for the 2015–16 season. Tomi Natri / AOP
Janne Puhakka met her current male friend, a Norwegian Rolf Nordmoon while playing in Canada, in the QMJHL Junior League Chicoutimi Sagueneens.
At that time, Puhakka was still holding the closet door. In his oven-fresh book, he recalls a long period of secrecy in the early part of the relationship.
– Rolf was allowed to be my uncle when I told the team’s coaches and the host family about his result.
The secrecy continued as Puhakka played in the SM League and the French Premier League.
– The games were stressful in the sense that when Rolf visited me and came to see the game, he had to hide, which of course did not feel good, Puhakka says in the book.
– When Rolf came to visit France, he was allowed to perform at any time.
“Like a tree on the head”
Out of the booth The book also describes Nordmo’s first “life-changing” visit to Helsinki and his hesitation about the age difference.
– I was like being hit in the head with a tree, Nordmo recalls in the book.
– I couldn’t wait for the young man, who was only 19 years old, to be so mature. We had great conversations and incredible fun together.
The age difference between Puhakka and Nordmo is 37 years.
– I told myself it was best to forget the whole thing. “Janne is 19 and you are 56. How on earth can you stand in front of your children and tell them that you are dating your own daughters with a younger man?” But falling in love confuses a person.
Puhakka made the exit with the power of the Instagram update. With the article by Helsingin Sanomat, he became the topic of conversation throughout Finland.
– He braked himself for hockey because he was afraid his secret would be revealed, Nordmo sees.
– He might even be a little ashamed of it, but after going through the exit process, he is now rightly proud of what it is.
Janne Puhakka played 40 league matches in the Blues shirt. Jari Pekkarinen / AOP