One of Finland’s most famous hockey fans has died.
Jari Roitto (pictured wearing a white jersey) became known as the leader of Sikakatsomo, which specialized in annoying opponents. IL ARCHIVE
A hockey fan introduced to hockey-playing Finland from HPK’s Sikakatsomo Jari Roitto has died at the age of 59.
Being the first to tell about it Hämeen Sanomat according to Roitto died of an illness on the way back from HPK’s game against Kuopion on October 21.
The Sikakatsomo, located in the C5 grandstand of Hämeenlinna’s Rinkelinmäki ice rink, became a concept for Finnish ice hockey in the early 2000s, i.e. a time when Jukka Jalonen coached HPK for several years to medals and finally to the championship in the spring of 2006.
The group of supporters behind the opponent’s substitution box even registered the Sikakatsomo ry in January 2004. Roitto was the group’s face, who also toured away matches diligently. Roitto was caught on TV cameras several times during matches, even in his last years.
“Invited to join”
Roitto is in the picture with his back to the camera. RONI LETHI
Roitto told about Sikakatsomo’s activities in IL’s story, for example, in 2005. At that time, Roitto said that Sikakatsomo does not “accept anything artificial in the hockey stand, such as drums or bowls”.
– You don’t strive to become a member (of Sikakatsomoo), but you are invited to join us, Roitto said in 2005.
– We watch the stands all the time. When a promising guy is spotted, who shows up regularly and who without sparing his voice encourages his own and mocks guests, then he is put under surveillance. If the attitude seems to be of permanent quality, then maybe in a year we will propose him membership of Sikakatsomo ry. So far, no one has refused.
Roitto recalled sitting in the C5 stand as a teenager. According to him, the name Sikakatsomo was invented by a Helsingin Sanomat journalist.
– It immediately dawned on us that such a great name must mean only us.