Jussi Markkanen recalled Lalli Part and told SaiPa about his significance.
Along with Partinen, Jussi Markkanen is one of SaiPa’s great legends. Mikko Lieri / AOP
SaiPan CEO and goalkeeper legend Jussi Markkanen received the information Lalli Partisen from death heavily. Partinen died on Wednesday at the age of 80.
– The big Saipan character is gone. An extremely well-liked person and a big part of SaiPa’s history and hockey in Lappeenranta, Markkanen told Iltalehti.
– He remained his own until the very end.
Partinen was the captain of the only medal team in SaiPa’s club history in the period 1965–1966. Partinen’s game number 3 can naturally be found on the roof of the race park hall.
Partinen, known as a strong defender, is also remembered from the later stage of his career at Helsinki IFK.
– He was the first superstar from Lappeenranta who also influenced HIFK and the national team with his own special expertise.
Partinen, known as a well-liked person, also left an impression on Markkas as a tough storyteller.
– The last time I was in contact with him was at the SaiPa junior club club press a few years ago, where Lalli was handing out prizes.
– The mouth went and the story came all the time. When I was away for a few tens of minutes, the story immediately continued from the same sentence, Markkanen recalled.
Partinen made SaiPa famous in the 1960s. IL Archive