Minnesota Wild froze the game legend’s club number in a spectacular ceremony.
Mikko Koivu wiped away tears during his emotional speech. USA TODAY Sports / AOP
The longtime Minnesota Wild captain was celebrated at the Xcel Energy Center Mikko Koivua, whose game number 9 Wild froze on Sunday. Birch is the first Wild player to receive this honor.
Koivu, who turned 39 on Saturday, played 16 seasons and 1,035 regular season matches in the NHL, including 1,028 in Wild’s shirt.
Mikko’s parents Yucca and Tuire Birchbig brother Saku Ilonawith her daughter, Mikko’s children Sofie, Punch and Oskarthe former Wild goalkeeper Niklas Bäckström as well as a group of friends and former playmates were in the trough watching an emotional event.
Standing ovation
As Mikko Koivu stepped from Wild’s locker room into the trough, the audience rose to show their popularity. It was the first but not the last of the evening standing ovationwhich Birch received.
Stepping on the ice, Koivu hugged his loved ones and the audience shouted “Mikko Koivu, Mikko Koivu, Mikko Koivu”.
Wild owner Craig Leipold thanked Koivu for his leadership in the locker room, on the ice, and in the local community. The birch clan Leipold welcomed forever to his second home, as Leipold described St. Paul and Minneapolis.
Birch received a valuable Rolex watch, a whiteboard and a set of golf clubs from current Wild players.
Memory of his dead agent
Birch gave an emotional speech.
Mikko Koivu gave an emotional speech to the party audience. USA TODAY Sports / AOP
– Freezing a number is the greatest tribute, I can’t even describe it in English or Finnish. I am grateful and happy to have been able to play here for so long. It was a great honor to be the first permanent captain of the club. I took that title seriously, some even too seriously.
Birch thanked the entire Wild organization and everyone who had come to the scene and been supportive during his career. Koivu’s agent received special thanks Don Baizleywho died in 2013. Also TPS and the Finnish national team as well Kalervo Kummola received thanks.
With tears in one’s eyes
One of the most emotional moments came when Koivu thanked his family and children.
– Without the love of family, this would not have been possible. Thank you Jukka and Tuire, when you have always supported me and taught me important values and principles, Mikko Koivu said in English.
– Thank you mom and dad, I love you, Koivu said in Finnish with a broken voice.
Sakua Mikko thanked his big brother for his role model in both hockey and life.
– Little brother can’t ask for more.
Finally, Koivu thanked her children.
– Oskar, Kasper and Sofie, you are the greatest gift of my life. The puck has meant a lot to me, but nothing else is as important to me as my child, Koivu said, his voice breaking with tears in his eyes.