Patrik Laine had to look up when Olaus Alinen stepped up to the hall.
“It’s just a big boy,” said Patrik Laine from Olaus Alinen. Stock image. Mikko Pylkkö / AOP
Patrik Laine got to look a little up, which is unusual for him. The 195-centimeter Laine was clearly second when it came to two-meter Olaus Alinen18, stepped into the booth of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Athletic reports that Columbus GM Jarmo Kekäläinen introduced Alise to places in the city for a week.
Alinen is Finland’s most promising Yankee football. He got to visit the prestigious Ohio University. It could become the next student and team of a Finn aiming for the NFL.
Ohio has already offered a scholarship to the attack lineman. Offers have also come from Alabama, Georgia, Miami and USC.
Kekäläinen knows the father of a Finnish teenager, Klaus Alisen, before hand. In addition to Laine, Olaus Alinen from Pori was able to meet the goalkeeper Joonas Korpisaloa. In Athletic’s story, Kekäläinen told a rather special story about Alinen’s junior years. The crayon might be a little involved.
– The shoe number of the shoulder is 17 (about 52 in European size). He played as a junior hockey goalie, but he didn’t find enough big skates anymore, Kekäläinen claimed.
Laine was also impressed.
– That’s a big boy. Hopefully he will choose Ohio so that we can have more Finns in the city, Laine hoped.
Alinen’s visit to Ohio was only unofficial, and Kekäläinen also got to see the facilities of the Ohio University team during the visit.
– Wow, what conditions do they have? I’ve been to the NFL locker rooms and baseball clubhouses, but I’ve never seen anything like it, Kekäläinen heckled.