Taneli Ronkainen had only played in Kärpi, but this season he has represented four different teams.
Taneli Ronkainen has signed a playing contract with four different teams in the past season. Jaakko Stenroos/AOP
- Defender Taneli Ronkainen has played in four different teams this season.
- The long phase in Kärpi ended with the cancellation of the contract.
- A mid-body injury gave life a new perspective.
The SM league season 2022–2023 has been a defender Taneli Ronkainen perhaps the most special of my career. The hockey player who played his entire career in Kärpi experienced the harsh side of his sports career, when he was traded away for the first time after his playing time was reduced to a minimum in a famous team.
Ronkainen, 27, traveled to Lahti Pelicans in the fall, played in four matches there and returned home to Oulu. The following week, he was loaned to Lappeenranta SaiPa, where he got eight games under his belt.
In mid-December, Ronkainen was allowed to play in two Kärppie matches, when the Oulu club’s lineup was vaccinated in the form of national team invitations and injuries. After them, the player returned to the pop department and hasn’t had a chance since.
In February, Ronkainen was presented with a new opportunity. Life in Kierto calms down at least for a while, when the defender headed from Oulu to Turku Palloseura with a contract for the end of the season.
However, the announcements published by the parties cause confusion. TPS reported on the loan, but Kärpät said he had terminated Ronkainen’s player contract. How can a player without a contract play on loan?
– Now that you said that, my understanding is that I am here on loan. But I’m not saying 100%, Ronkainen, who is on TPS’ away game trip, laughs on the phone.
The confusing team carousel has been a difficult place for the defender, but he has tried to see his situation as an opportunity and not a setback.
– That role as a loan player is a little different than as a regular team member. A special season, challenging and educational. It has been refreshing to get to know different places and people.
Cut back another breeding club
Taneli Ronkainen became Kärppie’s spring 2016 breakthrough player. Mika Kanerva/AOP
Ronkainen from Kuusamo, like many other puck talents living in the north, arrived in Oulu as a teenager to pursue a professional career. He played his first SM league games in the 2015–2016 season.
His career in the major league got off to an explosive start when he scored three goals in the playoffs as a rookie breaking into the lineup. One of them decided the bronze match.
– On Sunday (when the transfer to Turku was confirmed) there were many thoughts and memories of these years in my head. Could you say that Kärpät is a breeding club for me along with Kuusamo’s Pallo-Karhuje, says the spring 2018 Finnish champion.
Ronkainen played in 280 games, including the playoffs. The news about the player’s departure published by Kärppie on Monday was very catchy: four sentences. For the player, such a procedure was still okay.
– I don’t really care about that kind of thing. This is business in the endgame.
When he saw the TPS program for the end of the season, the Kuusamo resident noted the date 15.2. At that time, Ronkainen might play against Kärppi for the first time in his career.
A career at stake
Taneli Ronkainen did not even play a match in the 2019–2020 season. Tomi Natri / All Over Press
The year 2019 was a challenging time for Ronkainen. Kärpät dominated the regular season, played in the spring finals and held the top spot in the regular season the following fall, but the defender had little to do with this.
Ronkainen was rehabilitating from a mid-body injury that was supposed to heal in a few weeks according to the first predictions, but it ended up taking a whole year from the prime of his hockey career.
The injury, which lasted for a long time and still affects the training program, consumed a lot of mental resources, when after positive signs the pains could return quickly.
– There was a whole season to think about whether I would ever be able to play or in general do sports normally. I was spinning all kinds of thoughts on my own. It was a wake-up call, wondering if this was here. It felt like there was still a lot to achieve.
The cycle of injuries was broken, and now Ronkainen has two hockey seasons of more than 40 games behind him. The experience gave more enthusiasm and a reminder to enjoy the life of an athlete.
– At first, I felt like I wanted to forget the whole year. But now I can reflect it in the present moment and I realize that I can practice my profession and in general play sports. It’s a big deal.
Ronkainen is in TPS’s lineup for Friday night’s match. SaiPa, who has become familiar to the man, stands opposite.