3:18 p.m. - 2004-06-01
Yes, the hockey-freak I am, I decided to dedicte a whole section to my love! This is still under construction... :)
History
Since I can remember, I have always watched hockey with my parents. During hockey games whe always had a TV open and I just sat there watching and cheered when my parents cheered. My mom is very big fan too and like me, gets very emotional and canīt sit still during a game. She and I always discuss about hockey, in fact it was she who initially got me interested about Finlandīs team and better yet, about Ville Peltonen! ;)
The signs of my obsession were coming to the surface at last yearīs World Championshipīs. I followed my team trough the whole time and acctually watched all games. The games were played at my home country, Finland, so it was easy to get into that 'frenzy'! Naturally, I was devastaded and really bummed down after that loss to Sweden... But also after that loss I felt great deal of proud towards my team, and I didnīt want to blame them. That was probably the first time I wasnīt all cynical and sad after a loss. Well, this yearīs WCH totally blew me away! I got so into the games... I never missed a single game of Finland (and watched about 80% of the rest of the games too) and they quickly became the highlites of my nights! I didnīt think about school or my usual worries, I just lived in that great world and all of my thoughts revolved around hockey. I was SO emotional after that 5-4 loss to Canada, but somehow the feeling of proud-ness (is that a word??) overcame the sadness... I opened my eyes and saw just how great and amazing team players our boys are. And I fell head over heals in love with them!
Present
I resently also got hooked on the wonderfull world of NHL, so Iīve been following the finals very closely... Iīm sad that Calgary lost, but they played well and I know they have earned a great spot at my heart! Iīm waiting really really really impatiently this yearīs World Cup... I know Finland has a great team (with the best goalie in the damn NHL, who SHOULDīVE won Vezina...) and I got my hopes up! I still dream/think about hockey every single day; I check the CalgaryFlames.com forums regulary, browse NHL.com and IHWC.com daily, watch my hockey downloads and read hockey magazines.
Now, I know I probably come across as a puckbunny sometimes. Hey, Iīm not ashamed to admit that I find many of the players hot or attractive, but when Iīm watching a hockey game I couldnīt give a damn what they look like. I cheer to everyone who scores (from my team of course) and I love everyone equally, not depending on their looks. When the players are on ice, they play and I cheer. When they are in magazines etc., they pose and I drool. ;)
Future
My goal is to work in the NHL someday. Not as a player, but in other terms like marketing etc. Iīm ready to work my ass of to get there!
Obsession
So, hereīs some of my favourite teams and players!
I donīt know if thereīs enough words to describe just how much I love and respect the Team Finland. They are the most talented, loyal and down-to-earth group of people I know. They go up and they come down as a team! They have colourful history with big wins and big losses, with gold medals and silver medals. Iīm sure every fan remembers the year 1995; we were at Sweden, playing against Sweden and we WON our first Championship! I was so young then, but I remember how huge thing that was to us Finns! Boys, letīs take back whatīs ours next year! :) 
Ville Peltonen is my hero in so many ways; he was with us at 1995 and made three goals and everytime heīs on the ice, he creates situations to others and works his butt off. He is very dedicated to hockey and wants to improve himself and his team; he IS the word team player. He never wants to take all the credit to himself. He is a great father and a husband to his family. Ville currently playes at HC Lugano, but is coming home to play at WC!
My favourite person in the whole word, seriously. I love this guy to death. Petteri Nummelin is a defenceman for Finland and currently to HC Lugano. He doesnīt tackle or take penalties, but playes calm and 'his way'. I read somewhere that he hates loosing, and takes every game as serious as the SC finals. Petteri has the most beautiful wrist-shot in the world... He, like Ville, is a wonderfull husband and a father. Unfortunately, Petu didnīt make it to this yearīs WC (why?!) so we wont be seeing him on the ice.
How about this one then... The respective Captain of Florida Panthers, Olli Jokinen is someone that I wasnīt too fond of at first, but during this yearīs World Championshipīs (YES!) I noticed him. He is über-talented and a great leader! This blonde cutie has got beautiful eyes, which are great for aiming the puck to the net... Olli also belongs to our 'Great husband and father'-category.
I have been a fan of this man since I watched him guard our goal when I was a young girl... He has done well and he has done not-so-well during these years. But right now, I think itīs quite safe to say that Miikka Kiprusoff is one of the best goalies in NHL today. He got a chance from Darryl Sutter (CGY Flames) after sitting in the bench at San Jose Sharks, and proved himself! He lead the Flames straight to playoffs with his incredible saves and calm-and-steady attitude. Miikka rocks!
