Jets to take on Panthers in Finland

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This article was published 27/01/2018 (2833 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Playing a pair of games in the country that produced the legendary Teemu Selanne and a budding superstar in Patrik Laine just makes so much sense for the Winnipeg Jets, doesn’t it?

Finland is the logical destination for the Jets 2.0 organization’s first foray overseas.

The NHL has confirmed the Jets will soar across the pond for a pair of 2018-19 regular-season games in Finland against the Florida Panthers in early November. No firm dates or locations have been confirmed.

Word surfaced earlier this month about the possibility of club’s involvement in the league’s ongoing Global Series, however, the rumour then was focused on a Jets’ two-game set with the Carolina Hurricanes.

But NHL commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed Saturday the Panthers will provide the opposition. The series would be a homecoming for Winnipeg’s young superstar, Laine, as well as winger Joel Armia, and Florida’s terrific youngster Aleksander Barkov.

Laine, 19, who leads Winnipeg with 22 goals this season, hails from Tampere and is massive star here but an even bigger sensation back home.

It’s a terrific fit and the club jumped at the chance to be involved, chairman and co-owner Mark Chipman said from Tampa Bay, where he’s participating in board of governors meetings while watching the fun and games at the NHL All-Star Weekend festivities.

Jets centre Blake Wheeler and goalie Connor Hellebuyck are among the NHL’s elite at the home of the Lightning.

“That’s what makes it exciting, obviously, to showcase those players — Patrik and Joel — and we drafted a very good young player in Kristian Vesalainen. Obviously, it remains to be seen whether he would be a part of it, but he’s a very promising young player,” said Chipman. “Joel has had a wonderful year, really, and of course, so has Patrik. I think it will be very exciting for those young men to be able to show the rest of their teammates and the rest of the organization around their country. There’ll be an enormous sense of pride for those guys, for sure.

“It wasn’t always Florida. As far as I know they were talking to other teams, but now we know it’s Florida and that’s great,” he added. “They have a great young team and a very skilled player from Finland on that team in Barkov, who, I understand, is a good friend of Patrik’s. So, that should make it fun.”

Both hockey teams will use up a home date for the two-game series, meaning Bell MTS Place will host 40 games next season.

In effect, the league buys the contest from True North Sports & Entertainment, just as is did for last season’s Heritage Classic outdoor game at Investors Group Athletic Centre.

“Obviously, you like to play as many games in front of our own fans, but all things considered being able to play in Finland where there’s a lot of history (with the Jets), with Teppo Numminen and Teemu (Selanne), I think it’s going to feel really good. It’s going to be a very exciting time for our organization,” said Chipman.

Expect the Jets faithful to begin contemplating a European vacation in the fall.

“I continue to see (fans) everywhere,” said Chipman. “I saw Jets jerseys here (for the All-Star Game). Every building we go to, we see them, so it wouldn’ surprise me at all to see our fans follow us to Finland, that’s for sure.”

Earlier this season, the Ottawa Senators and Colorado Avalanche hooked up for contests in Sweden. Next year, Edmonton and New Jersey will also play in Sweden.

“We’ve been working on it for some time, so we’ve had the opportunity to consult with and talk to some of the teams that have done it in the past — most notably Colorado and Ottawa this year,” Chipman said. “Both explained that they had real good experiences… so, it should be a really exciting event for us and we’re very honoured that we’ve been asked to participate.”

Those a little longer in the tooth will fondly remember the likes of centre Veli-Pekka Ketola and goalie Markus Mattsson with the Jets of the old World Hockey Association, while the Jets 1.0 had the remarkable Selanne — he of the 76-goal rookie season in 1992-93 — and sensational blue-liner Teppo Numminen. For the real diehards, who can forget Hannu Jarvenpaa and Petri Skriko?

The good money’s on the Finnish Flash being involved in some fashion in November, although Chipman isn’t sure at this point.

“I’m not aware if he’s aware. This is a league event and all our discussions have been with the league,” he said. “Whether or not, at some point in time, some of our former players from Finland would be involved remains to be seen. It’d be great …”

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

@WFPJasonBell