Big brother will be watching Virtanen at world juniors
University of Regina defenceman feels no rivalry with younger sibling
Like most Canadians, Stefan Virtanen will be glued to the TV for the 2016 world junior hockey championship.
But the University of Regina Cougars defenceman will have a different perspective than most — and not just because he plays the game. Virtanen’s younger brother, Jake, is with the Canadian entry for the second straight year.
Jake’s experience has changed Stefan’s view of the tournament.
“Before, I would catch the games when I could or if I could,” said Stefan, a 23-year-old product of Abbotsford, B.C. “Now — last year and especially this year — I have every game PVR’ed and I’ve got the world junior app going.
“I have everything going just to make sure I can pay attention to Jake and see how he’s doing.”
Last season, Jake Virtanen was a member of the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen. He made Team Canada as an 18-year-old and helped the squad win the gold medal on home soil.
His big brother savoured every minute of the tournament that was held in Montreal and Toronto.
“Being in Canada, Canadians pay a little more attention to it,” Stefan said. “I couldn’t go anywhere at home or even at school (at Selkirk College in Castlegar, B.C.) without someone asking a question about it.
“It isn’t very often you get an opportunity to win a gold medal on the world stage at home. Technically, he’s going to get to (compete in the event) twice, but he said he might never have that kind of experience (winning gold at home) again.”
Jake started the 2015-16 season with the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks, who had selected him in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2014 draft.
The 6-foot-1, 208-pound forward played 19 games with Vancouver but, on Sunday, he was assigned to the Canadian junior team.
If the Virtanen family is disappointed that Jake isn’t still in the NHL, that sentiment might be tempered by the fact that the 2016 world junior tournament is in Finland.
“(Jake) has been given another opportunity to represent his country and defend the gold medal, but this one will be even more special for my dad and his dad because they were both born and raised in Finland — same for my grandma,” Stefan said.
“We goof around all the time and call it ‘the homeland,’ but it is. Everyone’s pretty excited. Two cousins, my parents and a set of grandparents — I think — are going to head over, so it’ll be good.”
Stefan’s playing career has included junior A stops in Williams Lake, B.C., Flin Flon, Drumheller, Alta., and Calgary, a couple of pro tryouts and a stint at Selkirk College.
He wasn’t going to play this season — he planned to coach — but a friend talked him into joining the Cougars. If he was at all hesitant, Jake helped by telling Stefan he couldn’t say no.
Because of the brothers’ relationship, there isn’t any sibling rivalry at work when Stefan watches Jake play.
“We’re pretty good about it,” Stefan said. “I know I won’t play for Team Canada, but we push each other to be the best we can be and support each other along the way.”
That said, there might be some (mock) friction after a story about Jake appeared recently on Sportsnet.ca.
While discussing his forefathers’ emigration from Finland, Jake said the family — while aiming for Vancouver, Wash. — landed in Vancouver, B.C. But the Virtanens liked it there, so they stayed.
After completing the tale, Jake added the punchline: “At least it wasn’t like Regina.”
“Oh, that’s funny,” Stefan said. “We give each other a hard time about where we’ve played and who’s got to deal with the worse weather. I’ve had to play in Calgary, Flin Flon and Regina, so I think I’ve got the worse weather part for sure.
“I hadn’t seen that (story) yet. I’m going to have to talk to him about that when I get a chance.”