Selanne in spotlight as Finns retire jersey
HELSINKI— It was Teemu Selanne Night at the world junior hockey championship and the Finnish Flash took his time and enjoyed the moment.
It seemed all of Finland came to a standstill as the Finnish Hockey Federation honoured one of the biggest names in Finnish hockey by retiring his No. 8 from the national team.
“It was really special,” said Selanne. “The national team is very important to me. I played 30 years for the national team. I was very proud to put that jersey on . . . it’s a great honour.”
Selanne skated on the Hartwall Arena ice — home of the Jokerit team where he got his start — in full national gear, taking a few laps to an appreciative crowd before his number was raised to the rafters.
“I told them there are no words to thank them for their support over the years,” said Selanne, greeted loudly with a standing ovation.
The Anaheim Ducks retired Selanne’s No. 8 on Jan.11, 2015, prior to a game against the Winnipeg Jets. Selanne explained the No. 8. “It came to me randomly,” said Selanne. “When I was a kid, the coach gave the jersey out and I got No. 8. Funny thing, eight has always followed me. My first address was No. 8. My first motorcycle, the licence plate was UC-8. It’s weird how it works, but it always was my favourite.”
Selanne played 1,451 regular-season games, mostly with the Anaheim Ducks, where he won a Stanley Cup in 2007.
His 684 goals and 1,457 points is most among Finnish players, eclipsing Jarri Kurri by 83 goals and 59 points. Selanne is eligible for selection to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017.
“I don’t think I have to explain how big he is over here,” said Kasperi Kapanen, the Maple Leafs prospect with Finland’s world junior team. “He’s the greatest Finnish player to ever play. He was talking to us before the game against Russia.”
Kapanen was awestruck, which is saying something since he grew up a rink rat in the NHL following his father, Sami, who played in 831 regular-season NHL games.
“Just seeing him, him asking how my dad was, that he saw me 15 years ago,” said Kapanen. “It’s amazing to have a normal conversation with a guy like that.”
Selanne represented Finland at every opportunity, winning Olympic silver and three Olympic bronze medals in men’s hockey along with a bronze and a silver at the world championships.
“He is one of the icons of Finnish hockey, and one of the best players in the world,” said Team Finland coach Jukka Jalonen. “He is so friendly and gets along with everybody and takes care of everybody. That’s why people love him. Everybody loves Teemu in Finland.”