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Friday and Saturday marked the 10th and 11th NHL regular-season games played in Finland, the second most of any nation outside North America behind Sweden, and Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said Friday that the nation will “never fall off the league’s rotation,” according to Lia Assimakopoulos of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. As the “packed house” at Nokia Arena “took in every second of the rare opportunity” to watch their “favorite teams and countrymen play in their own backyard,” those that were “able to get in the door” showed why the NHL continues to return to Finland and why NHL fandom in Finland “continues to grow.” Nokia Arena seats 15,000, and tickets started at about $325 each per game. A “strong contingent” of Stars and Panthers fans traveled from the U.S. — an “estimated 2,000 from Dallas, alone” — and many bought tickets to both games. It is a “common sight” to see people wearing jerseys, especially Dallas’ and Florida’s, as they have “become among the most popular teams.” While Friday’s game was “mostly Stars and Panthers fans,” Ducks, Maple Leafs, Blues, Flyers and other jerseys were “sprinkled throughout the crowd” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 11/1).
FINNISH MEETING: FLORIDA HOCKEY NEWS’ George Richards noted the Panthers got a visit from Finnish President Alexander Stubb on Saturday night. Panthers C Sasha Barkov as well as the other Finnish players on the Panthers including assistant coach Tuomo Ruutu, met with Stubb “over the summer” when they brought the Stanley Cup to Finland. Stubb is “in fact a big fan of hockey” and was spotted watching Saturday’s game alongside Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (FLORIDA HOCKEY NEWS, 11/2).
