The best part of the Global Series may have been finding out what makes the Stars’ Suomen kansa tick, writes Lia Assimakopoulos.
The Dallas Stars may not have brought home points from the native land of Roope Hintz, Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell – but that doesn’t mean they didn’t come back with something valuable.
Certainly Lia Assimakopoulos, the Stars beat writer at The Dallas Morning News, came away from the Global Series with more than souvenirs. By her own account, she was determined to find the source of the famous Nordic reserve. By observing the Stars’ Finnish Mafia in the place that made them, she says she finally understands it:
Since the Finns arrived in Dallas, we’ve not only asked them to communicate in a language that isn’t the one they’re most comfortable with, but we’ve asked them to be comfortable in an environment that couldn’t be further from the one they were raised in.
There’s no sea, no saunas on every street corner and not even a Finnish restaurant in Dallas, according to Hintz. The only way they feel connected to home is through cooking and spending time with each other….
The non-Finnish Stars seemed to experience something similar to what I did this week. Each time one of them spoke, they said how happy Heiskanen, Lindell and Hintz were. Everyone saw a different side of them once they were in their element.
And while the logistics of a worldwide league are a lot to grapple with, head coach Pete DeBoer hopes out loud that it will become a reality eventually:
“Until you play overseas here, you don’t realize the impact of the NHL everywhere in the world,” DeBoer said. “It’s eye-opening. … I foresee a worldwide NHL. There’s always been rumblings about a European division of the NHL. I have no doubt at some point in the future — hopefully, I’m around to see it — that that’ll be the case.”
There’s more at the DMN. [SportsDayDFW]
Stars Stuff
Robert Tiffin’s excellent Global Series notebook includes a catch-up with former Stars fave, now Finnish broadcaster, Jussi Jokinen. Yeah, you remember. [Stars Thoughts]
Tyler Seguin did this while the Stars were in Finland.
One more from the road.
In On The #Kill Taker
It was a quiet night in the Dirty Central – especially for the Nashville Predators, who took a 3-0 shutout from the Los Angeles Kings and recorded only 16 shots in the entire game. [The Tennessean]
Around The Leagues
Is the NHL finally about to get serious about brain injuries? NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh has announced the union’s first CTE advisory committee. [Daily Faceoff]
The NHL has put together a 36-minute reel of the best October OT action. If you like hockey, you might like this (no promises).
Your periodic reminder that the 4 Nations Face-Off is what we’re doing instead of the All-Star Break this season. Nice change? Or what? We haven’t really talked about this.
Greetings From Scenic Cedar Park, And Beautiful Boise
The Texas Stars had a weekend to forget against the Colorado Eagles, dropping both halves of a two-game series to the Avs’ AHL squad. [100 Degree Hockey]
Elsewhere, the Idaho Steelheads went 1-of-3 with the Tahoe Knight Monsters, taking a 3-1 loss on Halloween night, a 6-1 victory on Friday, and a 4-2 loss on Saturday.
Finally
When you’re given more than one great option, the only reasonable thing to do is all of them. Moomin says so. Enjoy.