who had a fantastic first season in North America Pittsburgh’s 2020 second-round draft pick was named an AHL All-Star while posting a 25-12-6-1 record with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton The 22-year-old goaltender is calm and composed between the pipes with the people who know him best calling him a quiet Blomqvist took the time to give us more insight into his background and interests in a recent Q&A and where I'm talking from now is from my parents’ house But it’s close to the small sea here in Finland What do you do for fun when you're back home My hometown is pretty close to the water here I like to hang out there during the summer There’s a post of you driving the boat on your Instagram Are you usually behind the wheel when you guys take the boat over can you tell me what that whole process is like for you find a good spot and try to catch some fish usually I have some workouts or training in the morning - so then I just do it the rest of the day It was seven and a half kilos [about 16.5 pounds] That actually ties into another question I had you did a Q&A for Penguins social media and said salmon soup was one of your favorite foods Did you make salmon soup with the big one you caught That salmon soup keeps haunting me still today this can be your chance to pick a new favorite food We also learned at the draft that you are a Finnish Swede I describe it as a Canadian who speaks French I think it's just a good thing to know different languages I'm happy to have been brought up with that possibility You mentioned the sauna earlier – I feel like that’s one tradition all Finnish players embrace a house would be crazy without a sauna here [laughs] after swimming in a lake or a pool that’s pretty cold I prefer the sauna if you have a way to cool off yourself in between It's pretty nice to go in there after practice What do you miss the most about home when you’re in North America We have a little bit different-tasting coffee here It's pretty common to eat for breakfast and late-night snacks over here so I think that's something I miss a little bit so that was something I had to adjust to a little bit otherwise I find most of the things I need in the U.S. And what is it about the bread back home that you really like When my parents came to visit me during the season I did want to ask about your parents and what jobs they have I think she's been working at the same place for like and I think he’s also done the same thing for 20 years not a lot of huge changes back home for us do you think you would have been an engineer or a nurse for your job or anything along those lines he pretty much did the same route as my dad trying to become an engineer I might have done something similar to them When you're here in the States and you're not at the rink I'm not sure if I'm ever gonna graduate [laughs] but it's a good way to get your thoughts away from hockey and just do something else I also play a little bit of PlayStation with my friends from back home I think it’s a fun way to connect with my friends that I can't see during the season It's just a good way to connect with the friends I think it's pretty much the same as some college or university to learn how companies work and how to manage companies Now for a couple of hockey-related questions I think I started skating for the first time when I was 3 years old moving to a small hockey school around the age of 5 or 6 I found the equipment the goalies wore was really cool Is there anything that you always have to have on your helmet when it comes to the design was my first time having free (reign) with customizing the mask I don't really have that much experience from designing masks I guess I followed the NHL stars like (Sidney) Crosby what is your hockey nickname (in the U.S.) HELSINKI FINLAND JUser: :_load: Unable to load user with ID: 42 Nestled on Finland’s west coast the charming town of Nykarleby has a pace of life which city-dwellers often dream of the town is thriving and has much to offer potential migrants THE CHARMING town of Nykarleby (Uusikaarlepyy) located at the mouth of the Lapua River in the province of Western Finland is known as the happiest town in the country Nykarleby ensures that its residents have a tranquil stay in the town without suffering from noise made by careless neighbours the vast majority – 88% – of the population has Swedish as their mother tongue due to the history of Finland and age old commercial connections with Sweden 8% speak Finnish and further 4% constitute the group of other languages resulting in 319 people speaking other languages Ukraine and there are some people of Belarus origin as well some Chinese and Vietnamese also decided to move into Nykarleby,” said Gösta Wilmann Apart from the distinctively calm nature that the municipality offers it also has numerous leisure activities in store for active visitors Thanks to its splendid proximity to the sea people who enjoy nature will find trekking a fascinating activity Grabbing a bicycle and taking a tour around Nykarleby and the nearby countryside is also a brilliant way of exploring the town the town also serves as a stunning spot for fishing and hunting As winter approaches and the town becomes a winter wonderland cross-country skiing opens a new dimension for the discovery of the surrounding area Those who like art and history may also choose to visit some of the numerous sights in the area The stunning ceiling paintings in the wooden church are the work of Daniel Hjulström and Johan Alm Kuddnäs Museum is another favourite attraction mainly because one of the greatest authors of Finland was born there Stjärnhallen is the most modern sport arena in the region of Nykarleby offering a wide spectrum of sporting activities Visitors can choose from a wide variety of possibilities for those who are into winter sports.The town organises several popular annual events Finland’s largest car-boot and jumble sale which itself attracts more than 30,000 visitors lets people unleash their creativity and come up with the craziest soapbox mobile they can Nykarleby is known mainly for its prominent position in the region’s industry “One of the greatest names in the town’s business life is KWH which is responsible for the production of sanding and polishing material of which 90 per cent is for export; this company itself has 400 employees in the town and 800 employees worldwide,” said Gösta Prevex is another significant building block of the town’s industry The company produces drain taps for dish-washing tables and various other kitchen supplies for the internationally known giant Swedish company Another source of income in the town is its world-leading fox-farming and fur industry “250 farmers are involved in this branch at the moment which was worth 80 million euro last year,” said Willman.Tourism is a branch of industry that is of recent origin and has just started to flourish The vast majority of tourist income comes mostly from Swedish and Finnish citizens who live in their summer cottages by the sea also choose the town as their destination with the intention to seek their roots and meet their relatives has to face the problem of people moving away migration was a tremendous threat to the town’s social coherence like living in this town due to its stable medical care with 5 doctors and its well-working primary health care system people have always been contented with health care in Nykarleby The most important institution was the Teachers’ Training College there are ten lower level comprehensive schools located in the town one of which is for Finnish speaking pupils Nykarleby is also home to the Swedish School of Arts which opened in 1983 and offers specialisations in painting sculpture and video; these programmes last for 3.5-4 years Advertisement inquiries and other after-sales issues: info@helsinkitimes.fi Helsinki Times is the first and only English language newspaper providing news about Finland in English A weekly print edition of Helsinki Times was published from March 2007 up until Feb Helsinki Times is an online-only publication and other groups and individuals interested in Finland from all around the world © Helsinki Times All rights reserved.  Terms of Use | Privacy Policy Did you find any incorrect or incomplete information? Please, let us know Muik Hockey participates in season 2024-2025: Suomi-sarja Luleå wins their second title in Sweden, 29 years after the first one. Read more» The Nashville Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins will face off in Stockholm, Sweden, on November 14 and 16, 2025, as part of the NHL Global Series. These games at the renovated Avicii Arena mark the 47th and 48th NHL contests held in ... Read more» Shaun General is continuing his hockey career with Muik Hockey II of the Suomi-Sarja league in Nykarleby who is from Six Nations of the Grand River signed with the club after being contacted by the general manager of Muik about joining the team this season “Opportunities like this don’t come often so it was a really easy decision for me,” General said it has been a dream of mine to come to Europe to play hockey and experience the different style of play and the culture.” General was a student athlete at Niagara University he tallied three assists and four penalty minutes General said that having a friend that plays for Muik made his decision even easier to make and he said he is happy with his choice so far the experience has been everything I could have asked for,” he said “I’m having a great time experiencing the different environments and the level of play is the best that I have been a part of.” General grew up playing for a number of local teams the Brantford Bandits and the Paris Mounties General said he has no plans of coming back to North America anytime soon “I hope to play in Europe for as long as possible,” he said “I love everything about it here in Finland The hockey has been great and the people here that are helping me develop my game are even better.” This article was published more than 10 years ago There's still so much we don't really know about Leo Komarov Even untangling where exactly the Toronto Maple Leafs' international man of mystery is from Alexander – an Ingrian Finn from Petrozavodsk Komarov grew up in Finland after the family moved to the small town of Nykarleby when he was five it's closer to the Arctic Circle than Yellowknife Finnish is not the primary language in Nykarleby meaning little Leonid was already about to take on his third and fourth languages "I went to a Swedish school," Komarov explained I pretty much got everything I had there." was in Finland not to play hockey but pro soccer What he does recall is that his father painted a lot of houses to make ends meet – in addition to his sideline gigs on the ice and on the field From all of that has come not a confused young man charismatic everyman whom everyone seems to adore Leafs management, coaches and players all gush when asked for a story about Komarov, whom teammates have given the nicknames "Corporal" and "Komrade," in two references to a Leo Komarov-themed parody account on Twitter His play this season – his 10 points are already better than his career season-high after only 15 games – has made him even more of a fan favourite in Toronto "I think the fans recognize the work ethic and the commitment to being physical and how hard he plays," Leafs coach Randy Carlyle said "He's the most interesting man in the world," teammate James Reimer added "He takes a lot [of ribbing from teammates] and he takes it well He can take a joke and make it really funny." The Leafs made a strong statement in signing Komarov in the off-season General manager Dave Nonis had him as a top priority in free agency – flying to Helsinki right before July 1 – and the four-year $11.8-million (U.S.) contract appeared rather rich given Komarov's limited offensive contributions in his only other NHL season especially after Komarov put up 34 points in 52 games for a share of the scoring lead with Dynamo Moscow last season he has exceeded those off-season expectations Komarov is sixth among Leafs forwards in even-strength ice time and he's killing more than three minutes in penalties a game as part of the top unit Only Phil Kessel has more points at even strength something Carlyle credits to Komarov's greater confidence not only with the puck "But I don't think the game has changed at all." "One thing with Leo is wherever he has gone people have always first thought of him as [a] marginal player," said Juha Hiitela a well-known Finnish sportswriter based in Vancouver he has raised [himself up] to an important role Everyone thought Dynamo brought him to Moscow to be the translator for their new Swedish stars Leo was the fan favorite and assistant captain." "He's making do with what he's got – I think that's the way he leads his life," Carlyle said of Komarov's underdog approach "I think that's the way he approaches the game He's going to do whatever it takes to get it done." Part of why Komarov was intimidated in his first North American stint in 2012-13 was the fact he was in awe He had spent a lifetime idolizing NHL players such as Jaromir Jagr and countryman Jarkko Ruutu and would wake up early to watch highlights of games to discuss them with his friends Then it would be out to Nykarleby's frigid outdoor rink – there were no indoor ones by the time he moved away at 16 – for games of shinny he's mobbed by well-wishers who have made the Leafs their new favourite team Komarov proudly talks about being able to buy his parents a house there He admits he doesn't get back to Nykarleby enough going on at length about the new indoor "ice hall" that kids have to play at "They're having a great time there," he said of his parents Everybody knows each other … Everybody knows me In all his travels and with all the languages he speaks Komarov has also picked up a lot of friends in the game The highest-profile one just might be Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin after their time together with Dynamo but he also counts fellow NHLers Mikael Granlund and Jori Lehtera as pals after coming up through the Finnish system with them Asked who his closest "comrades" in the league are Looking around the Leafs dressing room after practice Report an editorial error Report a technical issue Editorial code of conduct James Mirtle is a former hockey reporter for The Globe and Mail He joined The Globe as an editor and reporter in the sports department in 2005 and covered the NHL and the Toronto Maple Leafs A graduate of Ryerson University and Thompson Rivers University he has written about hockey from junior on up and has a background in new media Toronto Maple Leafs center Daniel Winnik has the puck knocked off his stick by Detroit Red Wings defenseman Kyle Quincey at Air Canada Centre Toronto Maple Leafs forward Josh Leivo tries to deflect the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey preseason game Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community. This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff. Non-subscribers can read and sort comments but will not be able to engage with them in any way. Click here to subscribe If you would like to write a letter to the editor, please forward it to letters@globeandmail.com. Readers can also interact with The Globe on Facebook and Twitter Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff We aim to create a safe and valuable space for discussion and debate If you do not see your comment posted immediately it is being reviewed by the moderation team and may appear shortly We aim to have all comments reviewed in a timely manner Comments that violate our community guidelines will not be posted UPDATED: Read our community guidelines here We have closed comments on this story for legal reasons or for abuse. For more information on our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines and our Terms and Conditions After six years of searching from his home in Finland, Conny Wiik found his birth mother in Taiwan just ahead of Mother’s Day. His “whole life is taking another turn,” Wiik said when reacting to the news. He is “very glad and excited,” he said from Nykarleby, a town with about 7,500 residents on Finland’s western coast, adding he may head to Taiwan to meet his mother in person as early as this autumn. Wiik, now a father of four and owner of a fox farm, was born in 1980 and given the name Ho Liu Ming-feng (何劉明烽) before being adopted as a toddler by a Finnish family. His birth certificate identifies his birth mother, but not his father. Wiik’s search has come to a happy ending thanks to the dedication of police officers and his birth mother’s positive response. The news also came after the Central News Agency reported Wiik’s story in February and helped him get in touch with the National Police Agency. He provided some photographs, including some of him as a baby and one of a woman carrying a baby, which the police used to identify a resident of Gueishan Township (龜山), Taoyuan County. Through DNA testing, she was confirmed to be Wiik’s birth mother. The picture was very telling, said Chung Yu-tien, the officer responsible for the search, because it shows a mole on one side of the mother’s mouth. “Heaven helps those who help themselves,” Chung said, adding that the process is not always so smooth and straightforward. The photo helped, but the key was the mother’s willingness to undergo a DNA test and meet with her long-separated son, Chung said. Wiik early this year has said he first thought to start searching for his biological mother six years ago, when his daughter was born. At the time, he realized she was the only person he knew who is related to him by blood, he said. However, the topic of adoption is taboo in his Finnish family, he said, especially since his mother worries he might move to Taiwan after finding his biological family. Wiik’s adoption papers are legitimate, unlike those of the 60 or so Taiwanese children illegally sold for profit and trafficked abroad in the early 1980s to Australia, Finland, Sweden and the US. The trafficking ring was broken up in 1982, but many of the children, now adults, have only recently begun to look for their Taiwanese parents. Along with Wiik, two naturalized Finnish women who were born in Taiwan have said they were also trying to find their roots. Asked on Sunday if the nation would help adoptees abroad in the search for their biological parents, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that officials abroad, such as the representative office in Finland, will help establish communications with agencies in Taiwan. several hurt in western Finland road accidentA 10-month-old baby died and several other people were injured in a three-vehicle car crash in the western Finnish municipality of Nykarleby on Monday morning Open image viewerA crash on national road 8 in western Finland claimed the life of an infant and injured several other people on Monday Image: Kjell Vikman / YleYle News11.12.2017 13:37A three-vehicle crash on national road 8 in western Finland claimed the life of a 10-month-old infant and injured several other people around 7 am on Monday a couple of hundred metres south of the Monåvägen road intersection Police said a car containing two adults and the infant had been headed southbound and for unknown reasons swerved into the northbound lane The car then struck an automobile driven by a man born in 1990 The infant died at the scene of the accident The baby was in a child car seat in the backseat of the vehicle characterised the accident as very serious and said that all of the occupants of the two cars were transported to Vaasa Central Hospital Police said the extent of their injuries is not yet known A third car travelling northbound was unable to stop before striking the car ahead of it but the driver in the third vehicle was not injured Stenman said the collision took place on a stretch of road where overtaking is not permitted "We don't know why the car going south had crossed into the wrong lane but it is very slippery on the road," Stenman said Road workers arrived later in the morning and salted the stretch of road where the accident took place JUser: :_load: Unable to load user with ID: 80 A distinctive lighthouse on Åland (Image: Lehtikuva) AND POLITICAL QUIRKS of Finland is its millennia-long links with its Western neighbour Sweden Finland was a part of the Swedish Empire for more than 700 years and today Swedish speakers form a significant and visible part of Finnish society Given the long and colourful history of Finnish Swedish speakers it should come as no surprise that there are many pockets of the country where almost the entire population speaks Swedish as their native language and where expressions of Swedish culture stand side-by-side with Finnish culture Let’s take a closer look at some of the most Swedish corners of Finland today The autonomous Åland Islands are probably the most famous example of Finland’s rich Swedish heritage With more than 88% of the population speaking Swedish as their mother tongue Åland remains one of the most distinctly Swedish corners of the country the Islands were under the exclusive control of Sweden for much of the past millennium Åland has always maintained its own strong sense of identity one that has been closely aligned with its position a mere 38 kilometres from the Swedish mainland the region celebrates 100 years of autonomy first granted to it by the League of Nations as the result of the short-lived organisation’s first-ever international treaty Åland has made its distinction from the mainland known; prior to the Convention 95% of residents voted in favour of seceding from Finland and formally becoming a part of Sweden the region joined the EU slightly later than Finland owing to the fact that it was in a separate customs arrangement from the mainland Finnish speakers are relocating to Åland at record levels which could fundamentally alter the social character of this unique region Located in the heart of Swedish-speaking Ostrobothnia Larsmo’s population of 5,536 is made up of 92.5% Swedish speakers making it the least Finnish-speaking municipality in Finland proper the only language spoken in the municipality was Swedish but recent internal migrations trends have begun to tip the scales which is connected to the mainland via the so-called Road of Seven Bridges In contrast with many other municipalities in the region Larsmo’s population is one of the fastest-growing in the country Much of this is to do with the fact that more than half of the region identifies as adherents of Laestadianism a conservative Lutheran revivalist doctrine that encourages large families Larsmo’s legacy can also be found beyond Finland’s borders; the town of Larsmont in Minnesota was first populated entirely by Swedish speaking immigrants from the municipality Pedersöre’s 11,187-strong population is 89% Swedish speaking It also happens to be one of the oldest municipalities in Finland having first been founded back in 1348 by decree of King Magnus Eriksson of Sweden Its church parish is also the oldest known parish in the country while the mostly agricultural municipality is home to many of the oldest continuously operating farms in Finland The main population centre in the region is Jakobstad founded by Queen Christina of Sweden in 1652 and home to some of the best-preserved examples of medieval Swedish architecture in Europe as well as the birthplace of Johan Runeberg The town and municipality of Nykarleby lies at a pivotal strategic point in the Ostrobothnian Gulf only a stone’s throw away from the Swedish city of Umeå has been the site of many important moments in Finnish and Swedish history Nykarleby was founded in 1607 at the behest of King Gustav Adolf II of Sweden with the aim of creating an accessible military and trading outpost in the Duchy of Finland several important military conflicts have taken place in Nykarleby most notably a series of battles during the 1808 Finnish War between Sweden and Russia that have been extensively chronicled in Runeberg’s epic poem The Tales of Ensign Stål The town is also the birthplace of national author Zacharias Topelius The entire town burned to the ground in the great fire of 1858 and remained Finland’s smallest town until 1970 when the population started to grow rapidly it is home to Finland’s largest car boot sale and has been ranked by Helsingin Sanomat as the happiest place to live in the entire country © Helsinki Times All rights reserved.  Terms of Use | Privacy Policy