ALL the players from both teams – the winning LA Kings and his teammates on the Anaheim Ducks – stood around at the end of the game ,at the of a hard-fought series won by the Kings 4 game to 3. But more poignantly, at the end Teemo Selanne’s great hockey career.
If it had just been for this game, or for this specific series, you would have seen the LA Kings dash off the ice quickly with their series victory in tow. You would have seen the Ducks head to the exits after an obligatory and cursory ‘stick salute’ in slight embarrassment at the way their season ended.
But they didn’t. They stayed on the ice pushing themselves to the side so that the attention and limelight would shine on one of the greats of the game of hockey. They stayed, like the fans in the stands, to recognize and thank one of the greatest players of the game. Teemo Selanne established himself as the greatest Finnish player in the game and over the course of his career, through his accomplishments and his character, also turned himself into one the true greats of the NHL.
One of the members of our local hockey board,Elsa, is originally from Finland and has a boy who plays in our association. When she says Teemo’s name it sounds different. Correctly pronounced the first syllable ‘Tee’ sounds more like ‘Tay’ and the ‘moo’ is abbreviated……sounds like ‘mu’. It sounds like ‘Tay-mu’. And she pronounces his last name more quickly — while he likes to dangle a puck most Finns it seems don’t dangle the ‘A’ in his last name. The ‘Sel’ in his last name comes at you quickly, and as the ‘A’ flys by you it is flatter with the ‘nee’ offered in a much shorter ending.
It’s as if you were a rookie NHL defenseman and the Finnish Flash is flying out of his own zone in his signature ‘skates low to the ice’ style – a powerful build up with his ‘Taymu’ and before you know it ,he is around you in a with a quick ‘Selanne’ – in on net to score yet another goal. He still holds the record for goals by a rookie – 76. He arrived in style and because of his general character and the way he treats others he was given a pass for ‘throwing his glove up in celebration’ after one goal …and using his stick to shoot it down. Now it is the stuff of Winnipeg Jet legend and a great lead- in piece for night of hockey viewing.
It is hard to miss the contrast. In successive nights of hockey, as two series came to an end, one player diminishes one of the finest traditions of the game while the very next night another in honoured for his contribution in elevating the great game. They honour his skill, his dedication, his achievements but most importantly the character and professionalism that was the hallmark of his career.
It is sad to see him go but we can all be grateful for what he did FOR the game.
pucksense 