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Juho Olkinuora wasn’t always destined to play hockey at DU, but after coming to the United States four years ago to pursue his hockey career, Olkinuora is excited to be suiting up at the Division I level for the Pioneers.
Olkinuora, like most collegiate and professional hockey players, started playing hockey as a young child in his hometown of Helsinki, Finland. However, unlike his teammates, he came from an area known for strong competition on the international level to play a position few in the world can perfect: goalie.
“I started playing hockey at seven years old because I saw my cousin play and I knew it was something I wanted to do,” said Olkinuora. “After a couple of years and a few rotations between players on my team, I realized I really enjoyed playing goalie.”
Helsinki has established itself as a hotbed for European hockey, as it is home to both Jokerit HC Oyj and HIFK Hockey Ab of the SM-Liiga, one of Europe’s premier hockey leagues. Finland has produced many NHL players, including Miikka Kiprusoff, Pekka Rinne and Kari Lehtonen.
“Growing up, I modeled my game after current NHL Finnish goalies Pekka Rinne of the [Nashville] Predators and Kari Lehtonen of the [Dallas] Stars,” said Olkinuora. “While there aren’t as many players in Finland as the States, those were the guys I liked to watch.”
At the age of 15, Olkinuora broke into the junior SM-Liiga as he played for the Tappara U-16 team. Following his first season with Tappara, he worked hard to improve his goaltending skills and continued advancing in the program, and at the age of 16 was called upon to guard the net for the Tappara U-18 squad.
“Hockey is the number one sport back home,” said Olkinuora. “Getting to play at higher levels back there prepared me for my journey to the United States.”
In 2006, Oklinoura decided to leave his homeland and come to the United States to play for Chadders, a midget minor AAA in Utah. It was his first time coming to the United States and he was eager, but nervous. He started 38 games for Chadders that season and posted a .913 save percentage. While the culture was a major difference for Olkinuora, he felt at home because of a few other Finnish players who played for Chadders that season.
“Obviously going to a new place has its differences and I had to adapt to those,” said Olkinuora. “But the biggest change for me was the size of the ice sheet that is played on in the States compared to back home.”
The standard ice sheet in the United States is 200 feet by 85 feet, where the average international ice sheet is 200 feet by 98 feet. This major difference in width can cause serious problems for international goalies trying to play in the US. Luckily for Olkinuora, he was able to familiarize himself with the dimensions and have a solid season in the United States Hockey League with the Sioux Falls Rampage in 2010-2011. Last season, Olkinuora played in 27 games, recording a .900 save percentage and a 2.78 goals against average.
“Last year was a great experience for me, as I had to continue to get used to the U.S. rink dimensions,” said Olkinuora. “The major difference between this year and last year is the maturity of the players in the Pioneers’ locker room. There are guys that are here to become professionals and have been here for five years. They are way more mature and know what is going on. They have made me feel welcome and know that we are a team.”
While last year’s starting goalie Sam Brittain will miss the entire 2011-2012 season due to a torn ACL, which he suffered over the summer, Olkinuoura will assume the role as backup goaltender to junior goalie Adam Murray.
“Adam is a very good goaltender,” said Olkinoura. “I look forward to my first start, even though I am not sure when that will be. But when it comes, I will be ready.”
The Pioneers take the ice in an exhibition game on Oct. 1 at 7:07 p.m. at Magness Arena against McGill University. While no starter has been named, there remains speculation that Olkinuora will begin the season as the backup goaltender under head coach George Gwozdecky’s team.
