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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1999-11-24, Page 18Arr2284640 DELITE 1-ee8.820-7775 YOUR • 18 Crossroads Wednesday, November 24, I1!! BEST G.I.C. RATES Your Investment Shoers 2353368 1 year 5.3% Syear 6.3 subject to change) Exeter 235-3368 Exeter Times Advocate Finn fitting; in on ExeterJr. D. Hawks Finnish import. Jaakko Heikkinen has setded in fine on the blueline for the Exeter Jr. D Hawks.A native of Finland, Heikkinen is an exchange student at Clinton StAnne's Catholic Secondary School and is staying with a family from theVanastra area. (photo/Croig Bradford) By Craig Bradford . TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — Jaakko Heikkinen cams: he' from his native Finland to learn about CanAa. .toy is he ever. Not only is Heikkinen, 18, learning about beavers, loons, loonies and toonies, he is getting a crash course on most people feel Canada is all about — hockey. Heikkinen is one of the Exeter Jr. D Hawks' top defencemen and the quarterback on their power- play. "It's been great so far," Heikkinen said with just a trace of the classic Scandinavian accent. From Onlun Kampat located in northern Finland, Heikkinen came to Canada in August. He is an exchange student attending Clinton St. Anne's Catholic Secondary School and staying with Les and Deb Falconer of Vanastra. How did he become a Hawk? It turns out his 'host dad' Les is the uncle of Craig Corriveau who• played with the Hawks last season. With Falconer's urging, Heikkinen went to the training camp, tried out and made the team. Heikkinen said the big difference between hockey in Finland and hockey here is our smaller ice sur- face (most European nations play on Olympic size rinks). The smaller surface means more checking and less passing,.he added. While hockey is big in Finland and players like Agaheim Mighty Duck Teemu Selanne and former Edmonton Oiler great Jari Kurri are national heroes, Heikkinen quickly found out hockey is more than a game to Canadians. A right defenceman, Heikkinen's favourite NHLer is Boston Bruin Ray Bourque. He admires Bourque's skill and longevity. ,Heikkinen was hesitant when asked what skills he brings to the rink, but finally admitted his top skills are skat- ing and scoring. Though he lover playing the gagie, Heikkinen hasn't thought much about a future involving hockey. The, same goes 'for what career, pathhe'll. pursue after high school, though he likes history and business. One thing he does know for sure is that he will spend six months in the army after graduating high school. Heikkinen said young Finns have to do some sort of service for the Finnish government after high school. Being so far from home doesn't seem to be much of a ,hardship for Heikkinen. Though he obviously misses his family (mom, dad, two sisters and a half-sister) the thing he misses the most about home is a nice long stay in a sauna. Heikkinen said he hasn't seen any signs of a sauna in this area so far. When it comes to differences between Finland and Canada away from the rink, Heikkinen has noticed that Canadian teenagers tend to work more after school. In Finland students usually focus on academics and athletics throughout the school year and only take on jobs when school isn't in session. So far Heikkinen has travelled to Toronto for the Royal Winter Fair and with his school to tour the CN Tower and Skydome. He hopes to make it back to Toronto before he leaves for home in July to see the Hockey Hall of Fame and an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre. Heikkinen said the funniest thing about us is our tendency to say 'eh?' so much. The people he's met will be the top aspect of his stay here, Heikkinen said. "One thing I really like here is the people," he said. "They are friendly, happy and fun to talk to." He had a special thanks for his teammates. "I would like to thank the guys for the experience so far and I know it will be a great year," he said. Hawks coach Andy Friyia had nothing but praise for.his Finnish blueliner. "He's added a new dimension to our offensive side of the game," he said, adding Heikkinen's great shot from the point that's almost always on net has been a welcome addition. Teammate Ben McCann, another top Hawks defender, gives Heikkinen high marks. "He's patient and smart with the puck," he said. Captain Dave Farquhar was for once at a loss of words when first asked about the Finn. "He's funny, that's for sure," he said. "He's so good with the puck. He definite - DAVE FARQUHAR ly quarterbacks our powerplay. We're • glad he's here." "He fits in with the Hawks," teammate Jeremy Geoffrey chimed in. Heikkinen's defence partner, Jared Bourne, also raved about kith..' "He's good to play,,,with," he said. "He always seems to be in the right spot." The last words of praise are from Hawks assis- tant coach Tony Mandarelli who has the most con- tact with the defencemen. "He's a pretty talented kid corning all the way from Finland," he said. "He's got that European flair." That flair includes knowing how to sidestep a check and handling the puck well. Mandarelli also commented on the Finn's hard, accurate shot. "He has a definite smoothness," Mandarelli added. "But unlike a lot of Europeans, he doesn't mind the rough going. He can lay out a check when he has to." Heikkinen's also a treat on the bench and in the dressing room. ,"There's always a smile on his face," Mandarelli said. "He's a really nice kid to coach." "He's so good with the puck. He definitely quarterbacks our powerplay We're glad he's here." The bete' Linked Church held its annual Country Christmas &guar last Exeter Junior Leader Karla Musser, 10, gets some help trying on a firefightees Saturday with lunch, crafts, bolo sevAnw j4 books and funnd.raiser projects. jacket and helmet from Exeter firefighter (and her dad) Jeff Musser at the Exeter From lek are UCW president Eleanor Clark and Norma CockwiN Fire Hall last week during the Exeter Sparks visit there. (photolOeig Medford) and BarbWein. (photo/Scott Damon)