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A Finnish Flair in the Rocky Mountains

By Mike Scandura - Special to USAHockey.com, 11/29/16, 8:30AM MST

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Aspen Hockey reaches across the Atlantic for new ideas

While the United States and Finland have engaged in their share of international competition, it’s international cooperation that’s on display in Aspen, Colorado.

The Aspen Junior Hockey Association has formed a partnership with the Finnish Ice Hockey Association.       

“It was forged by the leadership of USA Hockey, specifically [Director of Hockey Development] Kevin McLaughlin and [Rocky Mountain District ADM Regional Manager] Joe Bonnett,” said Aspen Executive Director Shaun Hathaway. “Both have gone to Finland in the past decade to research for development of the American Development Model. The Finns have dialed into it. Kevin and Joe spent roughly four years there and have been learning from the Finnish model that’s trickled down.      

“I went to Kevin and Joe and they had the idea to approach [Finland’s Manager of Youth Hockey Operations] Kalle Valiaho. He agreed to come over here and help us align our youth model. He’s here to help us create a long-term development model.”        

According to Hathaway, Finland currently leads the world in cutting edge strategies that maximize the development of youth hockey players.          

“Looking at their success on the international stage, you can’t argue about their status as the best in the world,” Hathaway said.        

Valiaho, who’s taking a six-month sabbatical, has worked as a regional coach in Finland since 2009 and graduated from Haaga University in Vierumaki in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in sports and leisure management. Currently, he’s completing his master’s degree in sports studies.

“Kalle’s experience and results make him one of the most influential leaders in youth hockey development,” Hathaway said. “In the few weeks he’s been here, he’s been extremely impressive. I’ve been in this business for 20 years and this is the most impressive training I’ve seen in my career.        

“I’m looking forward to learning. I feel like I’ll have a Ph.D. in hockey when we’re done.”        

The same could be said about the Aspen youth who are participating in this program.

“In only three weeks, players have improved remarkably,” said Hathaway. “Ice time is maximized and the development of critical skills, speed and pace is impressive."        

“Mental skills already have been sharpened through simple and complex on- and off-ice exercises where athletes are required to solve a problem independently. This leads to a more self-aware and well-rounded athlete. Our goal is to provide the best we can. Why not do this with the best in the world?

“The big picture is we want to change the culture here regarding player development,” continued Hathaway. “It has been researched that USA Hockey embraces this and we’re going to the source.”

How successful has been the source that is Finland?

Finland last season won the Under-18 and Under-20 IIHF World Championships and finished second to Canada in the IIHF Men’s World Championship. And three of the first five first-round picks in the 2016 NHL Draft were from Finland.

While Finland last season had 72,176 registered players, Aspen (which has a population of just under 7,000) this season has just over 300 registered players.

“Absolutely this partnership will help us increase our numbers,” said Hathaway. “We have a fully developed girls program and a co-ed program. Our numbers are impressive for girls hockey.  

“What we’re developing are athletes. The word is getting out that what we’re doing in Aspen is going to help other sports. If we can ever have 10 percent of the success [that Finland has], that would be outstanding.”

Overall the partnership will continue in one sense even when Valiaho returns to Finland.

“FIHA works closely with Vierumaki,” said Hathaway. “Haaga has a world-leading sports program for coaches."

“After Kalle goes back in 2017, we want to bring over a graduate student for each of the next 10 years to have coaching and teaching opportunities in Aspen.”

Hathaway feels that having a person of Valiaho’s caliber work with Aspen raises the organization’s profile.

“Having a person like Kalle is tough to reject,” said Hathaway. “He stamps it in terms of his knowledge and perspective as the leader of Finnish youth hockey. He legitimizes what we’ve been doing and takes it to a level that’s producing a tremendous amount of success for the Finns.

“It’s a game-changer for us because it puts us on a path that nobody has an opportunity to be on. This fast tracks it and shows it’s the right thing to do.”

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.

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