The Long Journey (A feel good story for the ages)
If people ask me about some of the goalies that I’ve worked with, and want stories about rise and success, they will often ask about Jack Campbell, Cal Petersen, Peter Budaj, or Conor Hellebuyck. And I have some great stories and words of praise about all of them. But this isn’t about any of them:) This story is about a gentleman that I had the pleasure of working with way back when I first started with the Winnipeg Jets in 2013.
His name is Jussi Olkinuora.
Jussi is from Finland, and he came over to North America in 2010, playing one season in the USHL (Junior A), and jumped right into the NCAA, playing two seasons at the University of Denver. After some impressive play, he drew some interest as a free agent and ended up signing with the Winnipeg Jets. Eager to move up, he chose to go pro after his second season.
This is where Jussi and I first met:)
His first season in the AHL was a bit of a bumpy ride, where he eventually ended up in the ECHL. You could debate forever on the reasons why things didn’t go well, but at the end of the day, he was having a tough time.
With all this weighing on him, it would have been so easy to get negative and give up. But that was never Jussi’s attitude. He was always so so positive and fun to work with, even after he got sent down. (This by the way, is the most important part to the end of the story). Every time I would step on the ice with him, he had a smile on his face. Every time we would have a good heart to heart convo, he would be honest yet have a positive demeanour about him, even after the second season where he spent almost all of it in the ECHL.
In that second season with the Ontario Reign (ECHL) he had a much improved year, so in his head he was probably thinking things were looking up… Not so. His NHL deal was up and they only offered him an AHL deal. So he played one more year in the ECHL, and finally decided to go back home to Finland.
From here, this is the point where North America forgets about Jussi Olkinuora. Just another failed prospect from Europe.
So many people would have went home with their tail between their legs, feeling like a failure, and wanting to quit. But this is not what Jussi did. He chose to keep playing the game he loves and signed with a team in the Finnish Elite League. From here, this is where it actually takes off for him:) After a few years in the league and some National team appearances, he wins his first World Championship Gold medal. From there his next move is he signs with a team in the KHL in Russia in 2019. Coincidentally this was the same year I left the LA Kings and went to the KHL:)
When I saw Jussi in Vladivostok on a road trip, I was so happy to see the same Jussi, just playing hard, enjoying the opportunity, and managing all the challenges. After that season he signed in Magnitogorsk having a couple great seasons, another medal (silver) in the 2021 WC, and then in 2022 he became an Olympic gold medalist!
But he wasn’t done yet:) From there he went to the 2022 WC, won another gold medal AND was the MVP of the tournament!
As this story truly fills my heart, it overflowed just the other day, when I got word that Jussi had signed an NHL contract with the Detroit Red Wings.
Ten years later, at 31 years old, after everyone had counted him out, saw him as a bust, he is now back in North America, playing the game he loves, and god willing will get to play in his first NHL game. If this doesn’t give you hope in whatever it is you are striving for, then you need a wake up slap:)
What a long journey, that isn’t done yet. Go get em Jussi!!!
Peace,
Dusty Imoo