Friday, 19 August 2022. 15:01
EDMONTON — Our most seasoned readers will remember the Sutter brothers. They were six, in the 1980s, to tread the rinks of the National League simultaneously. They also raised six boys who were drafted into the NHL.
The youngest will instead have as a reference the offspring of the Staal family, four sons who have played a total of 3,406 games in the NHL. The Quinn brothers, Jack and Luke Hughes, all drafted in the top-10 between 2018 and 2021, are on track to leave a similar legacy.
Finnish hockey also has its royal family. Oliver Kapanen is one of the youngest descendants.
The Canadian prospect is often associated with his cousin Kasperi, a first-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins. He is also often asked about his uncle Sami, who played thirteen seasons with the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers.
But it all started with his grandfather Hannu. When he was 24 years old, the grandfather participated in the Winter Olympics in Innsbruck in 1976. He spent the next decade playing professionally in Finland. His brother Jari followed in his footsteps, notably acting as captain of the Jokerit club.
Hannu Kapanen then converted into a coach. He won the title of coach of the year in Liiga at the end of the 1996-1997 season. In 1998, he led the Finnish team to gold at the World Juniors. In 2005 he was elected to the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame
“We are very close, I am in contact with him every day, Oliver said after his team’s training on Thursday. I don’t know much about his past as a player, but apparently he was tough. I don’t know if I should believe him, but that’s what he says anyway! »
Hannu had two sons who went on to hockey careers. In the shadow of Sami, Kimmo Kapanen broke through in Liiga at the age of 18 and played there for twelve seasons. He was also goalkeeper for Timra IK in Sweden for three years. He is now the general manager.
Oliver was born in Sweden as his father’s playing career drew to a close. He was 3 years old when his family returned to Finland and settled for good in Kuopio, the town where he grew up. His father tried to make him a keeper, but “around the age of 10 or 11” he gave up the big pads and devoted himself to the forward position.
Born out of a personal preference much more than a long-term strategy – “being a goalkeeper is so boring! he laughs – this decision turned out to be a good one. At the U18 level, he amassed 50 points in 44 games. The following year, in the U20s, he led his team with 41 points in 37 games. The Canadian had seen enough to recruit him with the 64th draft pick in 2021.
“The brightest in the family”
Antti Pennanen, Finland’s current World Juniors coach, knows the Kapanens well. In 2013-2014, he was assistant coach of KalPa de Kuopio. Sami and his son Kasperi were teammates there while Kimmo was the club’s sporting director.
In his eyes, it is obvious that the entourage from which Olivier benefited helped him in his athletic career.
“I see a difference in kids growing up in a hockey family. They understand the culture of sport, he observes. I find that[Oliver] handles pressure well. He is humble and very easy to lead. Maybe he grew up a bit in Kasperi’s shadow, but I think it was good for him. »
Kapanen has been quiet offensively at the World Juniors. In six games, the 6’1″ center has only had one goal and one assist. He was mostly used on the third line in addition to playing a key role on the penalty kill. Towards the end of the preliminary round, he also inherited responsibilities on the second wave of the five-man attack.
Pennanen describes him as one of the brightest players on his team, but notes that he also has the flaws of his qualities.
“If you think of Sami and Kasperi, they were two very competitive players. Oliver is calmer. It makes him a very cerebral player, but he could have more dog. »
When it is suggested that Kapanen may be being too nice on the rink, Pennanen agrees. “But I think he’s the smartest player in this family,” he said.