Yesterday, Kalle Mantere introduced you to SaiPa Lappeenranta. Today, he lets you meet one of the team's better-known players, goaltender Jussi Markkanen. The 39-year-old Markkanen's career has taken him all around the world, and now he looks forward to playing on an international stage again.

by Kalle Mantere

Just over a year ago, well-travelled goaltender Jussi Markkanen came back home to Lappeenranta, signing a two year deal with SaiPa. His career has taken him to the NHL, the KHL and a four-year stint with EV Zug in Switzerland. Now entering the last year of his contract with SaiPa, the undisputed number one goalie has a chance to play against international competition once again in the Champions Hockey League. He'll also get a chance to face his former Zug team in Group H.

SaiPa had just begun their on-ice training camp just over a week before, and that could be the reason why the players on the ice were as excited as wild horses in a spring pasture. Markkanen agreed, but was mindful that it was only the second week on the ice. As for the CHL, the team hasn't changed anything, as the start draws closer.

"It's our second week on the ice, there's still a lot to do, but it feels good to get back on the ice," said the 39-year-old, who has seen a lot of training camps in his career. "I don't think we need to change anything heading towards the CHL, but for now, we're doing our own thing. We have a few games before the CHL starts, but for now we're going on as planned."

The IIHF made some rule changes during the summer as they changed the sizes of the attacking and defensive zones and replaced automatic icing with a new hybrid icing rule. Does this affect an experienced goalie in any way?

"Not really. Maybe as a goalie you have to stay more awake, in case the linesmen forget to call icings. But then again I don't believe that's going to happen often."

What about the larger defensive zone?

"Sure there's more room at the blueline for the defenceman, but I don't think that really affects me in anyway as a goalie. I had the chance to play in North America with the longer attacking zones and I don't think it changed much other than the defenceman having more room during the power play."

Since the IIHF changed the attacking zones, what do you think about the North American trapezoid? Hypothetically speaking, if the IIHF put trapezoids behind the goal, would that change anything?

"It's kinda like a double-edged sword. It really didn't affect my game when I played in North America. You just have to choose when to go behind the goal and when to stay in the net. Rarely will the puck stay in the corner, unless it's shot there to stay. I don't think it would change anything if IIHF put trapezoids behind the goals and besides, as a goalie you get use to them really quick."

Your first CHL game is on 21 August against your former team, EV Zug. What do you think about that?

"The tournament and also facing EV Zug is going to be really great. We have a lot of players who didn't play in the previous version of the CHL, the European Trophy, the last few years. It's really nice to play against new teams and new players. Still, we have to remember that different countries and leagues have different ways to play hockey, but it's going to be a good experience for all of us and it will tell us where SaiPa stands in Europe."