IFK Helsinki are making a statement that they plan to contend along with the top clubs in Finland and Europe, signing goaltender Niklas Backstrom and right-winger Juhamatti Aaltonen.
by Leo Runsas
HELSINKI – The 2016–17 hockey season is still months away, but IFK Helsinki are busy strengthening their already strong roster, and expect to be contenders again for the titles of the Champions Hockey League's European Trophy and the Liiga's Kanada-malja. Two recent key veteran additions are goaltender Niklas Backstrom and right-winger Juhamatti Aaltonen.
Backstrom, 38, moves back home to Helsinki from the NHL's Calgary Flames. He is a home-grown product of HIFK, where he spent his junior years and made his professional debut in the 1996–97 season. He also played in the Liiga for SaiPa Lappeenranta and Karpat Oulu, backstopping the latter club to back-to-back national titles in 2004 and 2005, and to the finals of the European Champions Cup in 2005 and 2006. He has also made many appearances in goal for the Finnish national team.
The most notable part of the goalkeeper’s career started when he signed with Minnesota for the 2006–07 season. Backstrom played in Minnesota for 10 seasons, mostly as the team's No. 1 goalie, and developed a cult following in “the State of Hockey”.
However, he had difficulties in the last three seasons in the organization and in March was traded to Calgary, where he finished his NHL career. Last season Backstrom played in only four NHL games, with a goals-against average of 3.35 and a save percentage of 88.1.
Backstrom is delighted to come back to his junior team and home town for what could possibly be the last season of his playing career.
“It's been a long journey and I wouldn't take away anything from it. It's been a while since I've worn this jersey in this arena. I'm grateful but now it feels right and good to return,” Backstrom said at the press conference where his one-year contract was revealed.
HIFK also added a big name to its group of forwards by signing 31-year-old Aaltonen to a one-year-contract. The Ii-born player moves to HIFK from local rivals Jokerit, who play in the KHL. Aaltonen recorded 29 points (15 + 14) in 51 KHL regular season and playoff games last season.
Aaltonen’s career has been quite colourful too. The northerner spent his youth years in Karpat where he also made his Liiga debut in the 2002–03 season. Aaltonen played seven successful years in Oulu winning three championships – two of them on the same team as Backstrom. He also played in the two European Champions Cups and in the 2008–09 edition of the Champions Hockey League. He later moved on to play in for Pelicans Lahti, the KHL's Metallurg Magnitokorsk and the SHL's Rogle BK. Aaltonen has also been a familiar sight in Finland’s national teams.
Aaltonen came back to Karpat in 2013–14 and won another championship. He then returned to the KHL with Jokerit, where he spent the last two seasons. He's now eager to play in HIFK.
“I was active myself. I wanted to make contact with HIFK and see if they were interested. I'm 100 percent fit and the challenge in Finland is big,” Aaltonen announced at the press conference.
With Backstrom’s and Aaltonen’s contracts in their pocket, HIFK now have 25 players under contract - two goaltenders, seven defencemen and 16 forwards – for the new season. Previously, HIFK had acquired winger Lennart Petrell from Lulea Hockey and defencemen Teemu Eronen and Saku Salmela from Vityaz Podolsk and Ilves Tampere, respectively.
Their first competitive games will be in the CHL's Group G with EV Zug of Switzerland and Esbjerg Energy of Denmark.