These things you can tell to your parents

*Finnish people love sausage and sauna in summertime and sauna in wintertime and actually in every season...

*In summertime Finns go to all kinds of funny festivals and happenings all over Finland.

*Finns have some top brands like Marimekko (clothes), Iittala (Art glass) and Arabia (ceramics).

These to your teacher to get better grades

*Finland is one of the EU countries.

*Finland has a female president called Tarja Halonen. She is the most popular president ever in Finland.

*Finland is the land of thousands lakes.

*In the summer the sun never goes down and in the winter you can hardly see it from November to January. The phenomenon in the summer is called “yötön yö” -the nightless night!

And these to your friends

*Finnish boys are a little bit shy but nice and honest. Just look at them straight into their blue eyes and smile, that’s it!

*You can also impress a Finnish guy by dropping the names of the famous Finnish NHL-stars like Teemu Selänne and Saku Koivu or The Formula One driver names like Kimi Räikkönen and Mika Häkkinen.

Some more trivia

HIM, The Rasmus, Darude and Bomfunk MC’s are the most famous popgroups in Finland.

Finns love salmiakki and Fazer’s chocolate. Salmiakki is black, salty liquorice.

Goalies heading for their dreams

There has been great role models coaching at this camp but there are also top national level players skating and practising in the Camp Teams.

The goalie for the Swedish Olympic Bronze Medal Team 2002 Kim Martin is guarding the net for Team Black. “It has been so much fun at this camp. To practice and compete with the players of same age, you do not get to do that a lot in women’s hockey,” she says.

Kim has had a change to live her dream in the Olympics. “I could not believe when I was there and it still feels unreal. It was great experience competing with so many good players,” she says.

Dreams are the ones that keep people going. Through Kim the players at the camp can follow closely how an Olympic level athlete is training.

At the goalie practice Kim’s actions are being followed closely. Czech goalie Eri Kiribuchi playing for Team Yellow and Japanese Kumiko Okada playing for Team White are two of the goalies that have been sharing the ice with Kim in goalie practises. When asked about their dreams as hockey players it does not take a lot of time for Kumiko to come up with an answer. “To play for Team Japan,” she says. Eri, who was born in Japan, dreams about playing in North-America. “I want to be like the NHL-goalie Dominik Hasek,” she says remembering the top goalie of her new home country.

It is NHL that Kim also dreamed about when she was younger. “First I just played for fun, but Olympics and NHL were the two big dreams I had,” she says. 

Eventhough the NHL is not at the top of the list anymore and Kim has won an Olympic Bronze she is still pushing her self to be a better athlete. “I want to be the best goalie in the world. To reach that level I need to practise a lot, do my best everyday. It is not always fun but those days you just need to push through,” she says.

Despite of the language barrier Kumiko and Eri have enjoyed the camp. “Great coaches and variety of practises have been the best part of the camp,” Eri says. “I am learning something new about hockey everyday,” says Kumiko.

After the camp both Kumiko and Eri have a great deal of new information about goaltending to use in practises at home. Even if they would never reach the Olympic level like Kim has, the experience of the camp will be carried with them to their countries. Like Dave Fitzpatrick said in the opening ceremony, “It is after the camp when the real journey begins.”

Carrying the torch lights the fire within

25-year old forward of the Finnish Women’s National Team, Vilja Lipsonen had a great honour to be part of the Olympic Torch Relay in Helsinki last Friday. She was one of the few Finnish and the only female hockey player selected to the inspiring task of the Torch carrier.

“It was really emotional. There are not enough words to describe the moment. Carrying the Torch my hands were shaking and my heart was beating really fast. I was afraid I would drop it,” Vilja describes her feelings.

Lipsonen was in the National Team when Finland won the bronze medal in Halifax. Now she is training to make it to the Olympic Team in 2006. “My dream is to play for Team Finland in the Olympics. But it is not just participating, it is also about being successful,” she says. “Carrying the Torch made the dream even more powerful.”

It is dreams, visions and hard work you need to go through the training needed to make it at the top. There is nothing bigger than the Olympic Gold and there are many to pursue it.

“Training has to have a good mix of quality and quantity. You have to be focused, patient and passionate about it,” Vilja says and reminds also about the importance of recovery. “You need to watch what you eat and get enough rest to be able to play and practise at your best.”

To make it to the top sometimes means making choices. “I feel like I am living my life to its fullest. Sometimes it is just about time management, you just have to have your priorities right,” Lipsonen says.

Chasing the Future

Listen to the life stories of the people participating to this camp and you will find that we have people here who are devoted to and passionate about the sport. For example the equipment manager of Team Black Marina Konstantinova from Russia is actually a top level referee. She has been a linesman for 7 years, officiated in four World Championship tournaments as well as in the Salt Lake City Olympics 2002.

“Women’s hockey is a fairly young sport. It does not matter for the people who are involved, how they are involved in the sport, as long as they can contribute,” the IIHF Camp Director Darryl Easson says. In young sports it is important to have the passionate people to work hard and have the visions on how to develop the game. 

A lot has happened in women’s hockey in 14 years. When the first World Championships were played in Ottawa in 1990 there were only 8 countries that had active women’s programs. Now the number is closer to 30 and growing. “The skill level has increased tremendously, but we still need to get more players interested in the sport to create more competition,” says the IIHF Sport Director Dave Fitzpatrick who was also in the organizing committee for the very first women’s World Championship tournament.

People are used to a high level of entertainment and it sets the pace development of women’s hockey too. “The quality of the game has to improve, it has to get faster. Not necessarily as physical as the men’s game, but on the athletic aspect the women’s game has to measure up to a certain level to draw the attention it needs,” says the IIHF Director of Event Management and the member of the IIHF Women’s Committee Rob van Rijswijk. The players all over the world have started to get the message. It is not enough to be a hockey player to play at the international level you also have to be an athlete. “Women’s hockey at the top requires an all year around athlete’s attitude,” says the National Team Head Coach of the Swedish Women’s National Team Peter Elander. “The girls are becoming more and more athletic. The players playing hockey at the top level have heart to work hard and to be strong and they are getting closer to be able to play the game on a more physical level,” Elander continues.

It is not so long ago when girls were told to go in figure skating instead of ice hockey. Now at the Hockey Development Camp there is a Canadian female coach whos husband is at home taking care of their two-year old daughter while she is passing her knowledge of the game on to young players coming from all over the world. “There is a change in society where female are becoming more active in taking part into activities outside home. 51% of the people in the world are female and it is an huge asset for women’s sports over all,” van Rijswijk says. Women’s hockey needs active, passionate and skilled people in all aspects of the game. It is important to build coaching, team management and game official programs along with the player development. “Females should stand up and be accounted for, show an intiative,” van Rijswijk says. “It is your game too!”

Where are the women in the stands and from fullfilling the jobs inside the game? “After having been balancing life between a job and playing hockey the players are often driven to the edge. When you make the decision to stop playing it is about needing a little bit more time to yourself.  Then you get married, get kids and suddenly you’ve been away from the rink for a long time.  It might be hard to come back,” says former player Mira Mäkelä. “I guess it is also about the courage, if you do not believe you are skilled enough,” she says.

Mira is the manager for Team Blue. She also works as a women’s hockey instructor for young girls in the Häme (Tampere) region of  Finland.

After playing career she wanted to give something back to the game. “I love to watch the young girls and how they get better in the sport. It is nice to know I can help them on their way reaching their dreams,” she says. She believes there would be more girls coming into the coaching programs if the timing would be different. “If we would get the players involved in coaching during their playing career then they would already have some basis when finishing up their career.”

Like Marina and Mira there are many former and active hockey players here at the camp and in women’s hockey all over already contributing to the game. But women’s hockey needs more friends. It would be great if within the next ten years women in women’s hockey could reac h where Dave Fitzpatrick is now. “I am fortunate having had a chance to work with the game I have loved since I started to play it at the age of six. This is not a job, this is what I love to do!”  

7.7.2004
Developing Women’s Hockey Together

Do you know where Taipei is? Did you know they play icehockey there? If you did not I have one more news for you. A 15-year old defender Yu-Chi Wang from Taipei is playing for Team Black. And there is more. Forward Man-Ju Huang of Team Yellow and equipment manager of Team Green Tun Jui Hsu are also representing women’s hockey of Taipei at the Hockey Development Camp.

Taipei is a young hockey country. They do not have a lot of facilities or knowledge of the game yet but they are working hard and getting better all the time.

Yu-Chi Wang and Team Black had their first ice practice on Monday. Yu-Chi skated the drills with the the team and coaches were watching the players’ performance and skill level. “I looked at her skating and I thought either the skates are too big for her or there is no support at all for the ankles,” says the Canadian mentor coach of Team Black Erin Harbor. “Player’s development is not always just about the physical or the technical side of the game. It is also about the emotion, how you feel about playing the game,” she continues.

The very same night Erin talked about Yu-Chi’s skates at the mentor coaches meeting. Team Red’s mentor coach, Lars Lisspers from Sweden heard the story and it immediately reminded him of a boy’s development camp in Praque in 1999. “We had a boy from Mongolia in our group and he had problems with skating. He tried new ones on and the difference was tremendous,” Lars says.

So, the next day Lars walks into the Nike Bauer’s office at the rink. He tells the story to Marcus Jonsson. Marcus works for Nike Bauer in a global group of nine people called Catalyst which focuses on education and development of the gears. Lars shortly explains Yu-Chi’s situation and Marcus is in. He calls to Helsinki to ask if they have any of the sample skates in small sizes. Soon a brand new pair of the latest model in Nike Bauer skates line, the Nike Quest E9 was on their way to Vierumäki in the backseat of the car of another Nike Bauer representer Tomi Poikkonen.

Tuesday morning Yu-Chi and Team Black are having an off ice training session at the field next to the rink. Lars comes by and pulls Erin aside. "Try these, they are for her," he says holding the shining pair of brand new Nike's in his hands. Erin goes to Yu-Chi. She tries the skates on and a shy smile spreads on her face.

Team Black’s equipment manager Marina Konstantinova from Russia got an important task. The very first pair of skates she sharpened was the ones Yu-Chi was going to wear for Tuesday nights game. “I saw her in the practice and I thought she was afraid to skate, she did not feel comfortable,” Marina says. “I was nervous after giving her the skates back and told her to take the old skates on the bench, just in case,” she continues.

Yu-Chi hits the ice for the warm-ups. Everyone is surprised. It is like she was a different girl. “Her skating was so much better and she felt more confident on the ice. Now she has the right equipment to have the success,” Erin says and turns to Lars. “Yu-Chi travelled around the world to participate in this camp. We just could not let the bad skates ruin the experience for her. Is it not just what this camp is about? Helping to develop,” Lars says and they both smile.

But the best is yet to come. “She will get the skates! She will definitely keep them,” says Marcus. “We are also here to develop the game and deliver the right equipment for players to try on. For us it is the smile on her face we need,” he continues.

6.7.2004
Born to Be a Sports Girl

The Hockey Development Camp is a  great chance for young players to learn about the game of hockey. In additition to the technical and tactical skills they learn on the ice and in the classrooms they also have a chance to hear about the life as a female hockey player right from players who have played the sport at the olympic level.

23-year old Team Germany forward Maritta Becker coaches Team Turquoise at the camp. Maritta is one of the best players in her country. She has been playing for Team Germany since she turned 13. “I was born as a sports girl. Soccer, basketball, hockey, you name it! But it was only the team sports, I don’t know why.” The first time she wore the Team Germany jersey was in the European Championships in Latvia in 1995. Now 155 national team games later she is at the Hockey Development Camp ready to teach the young girls what she knows about the game and practicing. “In practice I always want to compete against the best. It is the best way to improve as a player through challenge and good competition.

Challenge and competition is what Maritta Becker has looked for in planning her career. In May 2002 she signed a contract with the German army to be part of a special sports program. This program allows her to practice two times a day at the army’s expense. “There are 710 spots the army has for different sports in a year. Twelve of those spots are for Hockey and 8 of the twelve are for women hockey players this year”, Maritta explains.

It is not just the training that she has under control, the army also pays for the education too. “I have a coaching diploma and just before coming here I passed the last exam for a sports manager’s diploma. When I am done with playing hockey I can maybe work for the ice hockey federation in Germany”, Maritta says. The Hockey Development Camp gives a great inside look at women’s hockey globally. This experience and the contacts made during the week will be a great advantage for her in pursuing her career in women’s hockey.

Another great role model skates with Team Red. A Gold Medalist of 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, Alana Blahoski, from the USA is now starting a career as a coach. The good level of the play at the camp has impressed the former forward. “I just love to watch the girls having so much fun with hockey and they are really good!”

It was only a year ago Alana decided to stop playing hockey at the international level. “It was becoming a job for me. I wanted to stop when I still loved the game,” she says. The decision not to play was not easy for her. She still wanted to be involved with hockey but didn’t enjoy the competition so much anymore. Alana asked coach Smith what to do to get into the coaching program of USA Hockey. Coach Smith said “You just did! I’m kind of the man in charge of that.” The next thing she knew she was the assistant coach for Team USA.

It is not easy to jump from playing to coaching. Adjusting to the new situation takes time. “First I was really nervous if the players would not respect me, but everything has been going well,” Alana says. “Even though I’m not experienced in coaching I have a great deal of experience as a player. In women’s hockey it makes a difference, knowing what it takes to be at the top.”

If you ever saw Alana play, you would remember her speed. “Skating has always been the thing for me. Get your skates that have just been sharpened and step on the ice and it is just an amazing sound!” Alana is working at a rink in Manhattan, NY. She feels privileged being able to do what she loves for a living. The next challenge for her is coaching the under 22-year old girls national team. She is used to setting her goals high. “It would be great to coach Team USA in the Olympics.” We might not have to wait for many years before women’s hockey has an Olympic gold medalist representing her country in the Olympics for the second time. This time she might just be leading the team from behind the bench.

Stephanie Turner (GBR)

How to recognise an eguipment manager? He’s mistaken for rink personnel, always carries at least a screwdriver with him, brings waterbottles everywhere and last but not least -wears shorts and flipflops even at the rink!

The equipment manager is the guy you never say enough ‘thank you’ to. “Equipment manager is the first to arrive to the rink and the last person to leave it. Most of time goes in setting the tools the players need to right places so that during practices and games you don’t have to run around looking for things”, says the equipment manager of the Finnish women’s national team and the camp equipment manager instructor Tatu Vento. “Our job is to see that everything runs smoothly for the players.”

Tatu is in charge of the equipment management at the camp. His job is to give tips and share the information and experiences he has gained through his career. “We have a good mixture of experience and young talent here at the camp. With rookies we look through some of the basics. For the more experienced ones it is enough just to show where everything is,” Vento says.

The equipment manager for Team Red is 22-year old Stephanie Turner from Great Britain. Stephanie plays hockey in her hometown Sheffield and she works in a local store selling sporting goods. “I wanted to participate in the equipment manager’s program at this camp to learn more about the equipments. I will be able to use the information also in my daily work when I get home,” Stephanie says.

Stephanie knows she is more than a equipment manager at this camp. “The girls are coming from all over the world. Some of them are really shy and I feel it is easier for them to approach me because I am a woman.”

After the first a couple of days Stephanie has already learned a lot. “One of the most important thing is to keep the locker room nice and tidy and have your gear organized.” Things that one would think self-evident are new for the others. “For example in addition to drying the skate blades it is also important to take of the insoles from the skates,” Stephanies knows.

Stephanie carries the waterbottles already like it is her second nature. She is not scared of the screwdriver either. Even she walks around in a track suit and not in the normal uniform, shorts and flipflops she definitely fits in! 

6.7.2004
The Greatest Idea For a Long Time!

The Vice President of the IIHF and the Chairman of the Finnish Ice Hockey Assosiation Kalervo Kummola visited in the opening ceremony of the Woman’s Hockey Development Camp. The Chairman of the Finnish Olympic Committee and the principal of Vierumäki Sports Institute Tapani Ilkka welcomed the participants on behalf of the Vierumäki staff. 

“This camp is fantastic! There is no better place to make friends, international relations and learn about the game of hockey than this camp. This is the greatest idea the IIHF has come for a long time,” Kummola says.

After the ceremony Bie De Backer from Belgium, Rylie Padjen from Australia and Anna de la Forest from the next host city of next Winter Olympic Games Torino, Italy were honoured to meet Kalervo Kummola.

Kummola surprised the participants by asking the nations to stand up to be introduced in an alphapedical order. The Australians were happily surprised and followed the request getting the biggest applauds. 

Iva Jandikova(CZE) Team Black

6.7.2004
Hockey is Fun! First Day on the Ice

The first day of the camp was filled with practices and lectures. During the day all the seven teams practiced stickhandling, skating and the other basic skills of the game.

“At the first practices the coaches will do skating evaluation to see where the players are at. The coaches will plan the practices for the rest of the week based on what they see on the ice today,” says Erin Harbor from Canada, mentor coach of Team Black.

On the Ice with Team Black skates also Iva Jandikova. Iva is 18 years old defenceman from Czech Republic. “This is fun!” Iva says and a big smile spreads on her face revealing a nice row of white teeths. The zamboni forces Team Black to leave the ice but Iva can’t stop smiling. “We did some fun balance stuff and different skating techniques on the ice. Most of the drills were familiar to me, so it was easy for me to keep up. But there were also some new things I learned today,” Iva says. Iva is also excited after making so many new friends in just one day. “We have already had so many laughs with the teammates Lisa Batchelor from Canada, Angela Taylor from Great-Britain and the with the Slovakian girls Martina Velickova and Janka Culikova. I can’ wait the good time we will have during the week!”, Iva comments.

While Iva Jandikova goes through the drills with 14 years of hockey experience, 15 years old Australian forward Natasha Farrier practising on the other side of the rink with Team Turquoise has only played ice hockey for two years. “I had played inline hockey for 5 years. My friend got interested in ice hockey and I went to the practices with her. I play in a club team in our home town  Adelaide,” Natasha says. Team  Turquoise also worked on skating. “Some of the drills we did felt hard because I had never done them before. I’m sure when I practice the stuff during the week and at home I’ll get better,” she says.

The players are really excited about their new teams. Although winning isn’t the main thing on this camp, both girls show some competitiveness. “Our team is really good, I hope we win! “ Natasha says. Iva thinks her team has potential too.  

Referee Tae Ri Lee(KOR)

6.7.2004
Figureskater Goes To Officiating

Tiny, long haired lady walks into the camp registration  on Sunday afternoon. She is dressed in black and wears lovely red highheels, just as tiny as she is. She turns the heads as she walks to the desk. She must be in a wrong place!

But she is not. She is Tae Ri Lee, 25 years old referee from Korea. After a long plane ride and a good night sleep she’s ready to drop the puck.

Tae Ri has a background as a figureskater. She has skated since the age of 12 and is also a figureskating judge. Figureskating is how she got involved in officiating the game of hockey. “Women’s hockey had just started in Korea and they also wanted women as referees. They asked if I was interested in trying it because I could skate,” Tae Ri comments the start of her career. Comparing beeing a hockey referee and judging figureskating Tae Ri feels the level of excitement is the biggest difference:  “Judging the figureskating you just sit in a chair and give the points. In hockey you have more power., you are more involved in the action. Sometimes it feels almost dangerous!” 

Tae Ri Lee is the first female referee in Korea. She has mostly been officiating elementary school and secondary school boys’ games. The camp gives her an opportunity to compare her skills with other female referees. “It is fun to get some new friends who are interested in hockey too!”

The goal of the camp for the referees is to learn the basics of the game. “An important factor. in selecting the referees coming to the camp was the candidate’s good attitude. We’re looking for girls that are interested in learning new things and are motivated in developing them selves,” says Manuela Gröger IIHf referee Instructor from Germany. “Some of the girls here have already been officiating in the international games. We are always looking for new potential. This camp is a good chance for the referees to present them selves to IIHF,” Manuela continues. Tae Ri Lee is excited about beeing selected to the Development Camp. She feels it is a great chance for her to develop her skills as a referee. “I’m looking forward to exchange ideas and get feedback to improve my performance. Maybe someday I will be officiating at the international level,” she says.

Tae Ri turns and the long pony tail swings lightly from side to side when she heads back to the rink. Maybe some day the same ponytail turns heads on the ice in the Women’s Hockey Final game. Torino 2006, who knows?  

Women’s hockey taking over Vierumäki

120 smiling female hockey players arrived to Vierumäki from all over the world this Sunday. Australians and Japanese where the ones travelling the most miles to get to Finland. Accompanied by coaches, managers and other staff members the group of 200 people working with women’s hockey gather together to develop the game.

The International Ice Hockey Federation IIHF has been working together with the Finnish Assosiationa to put together the first ever Hockey Development Camp for women. The players from 28 different countries will be devided into seven teams. The teams train together and play against each other during the week.

One of the first ones to arrive was Christina Doj, a defender from Denmark. She plays in a club team in a town called Rodovre. She also plays for the national team. “I got a phonecall to pack up my hockey gear and go to play in Finland. I got into the plane with my friends, none of us knew what to expect. We were all really nervous”, Christina says.

Christina’s dad has played hockey. She got interested in the game after watching some games with her dad. It’s been five years now since she joined the team. “I like hockey because it’s a tough game. Everything happens fast and you have to think quick to keep up”, Christina says.

It’s Christina’s first time in Finland. She’s excited to visit a ‘big hockey country’. What she expects from the camp is to have fun with hockey and make new good friends.

Finnish knowhow leads the way in Women’s Hockey Development Camp

 Monday July 5th is the starting day for the International Ice Hockey Federation’s Hockey Development Camp. This is the first time the Development Camp is held for women’s hockey. The camp brings together over 200 players, coaches, referees and other personnel. For one week Vierumäki Sports Institute of Finland is hosting people from almost 30 countries connected with women’s hockey.

 The players will be divided into 7 multi-national teams. The teams train together and play against each other through the week. The guiding themes of the camp are fair play, respect to each other and fun. Fun of playing hockey is what the Camp’s coach instructor Ari Piispanen has had in mind designing the week’s program. “First we have to find out where the players stand technically. There might be a wide range in players’ skill level coming from different countries. The first on ice practice shows what kind of drills we can do and what are the things players need to develop the most. Developing individual skills and learning to read the game will be the two major themes on ice”, says Piispanen.

 It’s not just the players that come to the Development Camp to learn more about the game of hockey. The week is also a great chance for coaches and game officials to further develop their knowledge of the game.

 There’s 8 referees and 16 linesmen who will not only officiate the games but will also improve their knowledge in classroom sessions. This program is supervised by two IIHF referee instructors, Jarmo Jalarvo and Manuela Gröger.

 Each team has three coaches. In addition to the knowledge they bring to each other each team has a mentor coach observing the activities. “In the beginning the mentor coaches will actively help the team coaches but the longer the camp goes the more the coaches have the responsibility of the teams for them selves”, says Ari Piispanen responsible for all the coaching during the camp.

 Finland is one of the top countries in women’s hockey. An important part of reaching the top is good coaching and motivated, talented players. “Finland has a lot to give in developing the game. In addition to on ice practices the camp program also includes lectures and off ice training. I believe the Finnish players selected to the camp will be good examples for the others in all areas of the game”, says Piispanen.

Top International Girl's Hockey Event in Finland July 4 - 11, 2004

Female players from 27 countries will gather to Vierumäki, Sports Institute of Finland, in the beginning of July. This is the very first time the Hockey Development Camp of International Ice Hockey Federation, IIHF, is arranged for girls. Vierumäki and International Ice Hockey Centre of Excellence has also hosted the similar boys event last summer.

Over 200 people, players born in 1986-1988, coaches, managers and other staff involved in women's hockey are coming to Vierumäki to develop their hockey skills and make international connections. "The goal of this camp is to give a good overall experience to all participants in the game of hockey and the international co-operation as well as the friendships," says camp director Arto Sieppi.

The young players who are coming to Vierumäki will be in good hands. Arto Sieppi and the Finnish Ice Hockey Association have been working with the IIHF and its member countries to make the Hockey Development Camp possible. All the coaches have a lot of experience in working with young talented players. Among the coaching staff will be Peter Elander head coach of Team Sweden, Juuso Toivola, assistant coach of Team Finland as well as Alana Blahoski, assistant coach of Team USA just to mention a few.

More information:
Administration Tiina Karinen                    +358-50-500 3880
Camp Director Arto Sieppi                        +358-500-605 305