SCUBA is celebrating Saturday’s Lynx-take in the context of 50 years ago came the first Finnish championship.Printing of his life’s work done Esa Isaksson returned to the familiar nordenskiöld’s street parking. Vesa Parviainen

the Season 1968-69 of the DAY will be remembered as the legendary team, but one of its brightest stars have remained in the public eye a little too overshadowed.

the championship season, HIFK scoring top duo formed Esa Isaksson and Juhani Jylhä . Rauma Lock capital to friends was in the team a big role.

– All of us had a big role. Together the job was done, Isaksson recalls.

He commends the work chain find of Pride and Jorma Thusbergin . The trio of posts complement each other.

John was a scorer, I saw what I wanted and Thusberg treatment put. It was just a natural thing.

Studies the puck ahead

Isaksson played in the Lock and HIFK:a total of 201 SM-series match, with his power points were 83 + 107 = 190. He won the Finnish championship to the BRONCOS in 1969 and 1970, and achieved one silver and two bronze.

the Numbers he played in three world championships (1966, 1969 and 1971).

the Significant achievements despite Isaksson, 71, is now reel the audience in for quite an unknown quantity.

He set his studies peliura ahead, refusing to times, as well as the world cup and the olympics and ended his career at a young age.

I Thought about that study and I can yes to the following races, but then the career ended in between.

I Moved back to Tennessee, I got a job there, and the family took the then the most part, Isaksson told and recalls being at the time only 25 years old.

Ten years very had time yet.

the NHL-to provide a safe place

the Finnish NHL-history is known, that the first few in the NHL played Albert Pudas season 1926-27 and Pentti Lund 1940-50-century, but they had the hockey-learn in Canada.

canada Finnish Pudas was the first Finnish-born NHL-player and Lund, the first Finnish citizen, which got the game day of the world’s best hockey league.

the first Finnish which was reserved to the NHL, was HIFK:n Tommi Salmelainen . The St. Louis Blues assigned him to the summer of 1969 with the number 66. ”Buffalo” does not, however, ever played in the NHL.

Less known is the fact that the first Finnish ice hockey artist – in Finland, to play learn the – NHL-contract offer received Esa Isaksson. This happened also immediately after the championship since 1969.

true. The paper is still there and signed on, he told me.

Carl Brewer recommended

St. Louis assistant-GM Cliff Fletcher even visited Finland several times Isakssonia to see.

He coaxed hard, but I said I’d take care of students first.

Isaksson, however, never taalajäille left. Hockey world at that time was very different than it is today. NHL hockey was a lot bloodier, and the finns had little information.

– There could have become the head of the arm in the first game of the after. I admit, that would have gone to bunny pants, but I had two children and the family.

HIFK’s championship season 68-69 player’s coach, three-time Stanley Cup -winner, Carl Brewer working isaksson’s reference as the NHL’s direction.

Not that she was my direction that told me. But I was a skill player, and I guess Kalle had considered that I could make it there.

super talent

oven fresh, in the 1969 championship of the background in a book HIFK helsinki of the Kings isaksson’s teammates characterize him praised for an excellent tone:

– 1960-70-chapters gear the best central striker in Finland, quite the virtuoso virtuoso. A great skater, playmaker and scorer. Team attack game liideri, just an incredibly good player. Super talent, extremely skilled with a bat and skates.

Isaksson, had it wished, could have been the first in Finland to the NHL shifted to a hockey player.

I’m not terribly noisy, but it warms me.

Lasse Oksanen camps

the NHL salary was, of course, better than in Finland, but the difference was not anywhere as large as it is today.

Lynx elegant and skilful striker Lasse Oksanen went to Carl Brewer, the popular atmosphere in the NHL-clubs ‘ training camp in 1970 and 1971.

He got both times the contract offer, the first Vancouver Canucskilta and then the St. Louis blues of the evening, but they did not satisfy the economic Branches, which game job, working in Tampere, gas station entrepreneur.

Oksanen palpation of the after passed, still half decades, until the Matti Hagmanista became the first in Finland, reel-to learn in to play in the NHL.”Hakki” played his first NHL matches Boston bruins in the ranks of 7. October 1976.