19th Finland Exchange Hockey Tournament Begins In Haverford

HAVERTOWN, PA – For the 19th year in a row, the Haverford Hawks, a youth ice hockey club in Havertown, are hosting the Viikingit Ice Hockey Club (Viikingit) from Helsinki, Finland, for the annual Finland Exchange Tournament which kicks of Thursday, March 29 at the Haverford Skatium.

Three Viikingit teams with more than 40 players traveled from Helsinki to Delaware County for the 10‐day cultural exchange and hockey tournament.

The Finland Exchange was established in 1998, when the newly‐immigrated Rinta‐Panttila family joined the
Haverford Hawks and suggested that the club invite the Viikingit for an end‐of‐season tournament.

Since then, the Hawks and Viikingit teams and their families have welcomed one another into their homes on alternating years for the tournament and cultural exchange.

The 2018 Finland Exchange is a USA Hockey‐sanctioned tournament with 12 Pee Wee‐level teams from throughout the Delaware Valley and New Jersey.

The spring tournament is comprised of players ages 11 to 13 and is widely‐recognized as "one not to be missed."

At the time of registration, one coach state, "We are looking forward this unique experience to play teams from afar without leaving our backyard"

The Haverford Hawks is proud to sustain this nearly 20‐year connection with the Viikingit Ice Hockey Club. The cultural exchange has been the foundation for friendships and life‐changing experiences for players ‐‐ and parents.

The tournament schedule is below:

• 8:30 p.m. to 9:50 p.m., Thursday, March 29 – Hawks AA vs. Viikingit AA
• 5:30 p.m. to 6:50 p.m., Friday, March 30 – Hawks B vs. Viikingit B
• 8:30 p.m. to 9:50 p.m., Friday, March 30 – Hawks A vs. Viikingit A
• 11:30 a.m. to 1:20 p.m., Saturday, March 31 – Finals: Kapanen A Division 2 (2 Divisions recognize Finnish players who play or played in the National Hockey League)
• 1:30 p.m. to 3:20 p.m., Saturday March 31 – Finals: Sinisalo B Division
• 4:40 p.m. to 6:20 p.m., Saturday, March 31 – Finals: Timonen AA Division

All games will be played at the Haverford Skatium, located at 1002 Darby Road in Havertown. Game results will be posted on the tournament Facebook page here.

Finnish players arrived in the area on March 26 and were treated with a welcome event that night at the Haverford Community Recreation & Environmental Center. The Finnish players also took a trip to New York City to see the sights before the tournament begins.

Sponsors of the exchange include The Westover Companies Jefferson (Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University) and the Daniel P. Hantula Memorial Hockey Fund.

Image via Shutterstock