This past weekend was quite a busy one for our boy Yessa! Jesse Puljujarvi and a handful of friends from the NHL and Finland got together to play a sold-out charity game for the Tornio hockey club, a team that Puljujarvi played for as a youth before moving to Oulu at the age of 13 to chase his dreams with the Karpat hockey club.
Here’s some info that has been passed on to me via some very helpful Finnish sources!
The Jesse and Ville Allstar game was played yesterday in Tornio. The game was between the all-star team and the Tornio IHC team. All the profit goes to help children and youth hockey in the area.
Puljujarvi has himself played in Tornio before moving to Oulu aged 13. Puljujarvi ended up having two goals in the game that ended 10 to 4.
Puljujarvi played together with Sebastian Aho and Janne Kuokkanen (both drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes). Pekka Rinne was in goal and said he put the game in his calendar already in winter. He shared the goal with Emilia Saarela who won silver in women’s Liiga.
After the game they had a skill.competition. Puljujarvi came second on the hardest shot (125 km/h).
He was happy with the game and said that everything ran smoothly. In the evening there was an action (NHL jerseys etc.). The main piece was a wooden piece with a torched picture of Jesse and Ville. It was sold for 1300 euro. link
What a piece of art that is eh?
This charity match has been in existence for a couple of years now and during last year the event made 24,500 Euros for junior hockey. One item sold was a Connor McDavid jersey for 2000 Euros.
I wonder how much Pulju’s uni went for?
I’ve been told that Puljujarvi is feeling extremely good about this upcoming year and he expects to play a much bigger role in the team in 2018/19. He is much more cognizant of the importance of said season and that he feels 100% ready to do what it takes to take things to the next level.
Love the confidence being shown here by Jesse! I hope he gets a proper opportunity because I don’t trust Todd McLellan NOT to sabotage it. It’ll be Pulju’s 3rd pro season and his first full-time year (hopefully). It’s time to put him where he’s going to succeed and stick with him through the highs and lows.
I’m feeling a Pastrnak/Rantanen breakout from Jesse this season and it’s going to be amazing!
Another little birdy told me he might be using a shorter stick this season and possibly moving away from the Warrior Covert QR Edge. I’ve been promised some proof of this but it’s yet to emerge.
Until then we wait!
