Saku Koivu Biography

Saku Koivu, Athlete

Occup.	Athlete
From	Finland
Born	November 23, 1974
Age	49 years

Saku Koivu, born on November 23, 1974, in Turku, Finland, is a retired specialist ice hockey gamer who is extensively considered as an extraordinary athlete and a motivating leader. His journey in the world of ice hockey is noted by commitment, perseverance, and strength.

Koivu's passion for ice hockey started at a young age, and also he quickly climbed via the ranks of various Finnish young people hockey teams. His superior ability was recognized early, and in 1992 he joined the SM-liiga group TPS, based in his home town of Turku. His outstanding efficiency, especially during the 1994-1995 season, gained him the distinguished Golden Helmet and Golden Stick honors.

In 1993, Koivu was prepared 21st overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL Entry Draft. However, he postponed his transfer to North America, selecting to stay with TPS for a couple of even more seasons. His NHL debut in 1995 saw him become the first European to captain the Montreal Canadiens, a testimony to the leadership qualities that would define his hockey profession.

Throughout his 14 years with the Canadiens, Koivu won several specific distinctions, such as the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for his humanitarian contributions and also the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for his gamesmanship and dedication to the sport. Nevertheless, in 2001, he was detected with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a sort of cancer cells. Regardless of the severity of the medical diagnosis, Koivu influenced millions as he fought his back onto the ice, making a remarkable go back to the Canadiens' line-up in the 2001-2002 season. Following his resurgence, he developed the Saku Koivu Foundation, which focuses on raising funds and recognition for cancer cells study.

In July 2009, Koivu signed an one-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks, where he would certainly take place to invest the final five seasons of his profession. Playing alongside the similarity Teemu Selänne, one more Finnish ice hockey legend, Koivu showed his remaining power, generating career totals of 255 goals, 577 aids, and 832 factors in 1,124 NHL video games.

Globally, Koivu represented Finland in numerous significant events, including the Winter Olympics, where he won a bronze medal in 1998, a silver medal in 2006, and one more bronze in 2010. A four-time participant in the Ice Hockey World Championships, he aided Finland win gold in 1995 as well as silver medals in 1994, 1999, as well as 2001.

After retiring in 2014, Koivu has concentrated on his family members, in addition to kind efforts with his structure. He is wed to Hanna Koivu, and they have 2 kids, Ilona and Aatos. Throughout his profession, Koivu was understood for his skill as a playmaker, his incredible vision, and his indomitable spirit. As a testimony to his excellent job and also his payment to the sport, Koivu was sworn in into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017.

On The Whole, Saku Koivu's fabled job is one marked by triumphs over hardship. His tradition as an athlete, leader, as well as cancer survivor remains an ideas to hockey followers as well as athletes around the world.

Our collection contains 8 quotes who is written / told by Saku.

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8 Famous quotes by Saku Koivu

"You always need younger guys if you're going to be successful in the long term"

"We found out tonight how important and how crucial momentum swings can be. I thought we were playing very well. We were doing a lot of positive things but then we lost the puck two times in our zone and things swung their way. You can't afford to give teams momentum"

"It goes way, way back when we were under Sweden's rule. We always think they are better than us. We played against them so often for so many years. Every country has one opponent they want to beat and for us, it's Sweden"

"I felt like an outsider. The only time you get to really know guys is on the ice, and I couldn't be there"

"The most important thing is to stay positive"

"It's been tough for me being away from the game"

"Whatever the reason is, I hope we can finish talking about the Olympics. It's gone, it's behind us. The schedule wasn't proper for players who went there and there is some fatigue in a lot guys' play right now"

"I always knew where I was going eventually, so it helped me to stay at home for three years. It helped me to develop my game. But it also helped me off the ice. Life here is way different, and I was able to get older"