Illustrative photo – Finnish ice hockey player Juhamatti Aaltonen (left) rejoices after scoring a goal against the Czech Republic at the Swedish Ice Hockey Games in Malmö on February 11, 2023.
Mladá Boleslav – Mladá Boleslav extra-league hockey players will be strengthened by the 37-year-old Finnish national team forward Juhamatti Aaltonen, world champion in 2011 and bronze medalist from the Olympic Games in Sochi 2014. The three-time Finnish champion last worked in the Jukurit Mikkeli team, his last appearance in the national team was in April in preparation for the world championship. In the end, he did not make it to the final nomination.
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“In my eyes, we have a relatively young team, so I wished for someone more experienced. Juhamatti has already done a lot, but he is still very determined and interested in trying new things,” said Bruslař's sports director Martin Ševc on the club's website to the address of the player who will be thirty-eight this week.
Aaltonen played the last season for Jukurit, where he was the captain. In 51 games, he collected 34 points for ten goals and 24 assists. He previously played for Oulu, Lahti, Jokerit Helsinki or IFK Helsinki. He also worked in Sweden, Switzerland or the KHL.
“Mladá Boleslav showed interest in me and I thought – why not? I never played in the Czech Extraliga, but I always liked it. I like the style Czechs are thinking about hockey,” said Aaltonen, who does not yet know much about the new location. “What do I know about Boleslav? That Škodovka is there and it's not far from Prague,” smiled the experienced forward.
Aaltonen is the second Finem, whom the Bruslari hired for the next season. They already announced the arrival of striker Matti Järvinen.
