OTTAWA – Christmas break, in Aatos Koivu's family, is a “pretty big deal.” On December 24, we welcome the aunt and cousins on the maternal side. The next day, we go with the grandparents to Papa Saku's brotherhood.
Is there by chance a friendly outdoor hockey game on the schedule? “The 25th, always! », replies the young blond with a big smile.
This year, however, Koivu would have happily departed from tradition.
A few weeks after being drafted by the Canadian, the 18-year-old Finn set himself the goal of representing his country at the World Junior Hockey Championship. Without saying that it was in his pocket, he ticked the first boxes to get there. At the end of July, he was included in the group that went to participate in a preparatory tournament in Michigan. He then followed up with a good start to the season in Liiga, the first major championship in Finland. And in November, he collected three points in four matches at the U20 Five Nations Tournament.
It was at this precise moment that he hit a wall. And when he recovered from that metaphorical collision, it was too late.
He is therefore not in Ottawa today as his country prepares to launch its World Juniors against Canada. CH will ultimately only count on one hopeful at the tournament, Swedish defender Rasmus Bergqvist.
“I caught mononucleosis in November,” explains Koivu in an interview with RDS. I felt seized up for the last two matches of the Five Nations Tournament. I didn't say anything to anyone at the time, I wanted to play. But when I got home, I suspected something was wrong. I was really sick, my neck was swollen. I went to the doctor, had blood tests done, and then the diagnosis came. »
Koivu says he was knocked out. for a little over a week. He then resumed training gradually, protected from physical contact because his spleen was slow to return to its normal size. He had been on the sidelines for four weeks when he was given the green light to return to action.
He first got back into the swing of things by joining the TPS Turku U20 team. At the same time, the leaders of the national team were finalizing the composition.
“When I got sick, I thought my chances of making the team were 50-50. It was frustrating and stressful, I didn't know what awaited me. When the guys started getting the call and I still didn't hear back, it hit me. The coach contacted me four days before the team left for Canada. He told me that I hadn't had enough matches to demonstrate my potential. I was disappointed because it was one of the goals I had set for this year. »
“I'll never know if I would have made the team if I hadn't had mono, but I can't help but think it made a big difference. »
Progress in Liiga
Koivu's season may have been cut short, but it is not without progress.
Last year, the center player split his time between the TPS U18 and U20 teams. His good performances among the U20s – he collected 31 points, including 16 goals, in just 28 games – even earned him a four-game recall to Liiga, at just 17 years old.
This season, Koivu is spending most of his time with the pro team. In 19 games, he has six points to his record. This is a very acceptable performance considering his age and the fact that he passed the ten minutes mark in only five games.
“I think this year I feel a little better, it’s a little easier,” he says, emphasizing the quotation marks. Last year I was smaller, I wasn't as physically strong. In every facet of the game, I feel like I'm a better player today. But the gap is still big with the U20 level. I definitely wouldn't say it's too easy! I still have to work hard to become a better player among men. »
Turku, which ranks 12th out of 16 teams in the Liiga standings, will play three games during the period Koivu dreamed of spending in Ottawa. For the Canadian's third-round pick, auditions for the next edition of the World Juniors have already begun.
“I was saddened when I learned that I was not accepted, but quickly I decided not to feel sorry for myself. My goal is to spend the rest of the season in Liiga and try to get a better role there, one step at a time. I will train harder than ever to ensure I am selected next year. »
