He was only 29 years old. This Sunday evening, former ice hockey player Janne Puhakka, who played for Gap during the 2017-2018 season, was found dead in his own house in Espoo (Finland). Retired since his time in France, the Finn was, according to initial police evidence, murdered by his companion, a 66-year-old Norwegian veterinarian.
“We suspect that this was a deliberate act and was carried out in a particularly brutal and cruel manner,” said Inspector Matti Högman, head of the investigation. It was a passerby who called the emergency services, before several police patrols went to the scene. Leaving the apartment, the suspect was arrested “calmly” and placed in police custody. He was to be questioned this Monday.
After playing in several Finnish clubs, notably the Espoo Blues, Janne Puhakka ended his career at Gap, in the French first division. He only stayed there for one season, in 2017-2018, before retiring. After hanging up his skates, he revealed his homosexuality, a rare occurrence in international ice hockey. He spoke of the difficulty of living in secret from his teammates.
