It’s almost 7,000 kilometres from Tampere, Finland to Olds, Alberta. Quite a road trip and it’s one which was made by Olds College Bronco Jenna Suokko.
The 20 year old forward is in her first year playing hockey in the ACAC but she has been strapping on the blades since she was four years old.
“I got interested in hockey because my older cousins played hockey and my dad played hockey,” she said. “I was already excited to play so I just wanted to start playing.”
She suited up the last five seasons in the Women’s Finnish League before coming to Olds and skating for the Broncos.
“I had heard from many Finnish players who had played college hockey who said it was an experience you need to get. We don’t have any college hockey in Finland.”
She was contacted by Broncos coach Sarah Hilworth and right away was excited at the prospect of coming to Canada to play hockey. That excitement continues to this day.
“It’s been a great time and I’ve really enjoyed my time here. I knew the rinks were smaller and the game is really physical and that’s the style I like to play.”
The hockey has been along the lines of what she expected it to be and she has found the net seven times this season but getting a firm understanding of the school system and the usual cultural difference have been a challenge for her.
“There have been a few surprises,” she said.
Another challenge she met head on was playing hockey for her country in the Nations Cup tournament this past January in Berlin.
“It was such a great experience and I’m always proud when you can represent your country,” she said.
She had represented her division one team in other international events but this was special to be wearing the blue and white of her nation.
“Anytime I can wear my country’s hockey jersey it tells me I’ve done a good job and good work.”
The payback for all the hard work in the arena was wearing the jersey but for the team there was a battle against Team Canada they will use to build on.
“What was special was not that we lost to Team Canada but we made it to overtime. We knew it was a really good game for us and we proved that we are moving closer and closer to North American teams, Canada and the USA.”
The gap between teams like Finland, Sweden, Russia and other teams is still obvious but Suokko says the key for them is to really be a team in order to succeed.
“We need to be the world’s best team and we need to be the world’s hardest working team. We haven’t as many players as you have here in Canada and we can’t have the best individuals so we need to have the hardest working team.”
Once she wraps up this school year she says she would love to come back to Olds and play another year.
“I haven’t talked about this yet with Sarah but we’ll see what happens.”
Rubbing shoulders in the ice with Canada’s best has helped her gauge her own progress as a hockey player when she plays against other teams in the ACAC.
“It tells me where I am and where my goals are as a hockey player.”
It’s possible one of those goals is right here in Central Alberta so no need for a road trip back to Finland.
