– I couldn’t believe it. Ilmari Pitkänen’s eyes go blank as he looks out and points over the ice rink in front of him. On Monday morning, he was called by a Finnish journalist. His former hockey colleague Janne Puhakka had died, he heard. Pitkänen played ice hockey together with Puhakka for the elite league team Espoo Blues in 2016. On Wednesday evening, he and thousands of others gathered for a game here in the ice hall in Helsinki. Before tonight’s match started, Puhakka was honored with a minute’s silence. – It was powerful to see the whole hall be silent in honor of Janne, says Pitkänen to news today. In here, 8,000 people observed a minute’s silence for Janne Puhakka on Wednesday evening, says Ilmari Pitkänen. Photo: Håkon Benjaminsen / news First openly gay Finnish man Janne Puhakka (29) was found dead in his home in Espoo outside Helsinki on Sunday 13 October. His former partner, a Norwegian man in his 60s, is charged with murder. Puhakka had played ice hockey at the top level until 2018. In 2019, he became the first male player to come out as gay. The former hockey colleague says that Puhakka changed after he spoke publicly about his orientation. – I certainly saw a change in him. He was happier, he enjoyed life more, says Pitkänen to news. – I can’t imagine how stressful it must have been, not only as a player, but as a person, to have carried such a big secret. – He is one of the bravest players in Finland, says Pitkänen. Photo: Janne Puhakka / Janne Puhakka / SWNS Wanted to build bridges The murder of Janne Puhakka has shocked many in Finland. All ice hockey games in the Finnish top league honored Puhakka with a minute’s silence on Wednesday. “An important role model” wrote top series Liiga on Instagram. Athletes news has been in contact with describe Puhakka as an “icon” and as someone who worked for change in what they call an often masculine and old-fashioned sport. – It was a huge loss for the queer community, says Annu Kemppainen, head of Helsinki pride. – Janne’s openness was important because this is so rare, says Annu Kemppainen. Photo: Håkon Benjaminsen / news She worked with Puhakka this summer. He was then an ambassador for pride in the Finnish capital. – Janne’s openness was important because this is so rare, says Kemppainen. – The hockey environment and the queer environment are really far apart. So I think Janne tried to build bridges between these two environments. Still few openly queer As Finland’s first openly gay male performer, Puhakka received enormous attention in his home country. He used that attention to work for queer rights, says Kemppainen. Several news talk to in Espoo and Helsinki also point in particular to the work Puhakka did for queers, not just during his time on the ice. – He was the guy who broke down the door, says Topi Nättinen. – He was the guy who broke down the door, says former ice hockey player Topi Närtinen. Photo: Håkon Benjaminsen / news He is a former ice hockey player and commentator in the Finnish newspaper Yle. According to him, there are still few men who come forward as queer in Finnish sports. – People’s reaction after Janne’s death shows that he was an even bigger role model than I thought, he says. A lot of work remains in Finland, emphasizes Närtinen. – Janne is still the only man who has stood out in ice hockey, he says. – It is still very difficult to come out as gay in Finnish men’s sports. But I think the culture has changed. It hasn’t changed as quickly as I’d hope, but it’s happening. Photo: Håkon Benjaminsen / news Back in the ice rink in Helsinki, Ilmari Pitkänen looks out over the ice. A group of young hockey players skate back and forth, pass the puck between them. – Nothing will change immediately. But Janne was so brave to talk about this, says Pitkänen. – That is his legacy. He brought color to a rather old-fashioned hockey culture. Published 18.10.2024, at 22.58
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– One of the bravest players in Finland – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
