Canadian Bantam AAA Hockey Team 2007 Visit to Finland

JESK · Post by **JESK** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 10:53 pm

I represent a Canadian Bantam AAA Hockey Team interested in visiting Finland for a 7-10 day tour with the ability to play 4-5 friendly games in Dec 2007-Jan2008.
This is an exploratory email not knowing which teams to contact and which cities tour. Would like any information in this regards since we are in the process of putting together our proposal for our organization.
Any information would be helpful.
Thanks

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sinikettu · Post by **sinikettu** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 1:55 pm

JESK wrote:I represent a Canadian Bantam AAA Hockey Team interested in visiting Finland for a 7-10 day tour with the ability to play 4-5 friendly games in Dec 2007-Jan2008.

Thanks

Without knowing the standard of your team it is difficult to advise you..

The Finnish Top League is not far behind NHL.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SM-liiga

All the teams have junior squads and they are also high standard.

Howver if you want to set your sights a bit lower then perhaps a lower league is where to start.
We have a few Canadian coaches here perhaps you could contact one of them.

HIFK has just taken on a Canadian ...Head Coach: Bob Francis
http://www.hifk.fi/engindex.php

Mattlill2000 · Post by **Mattlill2000** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 4:55 pm

http://www.ita-helsinginkiekko.fi/
IHK, Helsinki

This is probably your best bet. IHK or Eastern Helsinki Hockey has hosted many teams and the guy to contact is Mika Herranen. PM me and I could give you his number or find it in the website above. A class organization.
AAA over there is similiar to AAA over here but over here when the kids turn 15 they leave junior hockey and go into adult hockey, eg. C Junior and then B and A Junior.
The biggest difference with the Junior hockey here is that full body contact is not allowed until the age of 14, but for 12-13 year olds there is a sort of partial contact acceptance. However many teams do hold practices with full body contact so an arrangement could be made for tournament play.

JESK · Post by **JESK** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 6:57 pm

sinikettu wrote:
JESK wrote:I represent a Canadian Bantam AAA Hockey Team interested in visiting Finland for a 7-10 day tour with the ability to play 4-5 friendly games in Dec 2007-Jan2008.

Thanks

Without knowing the standard of your team it is difficult to advise you..

The Finnish Top League is not far behind NHL.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SM-liiga

All the teams have junior squads and they are also high standard.

Howver if you want to set your sights a bit lower then perhaps a lower league is where to start.
We have a few Canadian coaches here perhaps you could contact one of them.

HIFK has just taken on a Canadian ...Head Coach: Bob Francis
http://www.hifk.fi/engindex.php

Thanks for your quick response. By that time of the year our kids will be 14 years old and currently ranked top 10 North American AAA Minor Bantam team. I will take under advisement and try and talk with some others. Thanks again...Jim

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