Having a great breakout season with Frolunda Gothenburg, Artturi Lehkonen was chosen to make his debut with the Finnish national team in December. He spoke about that experience, as well as about beating Lulea Hockey in the CHL Quarter-Finals, and he looks ahead to the Semi-Final against HC Davos.

by Karolina Antosova, with contribution from Efraim Larsson

Times are good for Frolunda Gothenburg right now. The Swedish club is tied with Skelleftea AIK at the top of the Swedish Hockey League standings and, just like last season, will play in the CHL Semi-Finals. And Artturi Lehkonen will be there again. The 20-year-old Finnish forward experienced the CHL playoffs last year, but this year he is definitely playing a bigger role in the big games. 

His offensive numbers have improved this season – he has 25 points in 32 SHL games and 10 points in 10 CHL games, including one assist in Frolunda's win over Lulea that put them into the Semi-Finals.

“It was a good one for us, of course, as they every time we scored came back even. But I think we showed a lot of character by always getting back to it and scoring that next goal that we needed,” he said immediately after the game. “It was going back and forth all the time where we had our amount of chances and I think that we capitalized on them pretty well. I mean, we scored five goals today and when you do that you should expect to win.”

In last couple of months Lehkonen has been playing unbelievably, which led to his selection to the Finnish national team, for whom he made his international debut at the Channel One Cup just before Christmas. 

“Yeah, I don't know what expect there more than going out and having fun. It's a huge honour to represent my own country and it'll be fun going there, doing everything I can,” he said looking ahead to his first game with his national team.

After the game, which Finland won 3–0 in Prague against the Czech Republic on December 17, he said, “Being there for the first time was quite fun, actually. It was a pleasure for me. I was little bit nervous in the beginning, but after a few shifts it was better. As the game went on, it was much easier. I really enjoyed it. But most of all I’m satisfied with the win we gained during my first game – that’s the most important thing.”

You played many games for the Finnish national junior team. Last year you were the captain during the 2015 World Juniors in Canada. How would you compare the international hockey experience at the men’s and junior levels?

“I think it’s a pretty big difference between the two. Here with men all the guys are much more mature with the puck, they don’t make that many mistakes. With the juniors it’s such an up and down game and everybody wants to go all the time to show it. So it’s a really big difference if you ask me.”

Were you surprised when you heard you made it to the roster for the Channel One Cup?

“It's likely because I had a really good beginning of the season, but of course I wasn’t 100% sure I’d make it. So it was still a little bit a surprise, but I was hoping or expecting I could have got a chance.”

Was it hard for you to adapt to a new hockey style you had to play with the national team?

“It was quite different compared to the Swedish league. We have a little bit different style of play in Sweden, so I was always thinking whether I’m doing this or that right. But overall hockey is hockey.”

As you said, you’re doing quite well with Frolunda in the SHL. But why did you decide to go there two years ago?

“I guess I needed a change somehow. I’d been playing in the Finnish league already two and a half years, so I thought it would be maybe a good time to try to seek out another challenge which would help me develop my game.”

But being a young Finnish gun in Swedish team must have been really hard for you, at least at the beginning. Do you speak Swedish?

“I do speak Swedish, but . . . it’s quite complicated (smiling). Finland and Sweden have many rivalries with each other, so that made it a hard decision for me to be a young Finnish player playing in Sweden. But I think it was a good decision for me to go there. I love the place where I am now.”

With Frolunda you’re doing really well not only in the SHL, but also in the CHL, where you have made it to the Semi-Finals. Do you appreciate the chance to prove yourself in the international club championship?

“Oh yes! It’s really fun. At the beginning it’s still summer, and when you travel with your team to face opponents from different leagues you bond as a team. It’s a really good system. I hope that the CHL gets bigger and bigger every year.”

In Quarter-Finals you beat Lulea Hockey. I guess you must have been really satisfied to eliminate them.

“It was a huge win for us and actually for the whole organization. Lulea have a really good team, they beat us last year in the Final so it was kind of a payback. And this season we want to make it to the Final again.”

You’re only one step away from your goal. You need to beat HC Davos first. What do you expect from them?

“Actually I have really no idea what to expect,” he finished with a smile.