Former Red Wings Forward Has Designs For Finland

The time Ville Leino spent wearing the uniform of Finland’s national team was much like his tenure with the Detroit Red Wings.

All too brief.

Leino spent three games wearing the lion of the Finnish jersey during the 2014-15 season. By comparison, his 55 games skating for the Red Wings from 2008-10 were an eternity.

Going through my jersey collection since I moved. I dare someone to have a more obscure jersey than a Ville Leino Red Wings jersey pic.twitter.com/6QPZhklbeh

— Polish Puck (@PolandHockey) February 7, 2024

These days, Leino has designs on a different career path, although it still has this habit of intersecting with his old career choice.

Case in point – the current IIHF world hockey championship.

Now a prominent clothing designer in his homeland, Leino, 40, is working with the Finnish national team and creating officially licensed apparel for both the national team and fans of the squad.

“Carrying the Golden Lion is always a matter of honor,” Leino told leijonat.fi. “It’s great to get to work with the Lions again.”

Leino’s clothing design company Billebeino came up with the both the design and the theme for the clothing being worn by Finnish players during the current world tourney in Czechia. It features the team logo from the 1995 tournament, which was the first time that Finland ever won the title.

“The 1995 world championship is the first and most important moment for many Finnish hockey fans,” Leino said. “I still remember the collared shirts and caps the players wore at the parties after the victory.”

Included in the Leino-designed collection are hoodies, sweatshirts, T-shirts and caps. The line made its debut with Finland’s team at the recently-completed world U18 championship.

Plenty Of Red Wings Connections With Finnish Squad

Leino is just one of many connections to Finland’s world tournament club that hold a tie to the Red Wings organization. Current Detroit defenseman Olli Maatta is skating on the Finnish blueline for the third time in four world tourneys. He’s wearing an alternate captain’s A for the Finns.

As if I wasn't having enough good fortune @leijonat, I am so excited to start the next chapter of my career with an original six @DetroitRedWings organization, just want to thank everyone who has touched my career and helped me get to this point. Thinking of you all!🤝 https://t.co/n4Inrslel3

— Oliwer Kaski (@KaskiOliwer) May 28, 2019

Also on the defense for Finland are former Grand Rapids Griffins Vili Saarijarvi and Oliwer Kaski. Another ex-Griffins player, Harri Sateri, is in goal for the Finns.