Connect with us

Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings Prospect Carrying Hot Hand, Wearing Heart on Stick

Kiiskinen has seven points in four games

Published

2 weeks ago

on

Jesse Kiiskinen, Red Wings prospect
Red Wings prospect Jesse Kiiskinen has seven points in his last four games for Finland's HPK.

Every time he takes the ice this season, Jesse Kiiskinen is offering hope to Detroit Red Wings fans of good things to come. And every time he’s going over the boards for his next shift, Kiiskinen is carrying with him a subtle reminder of how fleeting it all can be.

Before each game, the Finnish winger scrawls the word “Virru” on the shaft of his stick. Next to it, he draws a heart.

Niklas Virtanen is a forward with Finland’s Lahti Pelicans. Up until this season, he and Kiiskinen were teammates on the Finnish Liiga squad.

They would work out together in the offseason and hang out together in their free time.

“We are really good friends,” Kiiskinen told Finnish website Ilta-Sanomat.

In the summer, a lot would change in Kiiskinen’s hockey world. His rights were traded by the Nashville Predators to the Red Wings. Back home he was also switching clubs, joining HPK.

Friends Become On-Ice Foes

He and Virtanen would face each other as opponents for the first time in an early-season game between Pelicans and HPK.

“We played against each other for the first time this season, and we had a little laugh before the puck drop,” Kiiskinen said. “Five seconds later he crashed into the wing, and it went badly for him.”

Virtanen suffered a badly broken leg. He’ll be out of action at least a year.

Enduring a long hospitalization, Virtanen’s spirits were lifted by the frequent visits of his friend Kiiskinen. He’s sought to return the favor during his recovery process.

“He sends me lots of good-luck messages,” Kiiskinen said.

In return, Kiiskinen began inscribing all of his sticks with Virtanen’s nickname and a heart. It was a way for him to keep his friend on the ice. As well, it would be serving as a constant reminder of how quickly life can change. Dreams and legs can easily shatter.

“It’s been quite difficult for him,” Kiiskinen explains. “This injury is a big blow for him.

“I’ve tried to be as supportive as possible, help and talk.”

Red Wings Prospect Carrying Hot Hand

Those sticks that he inscribes daily with a subtle message to never take anything for granted are serving Kiiskinen well. At the world juniors, he would score six goals while helping Finland earn a silver medal.

Since returning to the Liiga, Kiiskinen is maintaining the hot hand. In four games, he’s compiled two goals and five assists, with at least one point in each game. He would net a power-play goal Wednesday as HPK was blanking Karpat 3-0.

Kiiskinen’s season ledger is showing 10 goals and 19 assists in 30 games. He’ll be back in action Friday as HPK is facing KalPa.

Related Topics: