Detroit Red Wings
Former Red Wings Player Cleared of Racism Charges
Pulkkinen denies charges
Former Detroit Red Wings forward Teemu Pulkkinen was accused of uttering racial epithets at a Japanese opponent during a recent German Second Division game.
Playing for Starbulls Rosenheim against Düsseldorf, Pulkkinen was kicked by the skate of opponent Yushiroh Hirano. Hirano was ejected from the game.
Following the game, Hirano accused Pulkkinen of racially abusing him.
Although he’s not made any public comment about the incident, Pulkkinen did make an official statement to the league. According to his team, Pulkkinen categorically denied uttering any racial slurs at Hirano.
“Regardless of the current situation, the Starbulls Rosenheim and Teemu Pulkkinen expressly and unequivocally condemn all forms of racism. Due to the public accusations and the potential damage they may cause to the player and the club, we are currently examining the possibility of taking legal action against these unfounded accusations,” the club said in a statement.
Ermittlungsverfahren gegen Teemu Pulkkinen wurde eingestellt
Der Spieler und die Starbulls Rosenheim sehen sich in ihrer Sach- und Rechtsauffassung bestätigt und freuen sich, dass nun wieder der Sport im Vordergrund steht.
📸 Leo Bauer pic.twitter.com/q5NtgzDXO9
— Starbulls Rosenheim (@starbulls) January 8, 2026
The league announced that its investigation found no evidence of Pulkkinen uttering any racial abuse toward Hirano.
“Taking into account all available evidence, the league was not convinced that licensed player Teemu Pulkkinen had committed a punishable offense during the verbal altercation with his opponent in the 39th minute,” the league’s statement read.
“The case is therefore closed.”
Since joining Rosenheim, Pulkkinen has contributed 8-13-21 totals in 18 games.
Not The First Controversy This Season For Former Red Wings Forward
Pulkkinen perviously caused a stir in his homeland in the fall when he returned to Finland, signing with Kiekko-Vantaa, his hometown team. They play in the Metsis, the Finnish Second Tier.
Locals were unhappy with the decision. That’s because Pulkkinen had opted to play in Russia’s KHL after the country invaded Ukrained in 2022. The former Red wings player was the only Finn to play in the KHL after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Vor dem Hintergrund der aktuellen Berichterstattung rund um den Spieler Teemu Pulkkinen und der Szene aus dem Spiel gegen die Düsseldorfer EG nimmt der Starbulls Rosenheim e.V. Stellung:
Hier gehts zur ausführlichen Stellungnahme 👉 https://t.co/nV7naglu35#stellungnahme pic.twitter.com/QyExvxZyEr
— Starbulls Rosenheim (@starbulls) January 7, 2026
His return home wasn’t well-received due to that decision. Pulkkinen was booed during games. Companies pulled out of their sponsorship deals with the team.
The team stuck by Pulkkinen, and he rewarded that loyalty by bolting the club in late October to sign with his current German team.
Pulkkinen played 70 games for the Red Wings from 2013 to 2016, accounting for 11 goals and 20 points. He’s also put up successive 30-goal campaigns with the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins in 2013-14 and 2014-15.
Rosenheim is Pulkkinen’s sixth club since 2023.
