England might be facing Brexit, but there is little doubt Hockey East is bidding to become a card-carrying member of the European Union.
A record 110 players in Div. 1 college hockey call Europe home. In the 2013-14 season, that number was 37. There are 28 Europeans in Hockey East alone. The influx also has made its way to the broad spectrum of Div. 3 teams.
UConn and Maine boast representatives from seven countries (including the U.S. and Canada), followed by Boston University, UMass-Lowell, New Hampshire and Providence with four each. Boston College, UMass, Merrimack and Vermont have skaters from three countries.
UConn coach Mike Cavanaugh would not be faulted for making a contribution to the Berlitz Language Center. The Huskies feature six players from five European countries. This holiday season, UConn passports were stamped on trips home to the Czech Republic (two skaters), Slovakia, Sweden, Russia and England and Canada. All three UConn goaltenders hail from the European Union. One gem up front is forward Ruslan Iskhakov of Moscow, a clever 5-foot-7 skater who was drafted in the second round last year by the New York Islanders.
“The top Boston kids take scholarships less than what we offer,” said Cavanaugh, well aware of the lure of the Beanpot tournament. “So we decided to go to Europe to get our skill. Next year, we have two more coming in forwards Matej Blumel (Czech Republic) and Vladislav Firstov (Russia), and both are currently in the top five in scoring in the USHL.”
BU defenseman Kasper Kotkansalo has continued a pipeline of players from Finland that began when former Terriers assistant coach Pertti Hasanen was serving on Jack Parker’s staff. One of the first Finnish players to don the scarlet and white jersey was Ville Kentala, who scored the first goal on opening night of Boston College’s Kelley Rink on Nov. 1, 1988. These days, Kotkansalo teams on the blue line with fellow Euro product Hugo Blixt of Linkoping, Sweden.
“For me, it was a little bit different because I came out of the USHL (Sioux City) so that was sort of my transition year. That really helped me,” the 6-foot-3 Kotkansalo said. “As far as trends go, I think its giving an opportunity to some European players. More scouts are going to Europe to watch players. For me, coming from Espoo (Finland), there was a long list of players going to college in the United States, and that set the trend for me. ”
Kotkansalo grew up watching and later playing for the Espoo Blues under-20 team. Among the Blues alums is Ahti Oksanen, who played four seasons (2012-16) at BU. Kotkansalo’s best friend is current Providence College winger Kasper Bjorkqvist, also of Espoo.
“It gives us an opportunity because the opportunity is so good, the facilities are better than at home, and of course, the studies are very, very good,” Kotkansalo said. “The hockey is also stronger, faster and more physical. I think the American mentality is more physical. Certainly, you have to keep your head up more than at home.”
Another Hockey East program with a rich tradition of importing European skaters is UMass-Lowell. Three former River Hawks — Laurent Meunier, Yorick Treille and defenseman Baptiste Amar — backboned the French national team the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Others like defenseman Christian Folin are skating in the NHL. This season, junior defenseman Mattias Goransson of Slottsbron, Sweden, and senior goalie Christoffer Hernberg of Espoo provide a continental flare to the Mill City.
Hernberg, 23, began playing in his hometown on the larger ice at Matinkyla Gardens rink but favors the smaller U.S. sheets.
“I definitely think that the brothers (Mattila) at BC and Kotkansalo at BU and Bjorkvist at Providence are pushing the U.S. guys. For sure, the Europeans coming in is a new trend and are competing for spots and making the teams,” Hernberg said. “I think for me, I like the small rink. It’s more straightforward, more stop and go than it is in Europe.”
Boston College features three players from Finland, including siblings Julius and Jesper Mattila and center Aapeli Rasanen.
“For me, the transition was easier than for the other guys because my twin brother (Jesper) came with me. So that helps. … I couldn’t be happier (at BC). It’s nice to be around this city of Boston and to be playing in one of the top leagues in all of college hockey,” said Julius Mattila, 21. “Most of the guys have never even seen Europeans or Finns. It’s a good culture here with the team. I’m more than happy.
“We start speaking the English language in third grade back home, so everything has been good. Hockey-wise, the pace is pretty high and the studies are good here,” Mattila said. “When we (Finns) get together, the conversation usually is about the food back home. I was excited to go back home for the holidays because my mother loves to cook.
“Culture-wise, the most interesting thing over here was your Thanksgiving. We don’t celebrate it back home. So it was good to get invited over to the other guys’ houses and eat all the food. That was fun.”