Mikko Koivu fights three Russians in Finland v. Russia game from Czech Games

by nathaneide on Apr 25, 2011 10:52 AM CDT in News

In yesterday's Finland v. Russia game from the World Championships, there was a bit of a scuffle in which Mikko Koivu participated, and frankly, looked a bit overmatched in battling Maxim Afinogenov, Evgeny Artyukhin and others. Yeah, it was a ridiculous three and four on one battle where Mikko found himself on the wrong end, but held his own as well as can be expected. Oh, and Mikko, Tuomo Ruutu and other Finns took off their lids while the dirty, cheating, stinking Russians wore their helmets and half-shields.

Don Cherry should hold Mikko & company as examples of a fine upstanding gentleman.

Yep. The Finns play a great North American game and are shining models for the hockey community.

Oh, and the entire thing was started by a nasty blow to the head perpetrated by Tuomo Ruutu. It's the kind of play you'd expect from Jarkko Ruutu, not Tuomo. Guess the international game still has some work to remove head-shots.

EHT 2010/11: Fights Evgeny Artyukhin vs Finland (via videoKHL)

EDIT: @jbk_ltd (LTD from Canes Country) let me know on Twitter that it wasn't Jarkko, but Tuomo who laid the nasty hit. Thanks Jamie!

EDIT 2:16PM (BReynolds) As is the case with some of this IIHF hockey, the American audience does not always have all the details. I checked in with PuckWorlds' Bruce Peter for the details:

It was part of the Czech Hockey Games, the fourth installment in a series of friendlies held throughout the season between the top 4 European nations: Russia, Sweden, Finland and the Czechs. Each team plays each other once in four separate tournaments. This one is essentially the final tune-up for the World Championships, the other three feature all European league players.

It's technically just international friendlies, but they count them towards something. It's called the Euro Hockey Tour. Russia won the tour, Czechs won this tourney.

So, not technically part of the WC, but in the same buildings, and serving as a tune up. Enjoy the fight, anyway, OK? OK.

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Jarkko was still playing for the Ducks

Though he got suspended in the process for the hit in Erat.

I posted this video yesterday on Twitter and FB then this morning on From Abdelkader to Zuccareallo.

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by MMcAlister on Apr 25, 2011 10:59 AM CDT reply actions

It's not exactly what one expects from the World Championships

Proprietor of Hockey Wilderness - We take Minnesota hockey WAY too seriously.

by nathaneide on Apr 25, 2011 11:05 AM CDT up reply actions

Oh I know

Did you see the video from I think the U18 – where a fan jumped the during the Canada/Russia game to join in the scrum?

Come to think about it – Russians were involved in both – maybe a new precedent the Russians are trying to set to push KHL and rid the “Soft Euro” badge?

Usually during the international comps they say to watch out for Teams USA and Canada for their physical play – time to add Russia officially to that list?

Contributor at The Hockey Writers, Detroit Sports Nation and The Sin Bin Chonicles.

by MMcAlister on Apr 25, 2011 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions

Great Koivu gets his Ass Kicked, hopefully he did not get concussed

As he got worked over something fierce.

Blood and death are waiting like a raven in the sky
I was born to die
Hear me while I live
As I look into your eyes
None shall hear a lie
Power and dominion are taken by the will
By divine right hail and kill

Man-o-war

Death to Technowild the Scarecrow & MKIA the Dopey dwarf #7

by FightingWild on Apr 25, 2011 11:03 AM CDT reply actions

Fighting three Russians will do that to you

Proprietor of Hockey Wilderness - We take Minnesota hockey WAY too seriously.

by nathaneide on Apr 25, 2011 11:04 AM CDT up reply actions

Agreed

Next time Mikko is in that situation he might want to drop his gloves and swing rather than taking a beating.

by M.Maguire on Apr 25, 2011 6:13 PM CDT up reply actions

I’m just glad Mikko didn’t rip his hand apart pounding that Russian’s windshield

by Hockeyfan_Miller on Apr 25, 2011 8:33 PM CDT up reply actions

There has to be a “In Soviet Russia” joke in there somewhere…

by ThatGuy22 on Apr 25, 2011 11:12 AM CDT reply actions

Typical Russia

Trying to overwhelm the Finns with numbers while the Finns fight fiercely back

Special Agent 00Zero
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by JMarushin on Apr 25, 2011 11:40 AM CDT reply actions

I.E.

The Winter War, round 2

Special Agent 00Zero
Hockey Wilderness Fantasy Team: 12th Legion

by JMarushin on Apr 25, 2011 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions

Finns kicked Russian ass

in the Winter War… but not so much in that fight.

Maybe now that the Ducks are done Jarkko will join the team. I don’t think Saku Koivu nor Teemu Selanne have any intentions of going to World – I think they retired fron the national team after the Olympics (though I could be worng).

Contributor at The Hockey Writers, Detroit Sports Nation and The Sin Bin Chonicles.

by MMcAlister on Apr 25, 2011 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions

Yeah they did!

Finnish Ski Troops housed their ass for most of that war until the end basically.

Sucks that Mikko got punched in the face so many times, but good to see him mix it up and protect some of his guys even if they did deserve it with that hit.

Special Agent 00Zero
Hockey Wilderness Fantasy Team: 12th Legion

by JMarushin on Apr 25, 2011 1:37 PM CDT up reply actions