The Columbus Blue Jackets will play a pair of 2020-2021 regular season games against the Colorado Avalanche in Helsinki, Finland, as part of the 2020 NHL Global Series, the NHL announced today.
The CBJ will face off against the Avalanche in Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland, “later in the fall,” according to a press release. The Nashville Predators and Boston Bruins will open their 2020-21 seasons Prague, Czech Republic, as part of the 2020 Global Series.
Columbus currently boasts four Finns in the organization in Markus Hannikainen, Joonas Korpisalo, Markus Nutivaara and Veini Vehvilainen. General Manager Jarmko Kekalainen also hails from Finland.
The Blue Jackets opened the 2010-11 season in Stockholm, Sweden, where they split two games against the San Jose Sharks.
An NHL.com story quoted Kekalainen:
“The Columbus Blue Jackets are proud and excited to be participating in next year’s NHL Global Series in our 20th season as a member of the National Hockey League,” said Kekalainen, a native of Kuopio, Finland. “It means a great deal to me personally, knowing how passionate Finnish hockey fans are, to be a part of bringing our team to the place where my NHL dreams began as a young hockey player.”
Ticket information and dates will come at a later date.
Who’s ready for a long road trip?