Matti Takala - Junior Review

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Matti Takala: From Turku to Philadelphia

Turku, Finland has been home to some of the greatest Finnish players of all time. The Koivu Brothers, Miikka Kiprusoff, all of them were household names in their playing days. Matti Takala hopes to add himself to that list someday.

 

Growing up in Finnish hockey culture, Matti Takala never stopped thinking about hockey. Thoughts of ice and pucks would sit in his thoughts quietly and he’d occasionally find himself drawing gameplans instead of writing school work. Matti only dreamed of making it to the SM-Liiga at the beginning, playing for TPS Turku and representing his hometown proudly. Donning the black jersey and scoring goals like he had been his whole U18 career.

 

Then he saw the VHL players.

 

VHL players were faster and stronger than SM-Liiga players. They hit harder, skated faster, shot the puck more accurately. It was like falling in love with hockey all over again. Matti set a new goal after watching the VHL players. Make it to the VHL, whatever the cost. If that meant flying halfway across the world, sobeit. If that meant waking up at 3am and training until 9pm, he’d do it. Whatever the cost.

 

As an 18-year-old, Takala had settled comfortably into the U20 TPS Turku team, acquiring an ‘A’ as well. In 47 U20 SM-Liiga games, Takala scored 23 goals and tallied 35 total points. His contributions to the U20 TPS team did not go unnoticed, with his callup to the SM-Liiga occurring midway through the season. Takala got his first taste of professional hockey in the SM-Liiga with TPS Turku. With a stat line of 3-1-4 in 4 games played, Takala showed great promise as an offensive force. He showed the crowd in the stands his potential to be an elite goal scoring forward, and he intended to break any ceilings that stood in his way. Matti Takala was not afraid to skate through fire to achieve his dream of making it to the VHL.

 

Takala’s dream recently became much closer to reality. Domini Maximus, general manager of the Philadelphia Reapers, called and asked if Takala wanted to start his VHLM journey. An offer no pro player can decline. Takala took the offer within a heartbeat. He’d have celebrated that night, but he had a game to play. He took to the ice for what could be the last time with TPS Turku and celebrated his signing with his teammates after a 4-1 win over JYP. Matti Takala has worked hard and he’s more than ready to kick it into overdrive for the VHLM.

 

Anything to get to the VHL and achieve his dream of lifting the Continental Cup.