Looking Good In Red - Raimo Tuominen

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It is the biggest stage. The Victory Hockey League. This is hockey at its finest where the sport’s top stars thrive. Many players from around the world look to make a name for themselves in the VHL ranks. Whether a red-faced rookie in the Victory Hockey League Minors or a noted prospect plying their trade in the Victory Hockey League Europe, everybody has hockey dreams. Even those at the top have dreams of lifting up the Continental Cup with their team, cementing them as the best hockey team at that very moment. The Victory Hockey League is a league that was fueled by the dreams of its founders and is now driven by the dreams of its inhabitants.

 

Raimo Tuominen has always envisioned his hockey dreams in blue. The young winger turned center used to be a spunky kid who loved to score and outspeed everybody. His youth teams all wore blue. Growing up in Finland, he watched the likes of Granlund, Barkov, the Koivus, and most prominently, Teemu Selanne don blue jerseys for the national team. Wanting to be a proud Lion himself, Raimo made it a goal to represent his country. He got the chance to play internationally, though as a part of Team Asia. While he is focusing on making a VHL roster, he would still love to be a part of a Finnish national team someday.

 

Then, there was the Tappara team in Tampere. Even though his dad played for TPS Turku, Raimo ended up being a Tappara fan. He always dreamed of wearing the blue sweater and scoring in the Finnish league. Eventually, he’d pull on the jersey of his dreams. Though, he’d do so with the Junior C and Junior B SM-sarja teams. Wearing blue proudly, he went out and eventually made the Liiga at the age of 16. Now, he was wearing what he felt was the best blue in Finnish hockey, second to the national team of course.

 

“I’m finally bleeding blue.” He said once he made the Liiga.

 

Here Raimo was, having achieved his goals in Finnish hockey, barring Tappara’s finals loss to HIFK that season. Raimo could continue on his path; carpeted in the blue that he was so familiar with. Still, there was uneasiness in Raimo. Something felt off. Yes, he had made it to the league that he watched endlessly as a kid. He went from a kid on the sidelines to a young boy beginning to thrive in the rink. However, part of Raimo was getting tired of the blue. He had been playing in it for so long and got accustomed to it. He wanted more. He wanted to face the best. After conquering his goals for Finnish hockey, he set his sights on the best leagues in the world.

 

Sigard Petrenko suggested the VHLM. Raimo attended a combine and also contacted various GMs in the league letting them know he was interested in being drafted. After months of waiting, he got the call from the Houston Bulls. Then he pulled on his first red jersey. No longer was he wearing the blue of his youth. This was the time for a new Raimo to emerge. One with fiery passion and endless determination. Despite struggles, Raimo showed promise in the VHLM and was considered for both the VHLE and VHL draft. Now, the VHLE draft is before the VHL draft but we are going to ignore that and talk about his VHLE draft. Raimo was selected by the Oslo Storm, pulling on a second red jersey and hoping to redefine himself once again. In the VHL draft, Raimo was given a red jersey that he hopes to wear again outside of the draft.

 

It’s time for Raimo to bleed red.