Little Rantanen lands his plane in Mississauga

[Jolline 13]

Eeli Rantanen, the one that got away in the NHL draft has chosen his path to pursue pro hockey players dream in VHL. Currently undrafted Rantanen is rumoured to be signed to the Mississauga Hounds for his first season before the upcoming draft concludes. We managed to catch him in Helsinki-Vantaa airpott before his flight to the US. 

 

So, why did you leave your NHL dream to pursue VHL? 

- Easy, they didnt appreciate me like they should have. Im as good as Patrik Laine on the ice but im several inches smaller and slightly lighter than him but other than that im as good as he is. It makes me furious how people undermine size. Take Nathan Gerbe for example, playing in the NHL and he is way smaller than me. That makes me furious how hypocrite some of the GMs are in the NHL

 

Are you excited to leave abroad to play hockey? 

- Of course, its a whole new chapter in my career. I have only played here in Finland and the same halls every other week have started to make me sick. Hell, I might even know every janitor of every skating hall here, so a change in that is a pleasant one

 

Do you have any pressure being little brother to Mikko? 

- I dont know where these accusations come from. Mikko is very talented young player, and so am I. But we are way different in style of play and we of course are not going to play in the same league so I dont think that really matters. So the answer is a fat no. Now ive got a plane to catch, so im done here

 

Thank you Eeli and good luck!