Kuntonen enjoying North America and Tigers experience

By JAMES TUBB on September 16, 2022.

jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb

It took Oskari Kuntonen his first week in Medicine Hat to get used to the North American rink now, he wants to play on it every night.

The Finnish forward was selected by the Tigers 51st overall in the 2020 CHL Import draft. He said finding out he was drafted was a moment he looked forward to.

“It was amazing, one of the dreams come true there,” Kuntonen said. “I would have liked to come here two years ago but with COVID, it’s been kind of rough getting here.”

Kuntonen turned 20 on Thursday and is competing for one of the three overage spots on the Tigers roster alongside Alex Drover, Brendan Lee and Dallon Melin. He said it would mean a lot to make the Tigers and play the whole season in Medicine Hat and the WHL.

“I hope that will happen, I just have to keep working hard and I think we’re going to have a great season with the Tigers,” Kuntonen said.

He spent the 2022-23 season with the KooKoo U20 team in the U20 SM-sarja league in Finland. In 24 games the Lahti, Fin. product had six goals and 26 points. He said the biggest adjustment has been the different rink size of Co-op Place compared to back home.

“It’s a smaller rink, so everything happens a little bit faster than in Finland,” Kuntonen said. “In Europe, there used to be wide larger rinks so games will be faster all the time. “

Kuntonen said it took his first week on the Hat ice to get comfortable with it but it will take the forward more time to fully adjust.

“Situations come so fast than I’m used to, so the accuracy all the time playing hard is the key,” Kuntonen said.

He dressed in the Tigers first preseason game and picked up an assist in a 7-3 loss in Lethbridge against the Hurricanes. Kuntonen said the team has welcomed him and made him feel at home.

“The group is amazing, everybody’s been great, really friendly,” Kuntonen said. “The coaches also, I had a good welcoming a couple of weeks ago. There’s no bad guys on the team, so the group spirit is really good.”

Tigers associate coach Joe Frazer said Kuntonen is not only good on the ice but is a great player in the room, something they’re looking for in their 20-year-old players.

“He’s a great kid, he’s smart and his hockey IQ is very high. Obviously it’s an adjustment coming over from Finland culture wise and everything. but he’s adjusted well,” Frazer said. “His teammates love him and we have four really good 20s. They’re all great people which you want in your 20s, they have to be great players but they have to be even better people to set the culture for the young guys learn from. It’s going to be a real tough decision.”

He said he’s enjoyed the area of Medicine Hat and loves the food but is a little concerned he’ll like it too much.

“The food is great, I think it’s going to make me fat during the season bod,” Kuntonen said. “It’s a little bit different than in Finland. Everything’s kind of spread out, you have so much land but it’s been great.”

Kuntonen and the Tigers wrap up their preseason action this weekend as they head to Swift Current tonight before they host the Broncos on Saturday at Co-op Place. Both games get underway at 7 p.m.

Frazer said it’s a big weekend for guys playing themselves into a roster spot or into bigger minutes.

“It’s a balancing act because you want to get prepared for home opener next weekend but there’s a lot of things with the lineup that still have to be sorted out,” Frazer said. “It’s a big weekend for lots of guys and lots of different reasons, whether it’s special teams, lines, D-pairs. It’s just a big weekend in general, and I think the guys are prepared and ready for it.”

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