12 | SAM MAGAZINE 2/25 Where hockey meets home: 25 years of friendship across the Atlantic By the 1999-2000 season, Hawks’ parents John Wert and Pertti Rinta-Panttila, had launched a unique youth hockey exchange between the Hawks and Antti’s home club, Viikingit, in Helsinki. That program has continued every year since, becoming one of the most enduring and special cultural exchanges in youth sports. On Saturday, 12.4.2025, about 40 youngsters (and about 60 parents or siblings) arrived from the USA, playing in three teams. The three-day tournament culminated in the finals on Saturday, 19.4.2025; one of the Hawks teams finished fourth, one won silver, and one won gold. “This program is a combination of cultural exchange and youth ice hockey,” says Pertti. “The base idea has always been that traveling players - around 12 to 13 years old - stay for about nine days with families from the hosting team. As far as I know, this is the only youth hockey cooperation done this way.” A Program built on cultural exchange and family bonds That home-stay element has proven to be the heart of the exchange. "It creates strong bonds between the players, and between the parents,” Pertti continues. “It enables a deeper understanding of cultural differences and what ‘real life’ looks like in another country. This fantastic, long-lasting effect creates automatic excitement in both clubs, the young players really look forward to these two exchange years.” John agrees. “The most special part of the experience is that the players live with families from the other country,” he says. “Families open their homes and learn from each other, both the similarities, like a shared love of hockey and probably the same video games, and the differences in homes, traditions, and daily life.” Preparing for new experiences and lifelong connections And thanks to modern technology, the connections begin even before the plane takes off. “Now, the players and parents can meet virtually beforehand, something that definitely wasn’t possible in 1999!” John laughs. “It helps ease the nerves and builds anticipation.” For the American families preparing for the trip to Finland, the excitement is mixed with curiosity. “We talk to the players about cultural differences, but they really gain confidence through those virtual meetups,” says John. “The kids can’t wait to play international hockey. Parents are often surprised by how easy it is to get around Helsinki and how welcoming people are. And they’re relieved that English is so In 1998, Finnish engineer Pertti Rinta-Panttila relocated to Pennsylvania for work, bringing his young son Antti along. Like many Finnish kids, his son was an avid hockey player and soon found himself skating with the Haverford Hawks. But what started as a family adapting to life abroad quickly turned into something much more lasting and meaningful. ■ LENA GRENAT, PICS: VESA LAHTINEN John Wert and Pertti Rinta-Panttila KULTTUURI JA ILMIÖT
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