WELCOME HOME: Misa Pietilä

Interview new import players: by our home reporter

Often our current players from our premier league team are already fairly well known. But this season we have also welcomed international new players. Men who sometimes move to the Netherlands with spouse, family or household (pets) and give everything for our beautiful ice hockey club. We kicking of this special series with Misa Pietilä. 

Hello Misa, can you tell me more about yourself? Who are you and where are you from?
I am 30 year-old, positive, and pretty laid back guy from Helsinki, Finland. I like crime or thriller movies, with unexpected twists and my favourite music genre is modern country. I like good jokes and and I watch stand up comedy every now and then.

Most of the people don’t know this, but for one year, I also did horseback riding when I was around 9-10 years old.

What are your fovourites?

My favourite food is sushi and my dream holiday destination is Bali. As a Finnish person, I might look like uninterested and pissed, but I am pretty much always in a good mood. I’ve played ice hockey the longest, but when I was younger I played football for many years and I still play tennis as a hobby. Most of the people don’t know this, but for one year, I also did horseback riding when I was around 9-10 years old.
 

 

Misa with Anna and Lana their dog visiting Groningen city. 

How did you grow up? Can you tell us more about your family and the town you are raised?
I was born and raised in Helsinki and that’s where I’m also currently living in Finland. My mom and dad, Minna and Timo Pietilä, gave me the best childhood a kid can wish for. I also have a sister, Mona Pietilä, who is 5 years younger than me. I am a dog person and we have always had dogs in our family. I think it had a big impact on me growing up. Later we moved to a city called Tuusula, when I was around 5 years old. There, I also started ice hockey. When I turned 9, we moved again to a city called Nurmijärvi and lived there for 12 years. It was a town outside of Helsinki, and a good neighbourhood to grow up. Me and my friends spent every summer and winter outside playing football, floorball, basketball, ice hockey…you name it. Sometimes my mom got mad at me, because I didn’t have the patience to go home for dinner but instead wanted to stay outside and play with my friends. 

I started ice hockey at the age of 7. That’s when my mom took me to my first practise. I even got injured on the first practise. I fell to the boards and hit my head.

How did you get introduced to ice hockey and goaltending?
I started ice hockey at the age of 7, and that’s when my mom took me to my first practise. I didn’t even have all the equipment and as a jersey, I had my dad’s old jacket. I even got injured on the first practise. I was near the boards and since I wasn’t the best skater, I fell to the boards and hit my head. So the practise were short and my mom drove me to the hospital for a check. Nothing serious, and I was good to go. 

Mistakes count and you are either the hero or the villain.

I was a player for approx. 1 year and after that, I decided that I want to be a goalie. I even remember my very first glove save. It was such a surprise, but a very cool feeling. So now I’ve stopped pucks for 22 years and I love the position because it is such a big part of the result. Mistakes count and, you are either the hero or the villain. 

Now that I think of it, the organisation reminds me of OG Capitals Leeuwarden. It was also a like a big family and all things and players were taken care of.

Where have you played in the past?
I started playing ice hockey in 2001 in a team called Shakers. The team didn’t exist for many years but was brought back to life in 2020. I have played all my junior years in Finland, but after I turned 22, I moved abroad and started a new chapter in my life and career. I moved to Austria and played 2 years in a team called EC Bregenzerwald. Despite the name of the team, we lived and played in a city called Dornbirn. Now that I think of it, the organisation reminds me of OG Capitals Leeuwarden. It was also a like a big family and all things and players were taken care of. All the people working for the team were super helpful and kind. Moving there and starting a hockey career in a different country was a big decision in my career and I’ve never regretted it.

After the years in Austria, I moved to northern Italy to play for Gherdëina. I lived in a small town called Ortisei and the place was basically just a huge ski resort. It located at the Alps and there was a ski lift at my back yard. Italy was a really beautiful place to play.The following year I received an offer from the first league in Norway, where I even got to play against some former NHL players. It was mentally really challenging season, because my team was promoted to the first league that season, but we didn’t have the material to play the big teams. We were losing a lot and as a person who wants to win, it is difficult to handle. Then the Covid-19 started. Our league was shut down shortly after New Year and I had to fly home and like the rest of the world, just  had to wait what was happening. Covid had a big impact on the ice hockey market, and I was not able to find a team for the season 20-21. It was also very difficult mentally, but I was lucky to find a team the next year.

I was moving to Marseille, France. Marseille was a really beautiful city, even though it is a bit wild. The facilities in Marseille were great and the crowd was loud. For away games we used to travel by sleeper bus, meaning we would leave friday evening, drive for the whole night and play saturday evening. The longest drive we had was 21 hours. 

They also served champagne like water in our games, it was so normal there.

Next season I still stayed in France, but moved a bit north. I signed with a team called Reims and it was about 1,5h drive from Paris. It was a bit more calm city and had beautiful, old buildings. Reims was in the champagne area and the city was surrounded with grapefields. They also served champagne like water in our games, it was so normal there. Among these cities and teams, I have also had short visits to Poland and Sweden to play hockey, but didn’t play full seasons there. All in all I have played in 9 different countries and I have got to meet some amazing people, made lifelong friends, learned and lived new cultures and played bunch of different styles of ice hockey. Can’t complain.

I started to look at OG Capitals Leeuwarden and saw that Leevi played there. Leevi told me all kinds of good things and now I have noticed that he didn’t lie.

How did you get in touch with OG Capitals Leeuwarden?
During the summer -24, my agent texted me about OG Capitals Leeuwarden and I was curious about the opportunity. I started to look at the team and the city and saw that Leevi, who was already a friend of mine, played there. I texted Leevi right away and asked his experience. Leevi told me all kinds of good things and now I have noticed that he didn’t lie. I answered my agent that I would like to hear more and maybe after a week I had a meeting with the board. I immediately felt a good connection and told my spouse Anna, that “it went well”. The negotiations went really smoothly and I was happy to join Capitals. I have said this already couple times, but the signing process with the Capitals, was the most professional I have ever experienced. 

With who did you make the trip to the Netherlands?
I traveled to the Netherlands with my spouse Anna. Anna was already with me in Reims, but this year we also have our 1,5 year-old australian shepherd Lana with us. We packed our car and took a ferry from Helsinki to Germany and drove to Leeuwarden. I’m lucky to have both of them with me. 
Anna has been working for L'Oréal for almost 10 years and she took a study-leave to be able to come. She is studying Business and IT and should graduate within a year. Anna is a huge support and helps out with everything. Lana is also enjoying herself as she gets to guard the house and see a lot of cats outside. Lana also loves people and we might bring her to the Elfstedenhal at some point.

I still also want to get better as a goalie and I have a good chance for that here.

You are in the goal a lot. But what is your goal this season?
My goal is to give the team the opportunity to win every game night. I can’t really score, but I will do my best to keep the house clean. I still also want to get better as a goalie and I have a good chance for that here. Of course my eyes are locked in winning the title, but there is a long road ahead first.

What is your goal for the future? Where do you see yourself?
I’m very bad at planning future, because I think by doing things right, I will end up where I’m supposed to be. I want to keep doing the things I enjoy and stay healthy. 

Misa, thank you for your comprehensive, open and honest answers. How lucky we are to get to know you better. We are glad you and Anna are one of the OG Capitals Leeuwarden family. Again, welcome to our club and bring Lana next time! Curious about Misa's live here in Leeuwarden? Follow Misa & Anna's vlog.