Fans gather in Tampere for historic NHL games featuring Dallas Stars and Florida Panthers

Nicole Hetrick, a fan from New Jersey, has painted her nails in the colors of her favorite NHL team, the Dallas Stars, showcasing a blue cross flag on her middle fingers and the number 24 on her ring fingers, representing the jersey of Finnish forward Roope Hintz. Her admiration for the Stars grew after watching Finnish defenseman Miro Heiskanen play a few years back, despite New Jersey having its own NHL team.

Hetrick joined a gathering of Stars fans at the NHL fan event in Tampere’s Central Square, where the Dallas Stars will face the Florida Panthers in two games over the weekend. She relocated to Finland seeking a genuine hockey experience and expressed her excitement: “We play hockey back home too, but everyone loves it here.”

Hetrick’s connection to Finland began when she was around ten years old. Originally intending to choose the UK for a school project, she ended up selecting Finland after her first choice was taken. Enthusiastic about snow, reindeer, and Santa Claus, she remarked, “It’s so amazing to be here!” She is particularly eager to experience the atmosphere of an NHL game in front of a Finnish audience.

This weekend’s games represent the Stars’ first matches outside North America. Hetrick is looking forward to hearing the Finnish national anthem and hopes to see a Stars victory.

Many American hockey fans have also traveled to Tampere for the games, including Al Nunez from Texas. He shares a deep-rooted admiration for Jere Lehtinen, a former Stars player, and despite the cold weather in Finland, he is enjoying his visit, noting the cleanliness of the country and the friendliness of its people.

The game on Friday between the Florida Panthers and Dallas Stars begins at 8 PM, with a rematch scheduled for Saturday at 6 PM.