Jesper Piitulainen reflects on wild career as he leaves Jukurit: “More interested in canned beer than hockey”

Longtime Mikkeli Jukurit forward and captain Jesper Piitulainen has opened up about his unconventional path in Finnish hockey, admitting his early career was marked by a greater passion for partying than the sport itself. The 34-year-old, who will leave Jukurit after a decade in the top league, spoke candidly in an interview with Finnish broadcaster Yle ahead of his farewell game.

Piitulainen, a product of SaPKo’s youth system in Savonlinna, was once considered a prodigy—skilled enough to play alongside older teammates despite his small stature. His aggressive style and fearless approach, even against larger opponents, made him stand out. But his transition to professional hockey in Mikkeli came with early struggles, including a reputation for prioritising nightlife over training.

“In my first season with Jukurit, my coach Jarno Pikkarainen later admitted I was more interested in canned beer than defence,” Piitulainen recalled. His move to SaiPa in Lappeenranta in 2012 marked his Liiga debut, though his attitude remained relaxed: “I’d think nothing of having a beer on Sunday morning, convinced it wouldn’t affect Monday’s practice.”

The turning point came under Risto Dufva, the demanding coach who took over at Rauma Lukko. “If you weren’t at your absolute best, you weren’t in the lineup,” Piitulainen said. “That’s when I realised I had to change—until then, beer had tasted better than hockey.”

After refining his discipline, Piitulainen followed Dufva back to Mikkeli in 2016, helping Jukurit secure promotion to Liiga. Over ten seasons in the top flight, the team reached the quarter-finals twice but never contended for medals—a fact Piitulainen calls a “dream still unfulfilled.” His career included adapting to seven different coaches, each with distinct systems, and mentoring younger players to avoid the mistakes he once made.

Now, as he prepares to leave Jukurit, reports suggest a move to Kuopio’s KalPa, though Piitulainen declined to confirm: “The next club will announce it when the time is right. For now, we’ll finish this season and reflect on what’s been a colourful journey.”

Off the ice, Piitulainen has settled in Mikkeli, building a home for his family—including his one- and three-year-old children. Any future relocation, he insists, would be a joint decision: “If hockey takes us somewhere, we go together.”