<div align="center">SO APPARENTLY you can't edit titles after you post? #themoreyouknow Anyway, this article is now ready for grading.</div>
<div align="center">SMJHL Draft Profile: Mikael Talo
POSITION: C DOB: February 1st, 1997 SHOOTS: Right JERSEY NUMBER: 3 HEIGHT (ft.): 6"1 WEIGHT (lbs.): 182 BIRTHPLACE: Rauma, Finland
PROFILE
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Finland has recently been producing a great crop of rookie talent, and the young Mikael Talo is not one to be overlooked. What the willowy center lacks in physicality he makes up for in speed; his lightning-quick reaction time serves him well in faceoffs. Teams looking to take a chance on the skilled but unpolished center could reap a significant profit from his considerable upside potential.
Talo has now spent several seasons training within the Rauma facility's prospect development program, where he spends his off-season training with brothers. A middle child and late bloomer, Mikael grew up playing pond hockey in a small suburb outside of Rauma with elder brother Christian and younger Onni.
Coaches initially passed Mikael over in favor of his siblings, both more physical presences on and off the ice, but quiet wallflower Mikael continued to diligently work in the background.
"Definitely a chip on my shoulder," Talo says. "Bad enough to be smaller and weaker than Christian, but once Onni started to catch me, I decided--no more. I would have to find a way to win anyway."
Coach Makeupa Finnishnamenen, Talo's youth coach at the Rauma facility, was the first to see the potential in Talo. "Coach had a big talk with me," Talo recalls. "He said, 'Your hands are fast, but your feet are slow. But I see you watch everyone, have a quick mind, the heart. The drive. The feet we can fix.' And he did."
Finnishnamenen switched Talo away from trying to add physical bulk early, starting him on intensive puck-handling and explosive reaction drills. High school English lessons suddenly had hockey vocab mixed in. Watching film became a family constant, Christian and Onni often joining in. In addition to his ice time, much of Talo's time was spent in the classroom studying plays. "I'm stubborn," he jokes. "But the studying really gave me a confidence I didn't have before. I like the routine."
It's rare to find a 6'1" escape artist, but with most of Talo's early start spent training as small finesse player, he comes in with the ability to truly become a well-rounded candidate. "It was a weakness that's turned into a strength," Talo said. "And I'm tall, but I'm still not a big guy, not in the pros. I'm just not built that way."
When asked about how he intends to improve, the normally reticent Talo had lots to say. "I'm aware that my defensive play, especially checking, is a weak point for me." he said. With a wry grin, he adds, "Accuracy in passing, building my strength and endurance. I know I still have a lot to learn, and I'm looking forward to getting a chance to do that at a high level."
PLAYER ATTRIBUTES (as of 2016-3-11)
CK = Checking: 40
FG = Fighting: 25
DI = Discipline: 62
SK = Skating: 62
ST = Strength: 55
EN = Endurance: 58
PH = Puck Handling: 60
FO = Face Offs: 62
PA = Passing: 55
SC = Scoring: 67
DF = Defense: 51
PS = Penalty Shot: 40
STRENGTHS
As a center sniper, Talo excels in scoring, faceoffs, and puck handling.
WEAKNESSES
Talo lacks skill in checking, both reception and delivery.
QUESTIONS
Get to know the prospect: Talo will answer any questions posted to this thread.
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A warm and hearty thank-you to everyone for all of your great questions! Keep an eye out for an in-depth look at Talo's time with the Outlaws in the Draft Prospect Showcase. Talo is also occasionally available for questions on his Twitter (@mikaeltalo).
Why is Finland the best country in the world? Especially, how much better is it than Norway?
Well, our language family is definitely the coolest--one of the most unique languages in the world (instead of stealing willy-nilly from the Danes and Swedes). Way better for gossiping about...certain people. Also, those hockey saunas are LEGIT (but I don't think that was ever a question).
***I only know all of this because [my older brother] Christian picked school over hockey after his ACL tear. I'm full of useless knowledge.
What are your hopes for the SMJHL draft?
I want to be drafted to a place I feel has a good atmosphere and is a great fit for my playing style.
We're seeing a huge crop of Finnish players coming over to North America to play in the SHL and juniors lately. Fellow draft-prospect Ilmari Määttä mentioned that the two of you have played together before, but have you played alongside any of the other Finns who have been drafted into the league in the last few seasons?
Ilmari and I both played with Bennett [Jones] on our U18 team. Watching him go first-round was incredible and surreal, but he has--just a great attitude. He's a real leader, and watches out for other players to make sure everyone is involved and fitting in. He's basically the team dad.
Are there any older Finnish players who served as an inspiration to you when you were growing up?
Maybe it's funny for me to list a goalie, being a forward, but I think my favorite historical Finnish player is Upi Ylönen, just because he changed so much about the sport in Finland. I don't think we would have been anywhere near as competitive without him becoming a world-class goalie and then using that knowledge to develop young talent.
Have any teams contacted you yet?
Looking to get some insider draft information, huh?
Haha, I'm just messing with you! I've been contacted by Raven and Copenhagen of the Montreal Militia as a prospect. Listening to the other guys in the locker room talk about being courted is awesome, but you don't really know how it feels until it happens to you.
And it feels good. Definitely validates the time and training it took to get where I am, knowing that I could potentially be looked at as part of a team's future.
Have you contacted any teams? Remember to be proactive.
I've personally reached out to the Firebirds, since my buddy Jones has had such a positive experience there. I know not everyone values them to do as well this season, given their rocky regular season start and their near-miss in the playoffs last season, but the ability to rally as a group and make such a great turnaround between the start and end of the season speaks to a great training staff and awesome locker room environment.
However, I definitely plan to reach out to more teams. We're looking at a strong draft class, and since I'm coming in a bit late to the game, I know I'll have to really step up and impress some people in the short time leading up to the draft--which naturally includes sitting down with multiple teams, scoping out the situation. Everybody who knows me knows how I like to do my research!
What do you bring to a team off the ice?
I like to think I'm a steady and calming presence for a locker room. I can usually keep a clear head, even in tense situations, and I like to joke around a bit behind the scenes and defuse stress when it inevitably happens.
Are you nervous about making the transition to North America?
I would be lying if I said that the adjustment hasn't been on my mind. With the differing ice size, the North American game tends to be more physical, which hasn't been a strong point for me in the past. It's also the furthest I'll have been from home for any length of time before, no matter where I go--I completed my mandatory military service in a civil position pretty close to home.
Ultimately, though, coming to North America was my choice. It's what I've been studying for and what I dreamed about as a kid. I know that there will be challenges in making the switch, but plenty of other European players have had success in North America--I wouldn't have come if I didn't think I could make an impact in the league.
Which SMJHL teams do you feel have the best logos?
Definitely the Scarecrows--that dude is seriously straight out of a horror movie. I would probably say the Firebirds for the second, and Knights as the third.
Quote:Originally posted by lil@Mar 11 2016, 09:12 AM Why is Finland the <s>best</s> [b]worst, coldest, most boring country in the world? Especially, how much better is it than Norway?
We're seeing a huge crop of Finnish players coming over to North America to play in the SHL and juniors lately. Fellow draft-prospect Ilmari Määttä mentioned that the two of you have played together before, but have you played alongside any of the other Finns who have been drafted into the league in the last few seasons? Are there any older Finnish players who served as an inspiration to you when you were growing u p?