Today, Huittinen waves goodbye to it's biggest star. 

Local hockey hero Miro Slapskinnenen declared for the SMJHL Draft and will leave home for the big, bright lights of professional hockey. Everyone knows little Miro as "the boy with the hockey stick". Everywhere he went, he always had a hockey stick. Whether he was at a restaurant, a movie, or a funeral... it didn't matter. Miro always had his stick with him. He first drew the eyes of scouts when he won our local hometown team, the Huittinen Fishermen, the nationwide secondary school championship in overtime. He used his now patented move, the Slapskinner to deke out the opposing defensemen and flick an easy goal top shelf. It even made SportsCenter in America! It is our towns biggest accomplishment and always will be.

We all knew this day would come. We began to see more and more scouts coming to Fishermen practices. We didn't want to accept that he was destined for bigger things, but everyone knew. He was a big time leader for everyone in our town, and his humbleness and poise are great examples for how our children should act. Miro showed us all that with a lot of hard work and determination, along with a hockey stick, we can accomplish anything.

So long Miro. Have a lovely career.