<div align="center"> Finnish Line: Up Close & Personal with Prospect Joakim Lindqvist </div>
Erik Koskinen with Finnish Line: May 31st, 2017 4:03 PM CST (USA)

We were able to ask some questions and get to know prospect Joakim Lindqvist before the upcoming SMJHL draft. All interviews are translated from Finnish to English.

The upcoming SMJHL draft class is a big one. It is tough trying to figure out who is who. Here at Finnish Line want to give you the inside scoop on a Finnish player like Joakim Lindqvist. Still a kid at 18 years old, Lindqvist is excited for the S35 SMJHL Prospect Showcase in St. Louis, MO. He will be a long way from his hometown of Taivalkoski, Finland, but he knows it is necessary for the next step in his career.

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Joakim Lindqvist hopes to be a household name. He knows it will be a lot of work, but he is confident to be drafted and start strong. We have already heard about his leg injury and how he has played in Finland in our previous article on Lindqvist, This Finnish Man can Finish, so we have decided to get a more in-depth, personal look at this 6' 1", 185lbs. youngster.

We want to get to know you, Joakim. Give us a brief introduction of yourself.

Alright, boys. I'm Joakim Lindqvist. I am 18 years young from Taivalkoski, Finland. I started playing hockey when I was only 5 years old. My parents have always been hockey fans and my dad played hockey for Finland. At home, we had hockey on all the time. I was able to learn from watching hockey on TV, my parents teaching me the game, and playing it myself. I started as a winger, but my dad always told me I was a natural-born center, so at 12 years old, I switched to center and have been playing there since then.

What are your thoughts on the upcoming showcase in Missouri?

I'm excited. The only times I have left Finland is during the World Selects Invitational and to visit family I have in Norway, Sweden and Russia. I've never traveled across the Atlantic, so I'm pretty pumped. This will be the first major competition I have been in since my injury during the April Fools Tournament, so I'm going to have to come out flying. There will be a lot of talent playing in this showcase and I'm hoping to meet everyone in this upcoming draft and make some new buds.

What are some pregame rituals or superstitions you have before hitting the ice for game time? Do you have any pregame meals you always eat?

Well first off, I never go black on black stick tape. White on white is okay, but the ideal tape is always black bottom, white top or vice versa.This came from the one time I did both black on top and bottom, my favorite twig broke on my first shift. Second, I have to listen to Africa by Toto while gearing up. Africa is the best song I have ever heard and I genuinely think it is the greatest song ever created. It gets me in the zone and ready to go. Finally, after warm ups, I take off my sock tape and throw it away in honor of my favorite Fin, Teemu Selänne. As for pregame meals, I love to cook up some beercan chicken, sided with mashed potatoes, green beans, and corn.

What are your favorite things to do outside of sports?

I love playing piano. Mozart or Chopin are my favorite composers. Give me some sheet music and I'll sit there for hours just jamming. Other than that, I'm big on gardening. I enjoy getting outside and growing some vegetables. I'm a firm believer that celery is the best vegetable that has ever been on this earth, so I grow my own. My parents own a greenhouse, so I love to grow tomatoes and peppers in there. Once I'm able to harvest all of my veggies, I start cooking. I cook all of my meals and rarely eat at restaurants or at fast food places.

If you didn't play hockey, what profession would you want to get into?

Without a doubt, I would love to be a music teacher. Specifically, I would want to teach piano to others. I think everyone needs to know at least one musical instrument. I've always liked teaching and having face-to-face interaction with others. So if I was able to teach piano to kids or even adults I would love to do that.

What are your favorite movies and television shows?

My favorite movie of all time has to be Christopher Nolan's The Prestige. It has such a star studded cast and a phenomenal story to go on top of it. I mean, Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, AND Michael Caine in the same movie? Plus, Scarlett Johansson has to be one of my top celebrity crushes. Throw them all in the same movie and you have some cinematic gold. As for television, Game of Thrones. I've only started season five, so no spoilers, please!

Any final thoughts you want to leave us with?

Unless you have any other questions, I just want to say thank you for this interview. I had a lot of fun and I'm glad I could help you out.

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Parting Thoughts

Joakim Lindqvist has a bubbly personality and loves interacting with people. Interviewing him was a blast for the entire team here at Finnish Line. Aside from his personality, on the ice, Lindqvist is a threat. He has passing, speed, vision, and can score himself. From watching him play, he looks for the pass. He is a team oriented player who is still able to put up points. He takes pride in his team's success and isn't looking for personal glory. We are hoping to get more information on Lindqvist after the S35 SMJHL Prospect Showcase and the SMJHL draft.

With the SMJHL draft just around the corner, we are happy to provide scouts with insider information on top Finnish prospects here at Finnish Line.