The team made me feel like I was at home right away in the locker room. There are a few people within the organization that also have connections to Finland, and they were thoughtful enough to put a small standing version of our flag in my locker. It was a small gesture that means a lot to me on a personal level. That is the sort of care and consideration that has greeted me at every turn within management and my new teammates alike.

I spent a lot of time in different locker rooms back home, but this feels completely different. The energy in this league is off the charts, and my teammates all seem to be as committed to improvement as I am. After most of the excitement wore off in the locker room, I got acquainted with the facilities and spoke with the staff. They've already been hard at work to help me shore up some of the weak spots in my game and improve on my strengths.