The Kraken Are Going International: Seattle Heads to Finland in November
Mark your calendars, 12s. The Seattle Kraken are officially heading to Europe for the first time in franchise history. The NHL announced Monday that Seattle will face the Carolina Hurricanes in a two-game series in Helsinki, Finland next season, with games scheduled for Nov. 12 and Nov. 14 as part of the league's Global Series.
A Historic First for the Kraken
This is a big moment for a young franchise. The Kraken are heading abroad in their sixth season of existence, marking their first international games ever. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes are making their second trip overseas but their first since 2010. It is the kind of opportunity that shows how far the Kraken have come since joining the NHL.
A Homecoming for Some
Here is what makes this even cooler: both teams have Finnish players on their rosters. Seattle has Kaapo Kakko and Eeli Tolvanen, while Carolina features Sebastian Aho and Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Kakko, Aho, and Kotkaniemi are all under contract for next season, so expect some serious hometown pride when the puck drops in Helsinki. Playing in your home country in the NHL is special, and these guys will have that chance.
The NHL Goes Global
This is not the first time the league has taken games overseas. The NHL has hosted 42 regular-season games in Europe since 2007, and there are two more coming in December when Ottawa and Chicago square off in Duesseldorf, Germany. Veikkaus Arena, formerly known as Hartwall Arena, has been the site of seven previous European games, most recently in 2018 when Florida and Winnipeg played there.
So mark those dates. The Kraken are heading to Helsinki and making history in the process.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.