Ice hockey is not a very popular sport in Spain. Despite this a young goalie from Barcelona has been one of the brightest stars of Women's National League, SM-sarja, during the beginning of the season. Jatkoaika traveled to Tuusula to interview Alba Gonzalo, 19, who lives in Tuusula but plays for the neighbouring city Kerava's team KJT. Her road to becoming an ice hockey goalkeeper is quite extraordinary.
- I started playing inline hockey first, back when I was six years old, but I only switched to playing ice hockey two years ago in my home country. I wasn't even good at skating back then - I had tried ice skating maybe two times when I was a child, Gonzalo laughs.
She started playing hockey because her local club had founded a new team and they needed new players. It was not love at first sight for Gonzalo, though.
- Ice hockey was so different to inline hockey! After my first practice I told my mom that I hated it. She said, however, that I had to give it another chance because it was an opportunity to learn something new. After some time I fell in love with hockey, Gonzalo explains.
Gonzalo's hometown Barcelona is familiar probably to all sports fans around the world because of the famous football club.
- My mom is a huge fan of FC Barcelona and so was I when I was young. I can't attend the games anymore because I live in Finland but it does feel nice when they win, the goalie described.
In Catalonia the football club is the team that sports media follows most closely. Gonzalo has, however, been able to watch NHL in her home country, and she also has a new favourite team in Finland.
- Jokerit are my favourite team now because they play nearby, in Helsinki! But my all-time favourite team is Montreal Canadiens because my idol Carey Price plays for them. I think he has a great position when playing as well as amazing reflexes.
Towards the cold Finnish winter
But how did a young woman from Barcelona end up dominating women's league in Finland? The story begins in Spain where the national team has just got a new head coach. He tells the talented young goalie that she should go play abroad if she wants new challenges.
- It was clear that if I wanted to develop myself further as a goalie I had to leave Spain. Our head coach, Swedish Christian Yngve, said that Finland is the best place for me. I trusted him because he's such a great coach and knows so much about ice hockey.
Yngve, 53, is an experienced coach. He was a part of Swedish women's Olympic team already back in 1998 and 2002. He started working as Spain's head coach last season.
In spring the Kerava-based team KJT was contacted by ice hockey agent Krister Kaukinen who explained to them that Gonzalo is looking for a club. She traveled to visit Finland in May and the contract was signed during summer. Gonzalo has her own apartment in Tuusula, close to Kerava, but she is in close contact with a local family who helps her with living.
Gonzalo has had a great start to the season. She currently holds the second-highest save percentage of all goalies in SM-sarja: over 95. She has made an impressing 283 saves so far and has let only 13 goals in.
Team KJT's head coach Juho Outavaara praised his team's new goalie when Jatkoaika called him.
- She is calm in everything she does and technically an excellet goalie. She is also very motivated to work out and practice. I've been watching the goalies in this league for over a season now and it is so clear that she is one of the best in here. There isn't much room for improvement with such a great saving percentage.
Many Finns might have had doubts about signing a player from an exotic hockey country like Spain but everyone in Kerava knew that these players are low risk, high reward.
- We had an Italian defensewoman last season so I was certain that a Spanish player would be fine, too! In addition, we had heard such great things about her in advance that we knew she would be great, Outavaara explained.
Outavaara also likes Gonzalo as a person.
- She is a happy, open person who smiles a lot. She has become a part of the team very quickly. We've had foreign players before and we have some others this season so that has probably made her transition here easier. We talk a lot of English in the locker room and do some of the coaching in English, too, Outavaara explained.
Dreaming of North America
Like so many other hockey players, Gonzalo also dreams of playing in North America one day. National Women's Hockey League could be one option for the future, but right now she is happy where she is.
- My dream is to play hockey as long as I can. I believe that if I train hard enough I can play in North America one day. Or maybe I will keep playing in Finland. I've been very happy that I chose to come here. I could't have made a better choice, she explains.
After finishing high school she studied in a University for a year but she didn't enjoy it too much. Playing hockey seemed like a better option. Luckily Gonzalo's family was very supportive when their daughter told them her plan of moving to Finland.
"My life is all about hockey. I play, I train and I watch games."
- When I told them I wanted to go they said ok, go ahead. They knew this was my dream.
In Finland Gonzalo's life is all about hockey.
- In Barcelona I used to go to parties a lot... Nah, I'm just kidding! My life is all about hockey. I play, I train and I watch games. That's my life now, Gonzalo laughs.
The young goalie's attitude is great for her team as well as the Spanish national team. In the beginning of November Gonzalo has the opportunity to play in her home country when the Women's national team plays in Olympic pre-qualifications in San Sebastian. They will face Netherlands, Italy and Slovenia.
Before that her focus is on playing for KJT. After eight games her team is on place six. The league has eight teams.
- Our team is playing better all the time and all the ladies are super nice. I'm really enjoying playing hockey here.