{"id":131681,"date":"2025-08-09T12:18:10","date_gmt":"2025-08-09T12:18:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/131681\/"},"modified":"2025-08-09T12:18:10","modified_gmt":"2025-08-09T12:18:10","slug":"former-red-wings-player-says-hes-sorry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/131681\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Red Wings Player Says He’s Sorry"},"content":{"rendered":"

It isn\u2019t often that a player apologizes upon signing with a team, yet that\u2019s exactly what former Detroit Red Wings forward Teemu Pulkkinen<\/a> felt compelled to do.<\/p>\n

Friday, Pulkkinen, 33, signed as a free agent with Kiekko-Vantaa of Finland\u2019s second division, the Mestis.<\/p>\n

Then, like Lucy Ricardo, Pulkkinen<\/a> had some explaining to do upon his return to play in his homeland. You see, he spent several seasons performing in Russia\u2019s KHL. Pulkkinen was the only Finnish player to sign with the KHL following Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.<\/p>\n

Overall, Pulkkinen spent six seasons in the KHL, playing for five different teams. He skated with Dynamo Minsk, Moscow Dynamo, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, Traktor Chelyabinsk, and Kunlun Red Star.<\/p>\n

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Teemu Pulkkinen = \ud83d\udc1f<\/p>\n

33-vuotias Evun kasvatti palaa Suomeen 12 vuoden tauon j\u00e4lkeen! Detroit Red Wingsin 4. kierroksen varaukselta l\u00f6ytyy CV:st\u00e4 mm. yli 300 ottelua NHL:ss\u00e4 ja AHL:ss\u00e4 sek\u00e4 rutkasti pelej\u00e4 maajoukkueessa<\/p>\n

Tervetuloa takaisin Pulu\ud83d\udc4a\ud83c\udffc#KVantaa<\/a> #Mestisfi<\/a> #LohiM\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4\u00e4<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/WW34pWDrPR<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Kiekko-Vantaa (@KiekkoVantaa) August 8, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

For this, he sought to apologize to the people of his country.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have made bad choices in my career, and I regret them,\u201d Pulkkinen said in a statement<\/a> released by the team. \u201cI am grateful for the opportunity to return home and represent the Vantaa club.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m really excited about the upcoming Mestis season and playing for Kiekko-Vantaa.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vantaa is Pulkkinen\u2019s hometown.<\/p>\n

\n

Tervetuloa takaisin, Teemu \ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddee! pic.twitter.com\/hWk6kCj3Dc<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 KHL (@khl_eng) September 29, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

His contrition was not enough for some Finnish hockey fans. Supporters of Mestis club Jokerit Helsinki are calling for a boycott of Kiekko-Vantaa\u2019s games following the decision to sign Pulkkinen.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe cannot accept that a Finnish club gives a squad spot to a player who has continued to play in the KHL,\u201d Jokerit supporters posted in a statement. \u201cThis after large parts of the international community have condemned the Russian actions in Ukraine as war crimes.<\/p>\n

\u201cSuch a choice contradicts the values that Finnish sports want to stand for.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pulkkinen Played For Red Wings, Won Calder Cup With Griffins<\/p>\n

Selected 111th overall by the Red Wings in the 2010 NHL entry draft, Pulkkinen spent 70 games with the Red Wings from 2013-16, scoring 11 goals. He also played with the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins for three seasons. Pulkkinen posted a pair of 30-goal seasons with the Griffins. He was part of a Calder Cup-winning team in 2012-13.<\/p>\n

Among Pulkkinen\u2019s teammates in Grand Rapids was forward Colin Campbell<\/a>. Campbell is facing similar backlash in Norway after leaving the KHL to join a Norwegian team.<\/p>\n

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