Carolina’s Aho Thrilled for NHL Games in Native Finland

Carolina Hurricanes star Sebastian Aho expressed pure joy after learning his team will face Seattle in two games in Helsinki, Finland next season. The Finnish forward has waited a decade for this opportunity to play professionally in his home country.

Carolina Hurricanes star Sebastian Aho couldn’t contain his excitement Monday after discovering his team will take on the Seattle Kraken in a pair of matchups in his native Finland during the upcoming season.

The two games are scheduled for November 12th and 14th as part of the 2026 Global Series, with both contests taking place in Helsinki, Finland’s capital city.

“Very excited. Happy,” Aho shared with the media. “I’ve been dreaming about it for 10 years. When they announce the teams (for the Global games), you usually don’t see Carolina there, and you’re always like, ‘Bummer.’ But (this is) worth the wait.”

This marks Carolina’s first European games since facing Minnesota in Helsinki back in 2010. At that time, a young 13-year-old Aho was in the stands watching as a spectator.

The now 28-year-old forward has consistently scored more than 20 goals throughout each of his 10 NHL campaigns and currently has 25 goals and 72 total points this season.

“Hockey is such a big part of Finnish culture, and people definitely enjoy watching it and cheering on Finns,” Aho explained. “It’s such a big part of the whole country, and I know it’s going to be a good atmosphere at the games.”

Aho won’t be the lone Finnish representative on Carolina’s roster, as teammate Jesperi Kotkaniemi also hails from the Nordic nation.

Meanwhile, Seattle brings three Finnish players to the matchup: forwards Kaapo Kakko, Eeli Tolvanen, and Jani Nyman.

“I was always thinking that it would be fun to play there in Finland in front of all of my family and friends,” Kakko commented. “Now, I’ll get to do that, so I’m real excited about it.”

These Global Series games will mark a franchise first for Seattle, which is currently in its fifth year of operation.

Finland recently captured the bronze medal at the latest Winter Olympics held in Italy.