There’s about a little over a month before NHL preseasons begin, but Jesperi Kotkaniemi has started his in Liiga. The Montreal Canadiens third-overall pick was confirmed by his Assat head coach that he would play a few games before heading to Montreal, and it started on Friday as he took part in the one-day Pitsiturnaus tournament.
The tournament is an annual event among Finnish teams beginning at 9:00 AM and lasting the entirety of the day. Each game only features two 15-minute periods to fit everything into the 11-hour window except for the final which are two 20-minute periods.