Saku Koivu

Saku Antero Koivu (born the November 23rd 1974 with Turku in Finland) is a player of Hockey currently evolving/moving with the Club of Canadian Hockey, of the National league of hockey, of which it is the captain. He is member and spokesperson of the athletes of CIO since 2006. His/her brother, Mikko Koivu evolves/moves for the Wild of Minnesota. Married to Hanna Norio, it has a girl, Ilona, and a boy, Aatos.

Biography

Saku Koivu began its professional path in 1992 with TPS Turku, the club which formed it, in the Sm-liiga. It plays three seasons there, gaining twice the championship of Finland. At the time of the season 1994-95, it finishes better meter of the championship and is elected player of the year, better player of the championship and better player of the eliminatory series. Always in 1995, it belongs to the team of Finland which becomes world champion for the first time. Koivu plays on the first line of the team in company of Ville Peltonen and Jere Lehtinen, and all the three are elected in the team-type of the tournament.

It was selected thereafter with many recoveries in the national team, of which he became the captain. It in particular gained the money medal to the World cup of 2004 and the Olympic Games of Turin in 2006, as well as bronze with the Olympic Games of 1994 and 1998. Chosen 21e row by the Canadian of Montreal during the Fishing out of entry in the LNH 1993, it plays its first match in the National league of hockey on October 7th, 1995 against the Flyers of Philadelphia. In 1998, it is selected in the team of stars of LNH. The same year, he plays for the team of the Finland to the Olympic Games collecting the bronze medal.

In 1999, it is named captain of the team of the Club of Canadian Hockey, station which it always currently occupies. In 2001-02, reached of a Cancer it misses almost all the season, but returns to the play for the three last parts and the eliminatory series where he was a player dominating. This same year, it receives the Trophée Bill Masterton.

In 497 regular parts in season with Montreal, it collected 120 goals and 278 master keys for a total of 398 points. It took part in 40 parts of eliminatory series for 13 goals and 21 master keys for a total of 34 points. Its number is the 11. Its agent is Don Baizley. It created The Saku Koivu foundation to buy a scanner TEP/CT (of a value of eight million dollars). To the month of September 2005, Koivu gave this scanner to the Hospital of Montreal.

The February 11th 2006, Saku Koivu concluded an agreement the binder with the Canadian from Montreal for the three next seasons, that is to say until the season 2008-2009. The agreement of a value of 14,25 million $ US is supplied with a clause of not-exchange. If there remains the captain of the Canadian until the expiry of his contract, he will equalize Jean Béliveau, as a player having been captain longest of the history of the Canadian (10 years).

In eliminatory series of this same year, Koivu knows an excellent beginning of series but is victim of one wound to the eye. A blow of accidental stick of Justin Williams of Hurricanes of the Caroline puts a term at her season. That will be besides the turning point of this series.

In 2006-2007, Saku knows according to the several best beginning of the season of its career. It collected not less than 14 goals and 18 master keys in 29 parts, being the angular stone of the Canadians in attack. It was before the tumble of the team since December 23rd. On the other hand, it finished the season with a differential of -21 and 75 points (22 goals and 53 master keys), a personal top. The arrival of its partner of trio Chris Higgins with largely contributed to reach an unequalled top on the level of the points.

He is the Finnish representative at the Olympic committee.

Statistical in career

Professional path

Up to date dated April 19th, 2007

Olympic Games

Honors and distinctions

1994 - Bronze medal with the Winter Olympics of Lillehammer.
1994-1995 - First team of stars of the Sm-liiga.
1994-1995 - Player of the year (Kultainen kypärä) and better meter of the Sm-liiga.
1995 - Gold medal with the Championships of the world.
1998 - Bronze medal with the Winter Olympics of Nagano.
1997-1998 - played in the part of stars of LNH.
2001-2002 - Récipendiaire of the Trophy Bill Masterton.
2002-2003 - played in the part of stars of LNH.
2006 - money Medal-holder to the Winter Olympics of Turin
2006: Gaining Cut Molson
2007: Gaining Trophy King Clancy

Relationship in the sport

Brother of the player Mikko Koivu.

See too

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