NHL Hockey Day in Finland event coming to Kuopio in March 2026
Kuopio will have the honor of hosting NHL Hockey Day in Finland, which will be held at the heart of Finnish hockey culture, Kuopio Market Square, on March 27–28, 2026. This free ice hockey event for the whole family will culminate in an all-star game featuring Finnish ice hockey legends and an NHL game viewing party hosted by Fastenal.
“It’s awesome to have NHL Hockey Day in Finland in my hometown of Kuopio. Kuopio has a strong hockey tradition that we are proud of. It is, of course, a great honor for me to be part of this event. See you in Kuopio!” promises Stanley Cup winner Kimmo Timonen.
Weekend program
NHL Hockey Day in Finland offers a diverse program for the whole family. The event combines hockey entertainment, community spirit and unique experiences, with the participation of local leisure and cultural organizations.
● NHL Global Fan Tour, featuring over 20 interactive activities
● Ice activities: junior tournament, public skating, ice disco, and synchronized skating performances
● Figure skating and cultural performances
● Skating and skill clinics
● DJ music, quizzes, and appearances by NHL legends
● Fan competitions: stick taping competition, best goal celebration and puck stacking competitions
See Finnish ice hockey legends on the ice
Saturday, March 28 will be a unique opportunity to see Finnish ice hockey legends on the artificial ice rink to be built in Kuopio’s Market Square – the exact time and complete player list will be announced later.
Several Finnish hockey legends will be seen on the ice, including:
● Kimmo Timonen
● Pekka Rinne
● Jere Lehtinen
● Esa Tikkanen
● Jari Kurri
● Ossi Väänänen (list to be completed)
NHL game viewing party
The event culminates on Saturday evening with NHL Saturday presented by Fastenal, which will be broadcast live at prime time at 7 p.m. The game will feature two-time Stanley Cup champions the Florida Panthers, whose players include Finns Eetu Luostarinen, Anton Lundell and Niko Mikkola, and the New York Islanders.
The viewing party will be held in the NHL Global Fan Tour tent with a live broadcast from the Viaplay studio, offering the audience the opportunity to experience the unique atmosphere of the NHL together with other hockey fans. Viaplay’s experts will guide viewers through the pre-game setups, player stories, and key highlights before the puck drops.
“I am very happy about this new event coming to Kuopio. The newly approved strategy emphasizes the goal of reinforcing our position as a sports city. This is a concrete example of how we can further strengthen our position as a city for sports and exercise events,” comments Kirsi Soininen, Deputy Marketing Strategy Director.
