Sel8nne Page #9

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A few weeks later

Brian called up Don -

and said that they have some money now.

I signed on real cheap.

I said immediately that I will sign.

It was fun to get back

with the fans and everything.

I was also healthy.

I felt as good

as during my first year.

In the conference finals -

We played against Edmonton

and lost the series 4 to 1.

We got better all the time.

It showed how good a

team we could become.

After the last match -

I said to the guys:

"Next year, remember -

how disappointed we were."

We could go even further.

Brian Burke said to me:

"I know exactly what you're worth."

He promised me that if I took this salary -

he would use

the difference -

about three million dollars -

to acquire a player who could

help us win the Stanley Cup.

I remember it well.

It was my birthday.

I got a call.

They had acquired Chris Pronger.

Too bad no one filmed me.

My smile was quite wide.

I knew he was the missing link

we didn't have last year.

After the Stanley Cup Finals -

I was invited

to Anaheim's dressing room.

Older players, like

Scott Niedermayer, were on their way out -

in suits.

Teemu had all the equipment

and tied skates -

2 1/2 hours after the game.

It was the only year

we had started well.

We hadn't lost a game

after 17 or 18 games.

It was a good start.

Play offs are fun for us players.

Each shift,

each hit -

and each time you

throw yourself in front of the puck...

Everything affects everything.

Little things decide the outcome.

During the Finals -

we had 12 guys queuing

up for the doctor.

We got Toradol injections that remove

almost any pain whatsoever.

Without it, I think none of us

could have played.

An incredible feeling.

I've been waiting for

to win something big for 15 years.

Sometimes I thought

that this would never happen.

That's why this is so important.

I have been close to winning the Olympic gold,

the World Championships the World Cup -

but it hasn't happened.

Now I have won the biggest trophy

a hockey player can win.

I always wanted to quit on top.

Stanley Cup crowns my career.

I think I've earned this finale.

SUMMER 2007, FlNLAND

Hi.

Is this for me?

- Yes.

And this also.

- Thanks!

Veeti wrote "Anaheim".

It's pretty big, isn't it?

How has your summer been?

- Pretty bad.

Yeah, the weather has also been bad.

Teemu sent this picture

after his rookie season in Winnipeg.

I have it on the wall at home.

If you look at this picture -

that was 2007 -

a lot has happened

between taking these.

I'll always treasure them.

These will hang on my wall

as long as I live.

When I won the Stanley Cup -

I was totally sure

that my career was over.

There is no better way to end

-

than a championship -

especially

a Stanley Cup championship.

I didn't think

I'd find the motivation -

to work hard

and torture myself every Friday -

by running

in the forests of Hila.

I had achieved

what I had dreamed and fantasized about -

since I was a small boy.

I didn't think I could

find the motivation for a comeback.

I thought

I had done my share.

We returned to Anaheim

after the summer.

I was a normal family man

and drove the boys to training.

I played golf during the days.

Until the boys wanted to go and watch hockey.

We went to a couple of games.

I looked around and thought:

"That guy missed that chance."

"I would have scored."

Scott Niedermayer, who also

was about to end his career -

called and asked if I wanted to skate.

I didn't even know

where my equipment was.

I didn't know

where I had that stuff.

I said I could come.

I would see if it was still fun.

I went

and thought it was stupid.

"I quit."

A few weeks later

an old teammate called -

and asked if I would like

play for fun.

A beer league game.

We would play

and drink a few beers afterwards.

I said, "Sure!"

All of a sudden, it was great fun.

I thought about it for a while

and spoke with my family.

Then I decided

to play again.

I've been thinking about the

highlight of Teemu's career.

I want to have a broader perspective.

It's not the 76 goals.

Not his natural talent.

Not that he is such nice and happy guy.

We are speaking about

incredibly tough top-level sports.

I think the biggest

thing is that he -

after getting

all the money in the world -

and after all the prizes -

even after the Stanley Cup -

and all he got from the sport -

aged 36 or 37 -

decides to do

a new proper attempt to win.

Now!

Now!

One more time!

When you see the X-ray picture -

it's hard to believe he has played

with that knee in a long time.

When you have to train the same things

in a new way -

training will be diverse as it needs to.

If you can't run

you can cycle.

I want to play in the NHL.

I have to focus on

that I will, too.

When I train with Teemu

I notice -

how much it requires

to get to that level -

, and how he also trains

during summers.

My Friday workout

when I torture myself -

is the only workout

I don't like.

But sometimes you have to

stretch your limits.

It's amazing how good

a shape he's in.

And he doesn't get winded

and bend over on his stick.

At his age he's the best

athlete in the world.

He's playing at 42 20 minutes a night

against the best players in the world+.

A big lifestyle change

and new training methods.

He made an incredible comeback

straight to the top.

An older player must lose weight.

You have to get your weight down.

I've noticed he's slowly letting his weight get

lower so he can be as fast as he was.

Only now Teemu has

found his limits.

The most difficult thing in sports

is finding your maximum potential.

Teemu has done that now.

That's why I admire him

ten times more now than ever before.

The evolution stops when one is

satisfied. That thought has brought me here.

It's been a long time since I was

playing here last time.

This is something special.

This city and people here have been

supporting me all these 20 years.

That's why this is so special for me.

Too bad We are here for only one day.

TEEMU WE FORGIVE YOU. COME HOME.

Tonight we are saluting him

for his amazing career

and his unquivering passion for our city.

Teemu got to have an emotional farewell

15 years late.

I am only one of millions of dads -

who have taken their boys

to training and games.

Teemu wouldn't be

an elite hockey player -

without dad.

This necklace has everything

that is important in my life.

A hockey club, of course.

A golf club.

The heart symbolizes love of course.

A four-leaf clover -

and a cross I got when I

was confirmed as a 15-year-old.

I've weared the cross

ever since.

When previously asked about

what's most important in life -

he always answered being healthy.

But after he began visiting

Children's Hospital -

and saw how happy

little patients could be -

he has started to say that the

main thing is to be happy.

When the crew first asked -

if they could make a movie about me

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