HIGHLIGHTS
- Aleksander Barkov named 2024 Finland Athlete of the Year on Thursday
- Panthers captain first hockey player to win award in its 77-year history
- Read below for details on Barkov’s historic achievement and celebration in Finland
Aleksander Barkov finally Finnished the job.
The Florida Panthers captain was named the 2024 Athlete of the Year in Finland on Thursday, becoming the first hockey player to ever receive the prestigious award.
Tappara maailmalla | Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers
Aleksander Barkov valittiin Suomen vuoden urheilijaksi torstaina Urheilugaalassa – Tappara onnittelee! 🏆
Tapparan kasvatti johdatti joukkueensa NHL:ssä Stanley Cupin voittoon, historian ensimmäisenä suomalaiskapteenina. pic.twitter.com/UTgsUq5Tma
— Tappara Tampere (@Tapparaofficial) January 16, 2025
Barkov earned the honor after captaining the Panthers to their first Stanley Cup in franchise history last June. The 29-year-old center scored eight goals and 22 points in 24 playoff games, including the game-winning goal in Florida’s Game 3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers.
The Tampere native made history by becoming the first Finnish captain to ever hoist Lord Stanley’s mug. Barkov brought the Cup home to Tampere for a momentous celebration that saw the city temporarily rename itself “Barkov City”. Over 15,000 fans packed Nokia Arena for Barkov’s Cup party.
Presented annually by the Finnish Association of Sports Journalists, the Sportsman of the Year dates back to 1947. Barkov won in a landslide, receiving 1,710 total votes and 94 first-place tallies. Soccer goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky finished second with 66 first-place votes, while tennis player Harri Heliövaara placed third with 14.
Legendary winger Jari Kurri previously came the closest to winning the award for hockey, finishing second in voting in 1990. Other all-time greats like Teemu Selanne also never received the honor, which makes Barkov’s win even more impressive.
The smooth-skating two-way center has flown under-the-radar playing in a non-traditional market, but there’s no denying Barkov is one of the NHL’s elite players. He’s a perennial Selke Trophy candidate as the league’s best defensive forward. Barkov won his second Selke in 2024 after capturing his first in 2020-21.
Barkov returned to Tampere earlier this year when the Panthers played the Dallas Stars in the NHL Global Series. Florida swept the two-game set on the strength of five points from Barkov. The Panthers captain clearly elevates his game on Finnish soil.
While Barkov couldn’t attend the Sports Gala in person, he delivered a heartfelt acceptance speech via video surrounded by his Finnish teammates Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen and Niko Mikkola.
“This means the world to me,” Barkov said. “To get that honor is huge for me.”
Props to Barkov on an incredible, and historic, achievement. After a long 33-year wait since Kurri’s near miss, hockey fans in Finland finally have a Sportsman of the Year they can call their own.