Juuso Välimäki has a new outlook on hockey this season.
Much of it has to do with becoming a father to his now 4-and-a-half-month-old son Nooa.
The Utah Hockey Club defenseman has had an up-and-down start to the 2024-25 campaign — facing both healthy scratches and trusted playing time — but he seems to be hitting his stride. Välimäki scored two goals in three games to start the week as his role has become more consistent since late November.
Välimäki’s career and performance for Utah carry weight in his life, but he’s also been able to center himself with family this year.
“Being a dad is the best thing in the world. I think it’s given me a lot of perspective. Earlier in my career when times are not great I would have taken it a lot harder than I have this year,” Välimäki said. “I think the biggest reason is just being a dad and having a completely different perspective. Quite honestly, a more important thing in your life. You have to take care of a human being.”
Nooa has watched his dad at Delta Center a few times this season — even if it’s just for warmups before returning home to go to bed.
“Now you can see when he’s on the glass at warmups and stuff, now he actually recognizes me,” Välimäki said. “Seeing him smile before the game, it’s the best feeling.”
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Hockey Club defenseman Juuso Valimaki (4) looks to pass the puck as Utah Hockey Club goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) defends the goal during the game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024.
It, perhaps, has given Välimäki a bit of a boost on the ice, too. The 26-year-old secured a 4-3, third-period lead for Utah in its eventual 5-4 shootout loss to the Minnesota Wild Tuesday at Delta Center.
Välimäki’s extra-effort play earned him a second goal in as many games and his third point of the season. The blueliner carried the puck into the zone before releasing a shot from the high slot. Välimäki pushed through two Wild players to follow the rebound in front of the net and knocked it in to shift the momentum for Utah.
“Saw an opportunity to go. … Got kind of lucky there and a nice goal,” Välimäki said. “Confidence is probably a little higher now than it’s been at some points of the year. Just trying to keep the positive trend going.”
Part of that confidence for Välimäki comes from earning a spot on Team Finland for the 4 Nations Face-Off, he said. Välimäki will represent his country in the NHL’s best-on-best tournament in February.
“I told my son, but he didn’t really understand,” Välimäki said of making the roster.
In the beginning of the season, Välimäki found himself on the outside looking in. Head coach André Tourigny had scratched him for a few games in November. The biggest message? He needed to work on his pace. Now, as Utah continues to struggle with injuries on the backend, Välimäki has been given more responsibility.
“I like a lot of his game right now. He’s moving the puck well, he’s making good plays on the breakout, he’s always been competitive defensively,” Tourigny said. “I think getting some production when you’re a defenseman that has offense like Välimäki, it always helps the confidence.”
Välimäki was skating on the third pair with Robert Bortuzzo, but that changed on the team’s two-game road trip; Bortuzzo is day to day with a lower-body injury and stayed in Utah. He left Tuesday’s game after the second period with a lower-body injury and did not return. Välimäki and the rest of the D-corps were tasked with heavier minutes and assignments while down to five defensemen for the final frame.
“Doesn’t look good. I don’t know. I don’t have the final call,” Tourigny said of Bortuzzo’s status. “He will miss quite a bit of time.”
Bortuzzo’s absence made room in the lineup for Vladislav Kolyachonok to return for the first time since Nov. 24. Välimäki and Kolyachonok have played together before this season and embraced the next-man-up mentality in Utah’s 4-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche Thursday at Ball Arena.
(Melissa Majchrzak | AP) Utah Hockey Club defensemen Robert Bortuzzo (41) in action on during the third period against the Ottawa Senators at an NHL hockey game, Tuesday Oct 22, 2024, in Salt Lake City.
It is not that big of a lift, though. Välimäki and Utah as a whole are feeling good about the way they’ve competed as of late. Finding consistency in their team game on a nightly basis has resulted in individual players, like Välimäki, making meaningful contributions while heightening their self-belief.
“I think for every individual when your team is playing well and you’re playing consistently, it helps every single one of us,” Välimäki said. “We’re playing good hockey … I think it’s been a long time that we’ve been playing pretty good hockey.”
As for Nooa, who will continue to cheer on his dad from afar, it may not be long before he hits the ice, too.
“It will be hard not to put skates on him at some point when he lives around hockey,” Välimäki said with a smile.
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