Aleksander (Sasha) Barkov, Captain of the Florida Panthers and one of the top hockey players in the world, has made a significant equity investment into Tamhockey Oy, Tappara’s parent company. As a result of this investment, Mr. Barkov will be Tappara’s third largest shareholder.
Mr. Barkov started to play organized hockey in Tappara’s minor and junior hockey system at the age of 4, as a 2nd generation player. Mr. Barkov made his professional career debut in a Tappara uniform on October 1, 2011.
– I am honored that the Board of Directors wanted me to be a part of Tappara’s future. Tappara is in my blood, it is where my father had the best years of his hockey career and it was my dream as a child to follow his success. The Tappara community of coaches, trainers and managers made it possible for me to be where I am now. I want to share my experiences of professional hockey with the club that is so dear to the people of Tampere and fans throughout Finland and the rest of the world, says Mr. Barkov.
– Mr. Barkov already has 7 years of experience in the NHL, the world’s largest hockey business, says Mr. Heikki Penttilä, Chairman of the Board of Tamhockey Oy. Professional sports business cannot be successfully run unless the club has extensive and high-level hockey expertise. In addition, Mr. Barkov has shown interest in contributing his professional knowledge and network to Tappara’s future business, Mr. Penttilä continues.
– I am proud but humble about this great news, says Tamhockey Oy’s CEO Mika Aro. Mr. Barkov’s investment is financially significant to us, and it secures the investments required for transition to our new home arena, Uros Live, Mr. Aro explains.
Concurrent with Mr. Barkov’s investment, Mr. Aro has also become a shareholder of Tamhockey Oy.
In addition, Mr. Poju Zabludowicz has also increased his equity holdings and purchased new shares in Tamhockey Oy and will continue as the company’s largest shareholder.
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Tappara is the most successful hockey club in Finland with 17 national championships. Tappara has won seven consecutive medals from 2013 to 2019, of which two are gold, four silver and one bronze. The club has doubled its turnover since 2012 and has shown profit for 7 consecutive seasons. Tappara will relocate to the new Uros Live Arena for the 2021-2022 season. The new arena of 13400 spectators is among the most modern in Europe and will be home to the IIHF 2022 Ice Hockey World Championships.
