Hakeem Nicks Jersey. You really smell the smoke. Its not even that long ago that all the kids in Finland were born in a sauna. Its been a big part of Finnish culture forever. Maurice learned that the Florida Panthers visited Sauna Island last season when they were in Helsinki to play the Chicago Blackhawks. Ruutu said bringing the team to a sauna in Finland is akin to going out for a team dinner in North America. If you want to hang out with your friends, you go to the sauna, he said. Its not about just being inside the sauna, but you relax outside in the hot tub and eat some salmon. Its a way of spending time with your best friends and family. Pitkanen told NHL.com the sauna is the one thing he truly misses when hes in North America for hockey season. Almost every house in Finland has a sauna, he said. Its normal routine. People go into it three or four times a week. Here, there arent many places that have a sauna, so hopefully everybody can experience it over there. The sauna, though, is only one part of the Finnish culture Ruutu, Jokinen and Pitkanen cant wait to show their teammates. Unfortunately, time wont allow for too much sight-seeing and culture. The Canes arrive late on Oct. 4 after playing in St. Petersburg, and after two days of practice get right to it with back-to-back games against the Wild. Their charter flight for the return trip to Raleigh goes wheels-up not long after the second game. I would love to take them to so many things, like the countryside and the lakes, but we dont have time for that, Ruutu said. We have Tuesday and Wednesday and we play Thursday and Friday, and on Wednesday guys are going to want to get ready for the game. Tuesday is the day we can do something nice and build some team chemistry. Thats the sauna day. Ruutu at least will find the time to make it back to his house and to see his parents and his brother. Jokinen and Pitkanen likely will spend time with their families, as well. Then, when the puck drops on the 2010-11 NHL season, they will experience something they never thought possible. Its one small dream come true to play a real NHL game in front of family and close friends in your home country, Jokinen said. Its probably going to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Follow Dan Rosen on Twitter at: @drosennhl ' ' '
