Ice Hockey: Ex-HIFK Captain Athena Locatelli Stayed in Helsinki and Also Lured Nephews from France

Athena Locatelli, who once captained the HIFK women's ice hockey team, has found a new home and professional path in Helsinki, embracing Finnish culture after her move from France. Initially planning a short stint in Finland, Locatelli, a former French national team player with over 200 international caps, found herself drawn to the Finnish way of life.

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30 Finns looked at me, like, okay, that was weird.

She particularly values the Finnish respect for personal privacy. "If I walk down the street or sit on a bus or train, I have my own protected space around me that everyone else respects," she explained. This contrasts sharply with her experience in France, where she humorously recounted introducing herself individually to all thirty guests at a friend's engagement party, a gesture she felt would be unusual for Finns who might simply arrive and remain quiet.

Locatelli, who speaks English with a distinct French accent, now works as the head of the French-Finnish Chamber of Commerce. She is also pursuing a degree in Business Administration at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, aiming to secure a job in Finland after graduation. Her role at the chamber involves assisting French companies with administrative matters and networking in Finland, and vice versa for Finnish businesses looking to engage with France.

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I feel more Finnish than French.

While she misses playing ice hockey, Locatelli, now over 30, recognizes the need to focus on her future career. She stated, "I had to start taking my life more seriously. I had to start thinking about my future and my work career, and I can't commit to playing ice hockey for free." Her decision to stay in Finland was solidified by her positive experiences and her proactive planning to integrate into the country permanently, feeling more Finnish than French.

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I like how Finns respect other people's privacy. If I walk down the street or sit on a bus or train, I have my own protected space around me that everyone else respects.