Mikael Granlund, the captain of the Finnish national hockey team, made an unusual choice to take a brief break to visit his family in Finland before the Olympic Games in Milan. His NHL team, the Anaheim Ducks, finished their games early Wednesday morning in Finland, allowing him to fly back home before traveling to the Olympic city. In a personal statement, Granlund expressed how significant this visit was for him, noting that he had never had the opportunity to visit family during the NHL season before.

While Granlund seized this rare chance, his teammate, goalie Lukas Dostal, had arrived in Milan earlier in the week. Granlund prioritized seeing his children over rushing to the Olympic venue, which indicates his strong family values and commitment to his personal life. He shares two children with his ex-wife, Emmi Granlund, who resides in Finland, and has a child with his current partner, Kukka.

With fellow player Aleksander Barkov sidelined due to injury, Granlund's role as the captain holds even more significance. He expressed that it is a great honor to lead a team filled with remarkable players who have also held captaincy roles in the past, highlighting the proud tradition and high expectations of Finnish hockey at the Olympics.