Janne Puhakka

Janne Puhakka
Born (1995-02-24)24 February 1995
Espoo, Finland
Died 13 October 2024(2024-10-13) (aged 29)
Espoo, Finland
Height 183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 82 kg (181 lb; 12 st 13 lb)
Position Left Wing
Shot Left
Played for Espoo Blues
TUTO Hockey
Espoo United
Rapaces de Gap
Playing career 2015–2018

Janne Puhakka (24 February 1995 – 13 October 2024) was a Finnish ice hockey player[1] who passed away at his home in October 2024; in 2025, his former partner was found guilty of his murder.[2]

Biography

Ice hockey career

In Canada, he played for the Chicoutimi Saguenéens of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Back home in Finland, he suited up for the Espoo Blues in the top-tier Liiga, as well as for TUTO Hockey and Espoo United in the Mestis league. Later in his career, he expanded his horizons further by joining Rapaces de Gap in France's Ligue Magnus. Beyond his achievements on the ice, Puhakka made headlines in 2019 when he courageously became the first professional ice hockey player from Finland to publicly come out as gay.[3][4][5]

Reality television

In 2024, he appeared on Petolliset, the Finnish adaptation of the reality game show The Traitors. After his passing, the show's broadcaster, Nelonen Media, decided not to air the final episode on its originally scheduled date of October 17.[6] The network later announced that the finale would instead air on November 10.[7]

Death

Puhakka passed away at his residence in Espoo on 13 October 2024, at the age of 29.[6][8] His former partner, Rolf Nordmo from Trøndelag, Norway, was later taken into custody as a suspect[8][9][10] and eventually confessed to the killing. According to police interviews, the motive behind the crime was the breakup of their relationship. Puhakka had moved out of their shared home in Espoo a few weeks earlier but returned on 13 October to handle some "practical matters."[11][12] On 1 April 2025, the Western Uusimaa District Court sentenced Nordmo to life in prison for Puhakka's murder.[13]

Puhakka was laid to rest during a funeral service held in Espoo on 8 November 2024.[14][15]

References

  1. ^ Ranta, Niko (14 October 2024). "Ex-huippukiekkoilija Janne Puhakka, 29, kuoli henkirikoksen uhrina Espoossa – epäiltynä 66-vuotias puoliso". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  2. ^ "Rolf Nordmolle, 66, elinkautinen Janne Puhakan murhasta – oikeus: Teko oli "raivokas"". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). 1 April 2025. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  3. ^ Lilja, Esa (27 October 2019). "Hyökkääjä ja homo". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  4. ^ Holmes, Jon (14 October 2024). "Possible murder of gay former pro hockey player, by his male partner, shocks the world". Outsports. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  5. ^ Vulpo, Mike (14 October 2024). "Former Hockey Player Janne Puhakka Dead at 29, Suspect Detained on Suspicion of Murder". US Weekly. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Police suspect murder in Espoo death — paper says victim was former hockey pro". Yle news. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Petolliset-sarjan finaalijakso esitetään sittenkin". Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). 4 November 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  8. ^ a b Farestvedt, Ingrid Bjørndal; Alsaker-Nøstdahl, Endre; Sviggum, Silje Kathrine (14 October 2024). "Venner og naboer etter drapet på ishockeystjernen Janne Puhakka: – En rollemodell". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  9. ^ Ording, Oda; Solberg, Kristoffer; Hagfors, Caisa Linea; Pedersen, John Terje; Hagen, Angelica; Holm, Marlene Lundberg (15 October 2024). "Rolf Nordmo (66) siktet for drap". Dagbladet (in Norwegian). Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  10. ^ Stuevold, Eivind (14 October 2024). "Finsk kjendis drept – namdaling siktet". Namdalsavisa (in Norwegian). Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  11. ^ "Breakup was motive behind hockey pro's murder, police say". Yle. 15 October 2024. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  12. ^ "Puoliso ampui Janne Puhakan, kun tämä tuli käymään entisessä kodissaan Espoossa – Rolf Nordmo vangittaneen keskiviikkona". Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). 15 October 2024.
  13. ^ Kilpeläinen, Kia; Ranta, Niko (1 April 2025). "Rolf Nordmolle, 66, elinkautinen Janne Puhakan murhasta – oikeus: Teko oli "raivokas"". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish).
  14. ^ Hörkkö, Panu; Korpela, Tanja (8 November 2024). "Janne Puhakka saateltiin viimeiselle matkalle: kaunis arkku – hautajaiskuvat". Seiska.fi (in Finnish).
  15. ^ Ollas, Monica (21 March 2025). "Tässä lepää Janne Puhakka – hautapaikka särkee sydämen". Seiska.fi (in Finnish).
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