Saku Koivu

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games • Administrator
SexMale
Full nameSaku Antero•Koivu
Used nameSaku•Koivu
Nick/petnamesSakke
Born23 November 1974 in Turku, Varsinais-Suomi (FIN)
Measurements179 cm / 78-85 kg
AffiliationsMontréal Canadiens, Montréal (CAN) / TPS Turku, Turku (FIN) / Anaheim Ducks, Anaheim (USA)
NOC Finland
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 1
Bronze 3
Total 4

Biography

Saku Koivu is considered one of the greatest Finnish hockey players of all-time. A centre forward, Koivu débuted at the Finnish Championships in 1992 with Turun Palloseura (TPS), playing with them until 1995 and won Finnish titles in 1993 and 1995. Koivu was drafted by the Montréal Canadiens of the NHL in 1993 and joined the team in 1995. He played 14 seasons with the Canadiens and from 1999 was selected as the first European captain of the Canadiens, and with his 10 seasons (1999-2009) as captain, became the all-time longest-serving captain of the Canadiens. He served in that capacity until 2009, when he moved to the Anaheim Ducks. During his 14 years with the Canadiens, Koivu was voted to the NHL All-Star Game in 1998 and 2003, won the Bill Masterton Trophy in 2002 and King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2007. Koivu missed most of the 2001-02 season due to Burkitt’s lymphoma, but recovered from the cancer remarkably fast to help his team to gain a playoff spot in April 2002. After joining the Anaheim Ducks in 2009, Koivu has played with them and served as an alternate captain of the team.

Internationally, Koivu has played with the Finnish national team since 1993 and served as the captain of Finnish team since 1998. He is one of the most internationally decorated Finnish hockey players, winning Olympic silver in 2006 and Olympic bronzes in 1994, 1998 and 2010. He was the top scorer at the 1998 and 2006 Olympic tournaments, tying both times with his teammate Teemu Selänne with 10 and 11 points respectively. At the 2006 Olympic Winter Games, Koivu was elected to the IOC Athletes’ Commission by athletes participating at those Games. At the World Championships, Koivu won a title in 1995, silver medals in 1994 and 1999, and a bronze medal in 2008. He was the top scorer at the 1999 World Championships, was named the best forward of the 1995 and 1999 tournament and was selected to the All-Star team at the 1994, 1995 and 1999 tournaments. He also won silver at the 2004 World Cup and was named as the best Finnish hockey player-of-the-year in 1994 and 1995. His younger brother Mikko is also an ice hockey player, who won silver at the 2006 Olympic Games and bronze at the 2010 Olympic Games.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1994 Winter Olympics Ice Hockey (Ice Hockey) FIN Saku Koivu
Ice Hockey, Men (Olympic) Finland 3 Bronze
1998 Winter Olympics Ice Hockey (Ice Hockey) FIN Saku Koivu
Ice Hockey, Men (Olympic) Finland 3 Bronze
2006 Winter Olympics Ice Hockey (Ice Hockey) FIN Saku Koivu
Ice Hockey, Men (Olympic) Finland 2 Silver
2010 Winter Olympics Ice Hockey (Ice Hockey) FIN Saku Koivu
Ice Hockey, Men (Olympic) Finland 3 Bronze

Organization roles

Role Organization Tenure NOC As
Athlete International Olympic Committee 2006—2014 FIN Saku Koivu

Olympic family relations

Special Notes