Jan-Mikael Järvinen returns home to Ilves and is named captain

Ilves announced that Jan-Mikael Järvinen, 38, has signed a two-year deal to return to his childhood club in Tampere and will captain Ilves this season. He will also appear in ILVES+ video interviews.

Järvinen traces his hockey beginnings to Pirkkala, where he first stepped onto skates at around age four under the guidance of his father, former Ilves captain Kari "Kilu" Järvinen. His long professional career includes breakthrough seasons with Tappara, where he won two Finnish championships, spells in Germany, Sweden and Austria, and a recent ICEHL title with Salzburg. He spent the last four seasons in Pori with Ässät, where he also wore the captain's C.

At Ässät, teammates voted him captain at the start of the season, making him the club's first second-generation Liiga captain. He says he wants to lead by making everyone feel heard and by being available to support the squad in any way, joking that he's "ready to eat popcorn or do the laundry" if it helps the team win. He credits persistence, family support and careful daily choices for his longevity on the ice. Ilves has posted extended interviews and player portrait videos first on ILVES+ for fans who want more background on his return.