Tommi Paakkolanvaara is one of the players raised by Kärpät, who has grown into a professional. He is big, skilful, moving and in control, and he can help the team in many ways. This 25-year-old forward has lots of tricks in his pockets and he is also very physical. Four gold medals and one silver medal and the work done in order to achieve them have made Paakkolanvaara humble. He is ready to give his all for the sake of the team.

Paakkolanvaara’s career has developed all the time. Last season he played in the fourth unit and he was given responsibility on the power play and when playing shorthanded. Paakkolanvaara also scored his best statistics so far: 13+13=26 in 52 games.

Paakkolanvaara is a true gentleman inside the rink. He plays a clean and stylish game, and he has spent only 28 minutes in the penalty box during his whole career. In spring 2007 the young forward was given the Gentleman price in the Finnish National League.