Guide Note

Finnish National Hockey League player Saku Koivu is the team captain and plays center on the Montreal Canadiens' first line. Koivu has been the captain of Team Finland since 1998 and has represented his home country in numerous international competitions including six World Ice Hockey Championships and three Winter Olympics.

Koivu was drafted by the Canadiens during the first round of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft and joined the team as a full time player for the 1995-1996 season. He earned 45 points in 82 games to place fourth among the League's rookies in scoring. Koivu has remained with the Canadiens throughout his NHL career and has been the team captain since 1999.

Fast Facts

1. Birth date: November 23, 1974
2. Birth place: Turku, Finland
3. Position: Center
4. Shoots: Left
5. Jersey number: 11
6. Won Olympic bronze medals in 1994 and 1998 and silver in 2002
7. Brother Mikko Koivu plays for the Minnesota Wild

Shortly before the start of the 2001-2002 season, Koivu was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He underwent treatment and was back with the Canadiens in time for the playoffs, during which he scored 10 points in 12 games. Shortly thereafter, he founded the Saku Koivu Foundation, which raised the needed $2.5 million to fund the purchase of a PET/CT Scan machine for the Montreal Hospital. In 2007, Koivu was awarded the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, presented to the NHL player who "best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and who has made a significant humanitarian contribution in his community."