Joona Monto – the Finnish Hockey Player Who Found a Home in Tychy

Joona Monto (born 22 June 1994 in Hyvinkää, Finland) is a Finnish ice hockey player who plays as a center forward. He began his career at Jää-Ahmat and later developed in the youth teams of Hämeenlinnan Pallokerho (HPK). In his senior career, he played for various teams in Finland, including Heinolan Peliitat, Turun Toverit (TuTo), Savonlinnan Pallokerho (SaPKo), and Kiekko-Vantaa. He also represented HPK in Finland’s top professional league, Liiga.

In 2018, he played for Jokerit Helsinki in the Russian KHL competition. From 2021 he represented the colours of GKS Katowice in the Polish Hockey League, winning the Polish championship with the club in 2022 and 2023. In May 2024, he joined GKS Tychy. Tuomas spoke with Joona, who told him about the early start of his passion for ice hockey, and how he ended up playing in Poland. 

When did you become interested in ice hockey?

I developed a love for hockey almost as soon as I started walking. I also played football for a long time, but at some point I had to choose one of the sports, so ice hockey was an easy choice for me.

And how did you end up in Poland, was it a planned move?

It happened by accident. I had a colleague in Katowice and they contacted me as there were already quite a few Finns there, so I thought why not? 

You’ve been in Poland for more than three years now. When you first joined the Polish league, what were the biggest challenges you faced in adapting to hockey here? And what do you enjoy the most about playing in this league?

I came to play and live in Poland for the first time with very few expectations. Honestly speaking, I didn’t know much about the country. But I was really surprised at how good the players are in Poland, and there are also really impressive foreign players here. The most pleasant thing in this league is definitely the fan culture in the clubs.

You’ve played in various leagues, both in Finland and in Poland. Are there specific goals you still wish to achieve in your career?

Surely all young people who play hockey dream of the NHL. My dream was always to play in the Finnish league and I was lucky enough to have experienced that; I have great memories from there. The Polish league has also been an amazing experience and I've had a really fantastic time here. Now everything is going well, so I’m taking it year by year, as I still have plenty of good years left!

Team dynamics often vary across countries. What are the biggest differences in playing Finnish vs Polish hockey?

The biggest difference is certainly that training in Finland is really high-quality nowadays from a young age. In Finland, the game is also much more organized.

And now you are playing in Tychy, which is like a real hockey city in Poland!

Yes, I think the fan culture here is the best in Poland, they are crazy. Home games are great, with usually a couple of thousand people at matches and the whole hall is cheering. 

Have you had any memorable situations with fans?

If I had to choose just one, it would definitely be when we won the second consecutive championship in Katowice and in front of the fans at home.

There are quite a few Finns in your team and league, which might be surprising to many. Have you had a chance to teach the locals some Finnish habits?

Yeah, our team has eight Finns and a coach, and in the whole league there are something like 30 Finnish players and three coaches. Well, we are trying to get locals to go to the sauna, but it is not working that well, it seems to be too hot for them. 

Have you had the chance to explore Poland outside of hockey? Are there any Polish traditions, places, or foods that you enjoy?

I've been to several different cities in Poland and there are lots of really nice places here and the food here is so good. Kraków and Zakopane have been my favorites

Is there any place in Poland that feels special to you? Where do you go to relax or spend time when you’re not on the ice?

I lived in Katowice for the first three years, so that feels special to me. I usually relax at home when we have free time and I like to cook good food there.

What would you bring from Finland to Poland, and vice versa?When I'm here, I always miss family and friends, so I would choose them. Living in Poland is cheaper, so I could take that to Finland.