Traverse City Record-Eagle

Archive: Monday

September 14, 2009

Williams may need to brush up on his Finnish

FROM STAFF REPORTS

Related Stories

Fans get close to hockey heroes

Bertuzzi, Williams re-join Red Wings

Babcock: Defense is a big focus

Notebook: Lilja to start on injured list

Wings try to move past loss of Cup

TRAVERSE CITY -- Jason Williams suddenly needs to brush up on his Finnish.

During the NHL's lockout season in 2004-05, Williams played in Finland for the Assat Pori.

Now as a member of the Detroit Red Wings, he's been teamed on a line for training camp with Ville Leino and Valtteri Filppula -- both of Finnish descent.

"They'll have to help me out a little bit," Williams said. "On the bench they were talking to each other and I told them to slow down. And maybe speak a little English."

Williams has followed both players' careers. Knowing Filppula was a Wings prospect in 2005, he kept an eye on him while abroad. And as a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets last year, he was able to see both first-hand when the Wings and Blue Jackets played each other.

Text Only