Finnish Partner Confesses to Killing Nation’s First Openly Gay Ice Hockey Player

Janne Puhakka, Finland’s first openly gay ice hockey player, was found dead at his former home in Espoo on Sunday evening.

The 29-year-old athlete was reportedly shot and killed by his partner, Rolf Nordmo, 66, a Norwegian veterinarian. Nordmo was arrested at the scene and has confessed to the murder, Finnish police confirmed.

The tragic incident occurred after Puhakka, who had recently separated from Nordmo, returned to their shared home to discuss living arrangements. According to police, Nordmo shot Puhakka with a shotgun following a confrontation.

Janne was found dead at his home in Espoo, Finland, on Sunday evening (Picture: Instagram/Janne Puhakka)

Lead investigator Matti Högman stated that the motive for the murder stemmed from the end of their relationship, which had ended weeks before. He further added that the killing involved “more violence than was necessary” and was considered “premeditated.”

Nordmo was interviewed by police on Monday, during which he admitted to the crime. He is expected to appear in the district court of Länsi-Uusimaa.

Tributes have poured in for Puhakka, with figures such as former Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin expressing their sorrow. Marin shared a photo of the former ice hockey player on Instagram, accompanied by a broken heart emoji.

Janne first came out as gay in 2019 (Picture: Shutterstock)

The UK’s LGBT+ anti-abuse charity, Galop, also issued a statement, offering condolences to Puhakka’s loved ones and acknowledging the impact his murder has had on the LGBT+ community, particularly those who have experienced domestic violence and abuse.

Janne Puhakka ended his ice hockey career during the 2017-2018 season, having played for Espoo Blues and Espoo United. In 2019, he made headlines as the first Finnish ice hockey player to come out as gay publicly, a courageous move that highlighted the homophobia present in the sport. Puhakka had openly discussed the challenges of hiding his sexuality from his teammates.

Candles and tributes have been left outside the apartment where Janne was found dead (Picture: Shutterstock)

In addition to his sports career, Puhakka appeared in Finland’s version of ‘The Traitors’, a popular reality TV show. In light of his tragic death, Nelonen Media, the network airing the show, has announced that it will not broadcast the season finale on October 17 out of respect for Puhakka.

The investigation is ongoing, and Nordmo’s court hearing is set for the coming days as tributes continue to be paid to the pioneering athlete.