Lacrosse Gains Popularity – HOSEMASTER is On Board

Esteri Group is proud to support the sport of lacrosse in Finland! You may be wondering, what exactly is lacrosse? In Finnish, it’s known as “haavipallo,” like “net ball”, but most people recognize it by its original name, lacrosse. The sport is extremely popular in North America and is one of the fastest-growing sports in the region. In fact, lacrosse is also the national sport of Canada.

We were present at Kaarina’s Piispanlähde School (Finland) on Monday (October 7th, 2024) when representatives from Finland’s national team for box lacrosse (an indoor variation of the sport) visited the school to introduce the game to eighth graders. In addition to the students, PE teacher Iina Lehkonen was present to facilitate the activity. The national team players who visited were Tuomas Tilkanen, Severi Koskinen, and Lauri Uusitalo.

The name “Piispanlähde” (bishops fountain) is fitting for learning this sport, as the name lacrosse comes from the French word for a bishop’s crozier, referencing the stick used in the game by the early missionaries who introduced the European word.

Tuomas Tilkanen explains the rules and techniques of lacrosse to the students.

Before the first game, students practiced handling the stick and ball while learning the basic rules. The position of the stick in lacrosse is different from other ball sports, and scooping the ball with the stick takes some getting used to.

The pupils of physical education class at Piispanlähde School quickly got the hang of the equipment. After about 30 minutes of introduction and practice, the students were already playing. Lacrosse is a very intense and energetic sport—students were clearly excited about the new activity!

The basics of lacrosse were quickly mastered, and soon the students were ready to play.

“It was such a joy to see the students playing and to provide them with this opportunity, especially since equipment funding in schools has almost dried up,” said Annina Kivimäki, Marketing Manager at Hosemaster/Esteri Group.

Hosemaster sponsored the lacrosse equipment for the students.

International Reach with Lacrosse

Esteri Group, the maker and marketer of Hosemaster™, is eager to support the growing interest in lacrosse in Finland. One reason for this enthusiasm is the company’s expanding presence in the North American market. One of the main products in the United States and Canada is the advanced fire hose washing machine, Hosemaster.

In fact, the official jerseys of Finland’s box lacrosse world championship team proudly display the Hosemaster™ logo.

Players Tuomas Tilkanen (left) and Severi Koskinen, with Emil Kalliomäki (middle), Esteri Group’s International Sales, holding the team jersey.

Lacrosse has officially been played in Finland for over 20 years, and the first national championship was held in 2005. The biggest successes in the Finnish league have come from teams in Helsinki and Turku. In particular, the Turku Titans have excelled in the sport, winning championships in both field lacrosse and box lacrosse since 2012.

But why is lacrosse so popular? There are plenty of goals, tackles, and the game moves at a fast pace—similar to the action in the firefighting industry. A popular saying from North America goes, “The fastest game on two feet.” We believe it!

We wish Finland’s national team success in the world championships and hope the students at Piispanlähde School continue to enjoy this exciting sport. For more information on the sport from Finnish point of view, leagues, teams, and its history, visit lacrosse.fi

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