Sami Hannu Antero Kapanen is a Finnish former professional ice hockey coach and former player. He played 12 NHL seasons for the Hartford Whalers, Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers. He is the majority owner of KalPa in the Finnish league. Kapanen's son, Kasperi Kapanen, is a member of the St. Louis Blues.
Kapanen with KalPa in 2009
Kapanen (bottom left) playing for the Flyers against the New York Rangers in 2007.
The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its 25-year existence in Hartford, Connecticut. The club played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1972 until 1979, and in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1979 to 1997.
Whaler banners hanging from the Hartford Civic Center rafters in 2007. The numbers 2, 9 and 19 were retired while the team was still in Hartford and honor Rick Ley, Gordie Howe and John McKenzie, respectively. In 2006, the numbers 5, 10 and 11 were added by Hartford Wolf Pack management in honor of Ulf Samuelsson, Ron Francis and Kevin Dineen, respectively. These are joined by a banner commemorating the Whalers' only divisional title and a New England Whalers championship banner.