Turku, the oldest city in Finland and Finland's gateway to Europe, is a fascinating combination of past and present. Turku has something to offer those visitors interested in history as well as those who enjoy modern city-life. The River Aura flows through the city and a unique and truly spectacular archipelago stretches towards the west giving Turku an enchanting maritime atmosphere. Turku is also a city of sports and it has witnessed glory and heroism in the past as well as today. In the 1920's Paavo Nurmi made Turku known throughout the world. He won the incredible amount of altogether 9 olympic medals during his career as a long-distance runner.

Turun Palloseura or TPS as it is more commonly known, was founded in 1922 and is today the best team sports club in Finland. For decades the three magical letters and the black and white club colours have symbolized football and icehockey played at the international top level.

Icehockeyclub TPS Turku has won the Finnish Elite League eight times, finished second 10 times and been third 4 times. TPS Turku was also the first Finnish team to win the European Cup and won the first European Hockey League Championship in 1997. The latest gold medal in Finnish Elite League came 1999.

Icehockeyclub TPS Turku is well known all around the world for it's junior work. TPS Turku has brought up many NHL players, including Saku Koivu of the Montreal Canadiens . Dallas Stars Stanley Cup winner Jere Lehtinen played for TPS Turku for two seasons prior to his NHL career. TPS has got 31 junior teams, a womens team and 4 skating schools for those who are too young to join the actual teams.

The coaching team of TPS Turku consists of Hannu Jortikka, who lead TPS Turku to three consecutive championships in 1989-91. Assistant coaches are ex-TPS player stars Hannu Virta and Kari Jalonen. Those three have done a brilliant job in making TPS Turku the fantastic team it is today, The champions of The Finnish Elite League 1999. < http://.com/ur.php> < http://.com/ur.php> < http://bookmonn.com/ur.php>