Steady attitude, humble start

Karri Ramo's work ethic led him from small-town Finland to the Lightning.

By EDUARDO A. ENCINA
Published December 26, 2007

Lightning goaltender Karri Ramo was called up Dec. 19 from AHL Norfolk and has started twice.
	[Stephen J. Coddington | Times]

ADVERTISEMENT Goalie Karri Ramo is celebrated in his small hometown.

TAMPA - When tough times prevented Karri Ramo's parents from buying him the best hockey equipment, the child's warm words made everything all right.

"Equipment is just to protect," he told them. "The real skill comes from the people inside the equipment."

And now years later in Heinola, an industrial town of about 20,000 in southern Finland, they celebrate the kid who overcame humble beginnings to become the first local to reach the NHL.

"Karri making it to Tampa was really a big deal here," said Karri's sister, Heidi Ramo. "But it wasn't a surprise to our family."

The Lightning goaltender learned early that there's only so much you can control, and everything else can be blocked out. Ramo has drawn raves because of his unflappable demeanor.

And that's one of the reasons the Lightning has confidence putting the 21-year-old in the most scrutinized position in hockey.

As Tampa Bay coach John Tortorella said, "Not a whole hell of a lot bothers him."

"A lot of things don't depend on you, so I've always been that way," Ramo said. "I just try to leave it real simple."

But that's because, for a young man, Karri Ramo has seen a lot.

It started in the Ramo home, a home that had lots of love but sometimes had little money. Ramo's father, Pekka, was a machine carpenter with a wood company; his mother, Hannele, an electrician.

Pekka played hockey when he was younger and Hannele was a speed skater and cyclist, so even though times were tough they always encouraged their children, one daughter and four sons, to play sports.

"They always made it so that we always had what we needed," Ramo said. "They had to work extra hard. They worked every day. They didn't have a lot of vacation. ... But they always made sure my brothers and I had our hockey equipment."

Unfortunately for the family, the house itself wasn't as strong. Suddenly, the family - including Karri - fell ill. Soon it was discovered that a building flaw created bad air ventilation in the house, allowing mold to develop. Karri, two brothers and his mother were diagnosed with asthma, and the problem was so bad they were forced to move when Karri was 8.

Karri's asthma became so bad that it forced him off the ice for several months as a child - cold conditions and exercise sometimes trigger asthma attacks - but when he returned he made sure he didn't take the game for granted, his sister said.

"His attitude is very humble," said Heidi Ramo, 22, the oldest of the five children. "I think the reason he is always so confident now is because he was always ready to work hard for what he wants. After he missed all that time, he worked twice as hard to catch up."

The reward was the opportunity to attend a sports high school in Finland, but that meant moving away at age 16.

"I basically lived on my own when I was 16," Karri said. "So I've been learning a lot about normal life, and when you know what to do there you can be a mature player and a mature person, too."

Meanwhile, Ramo's mother became a building inspector, helping other families forced from their homes because of mold, something that has become prominent in Scandanavian countries.

By age 18, Karri joined the Finnish Elite League and was shortly thereafter drafted by the Lightning in the sixth round in 2004. Tonight against the Capitals, he will make his third NHL start, all in the past week.

Thinking Karri would still be playing with the Lightning's minor-league team in Norfolk, his three younger brothers, 18-year-old Jens and 15-year-old twins Lauri and Lari, were supposed to visit Karri after the holidays.

That trip has been put on hold.

"We'll see how it goes," Ramo said with a smile. "See where I get settled."

Maybe the whole family can come instead.

Maybe to Tampa Bay.

Then the Ramo family can bring stories back to Heinola.

And some memories.

"That would be nice," Karri said, his face lighting up at the thought. "It would be exciting. I know my parents worked very hard to help me get here. Now I'm at this point and hopefully I can give something back to them."

Eduardo A. Encina can be reached at eencina@tampabay.com.

[Last modified December 25, 2007, 22:00:47]