from Chris Johnston of Sportsnet,

There is a tiny dark room tucked into a television studio 180 kilometres north of Helsinki. It is non-descript and empty, save for a laptop, 25-inch TV, headphones and a microphone.

This is where Antti Makinen performs the loneliest job in hockey.

Makinen spends his days poring over articles and watching highlights of games played a continent away. He usually takes a “nap” between 10 p.m. and midnight. Then the voice of the NHL in Finland drives to the studio in the middle of the night and puts words to the exploits of Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Toews.

It’s a routine he follows as many as 170 nights a year. There is no colour man and no backstage crew.

continued