Kasper Kotkansalo Announces Return to Finland, Citing Covid Concerns

Boston University rising senior Kasper Kotkansalo announced via his Instagram that he will remain in his native Finland this year, rather than playing his senior season with the Terriers due to Covid-19 concerns.

Here is a screenshot, via Patrick Donnelly:

Kotkansalo was a third round draft pick of the Detroit Red Wings in the 2017 NHL Draft, and while his offensive game never quite developed at the college level, he had matured into a steady, reliable defender for the Terriers, and was set to be the team’s alternate captain next season.

While nothing has officially been announced in regards to Boston University’s schedule for next season, Hockey East sent out a press release last week stating that while they plan to play all of their games next season, they will prioritize competition between league members, implying a more-limited schedule under even optimistic conditions.

By choosing to stay in Finland, Kotkansalo likely avoids the uncertainty caused by the virus. Finland reported 11 new cases of the virus on July 31, compared to 514 new cases in similarly-sized Massachusetts.