Atro Leppanen comes from the Finnish factory town of Mantta that merged with neighbouring Vilppula, the municipality an hour north of Tampere, a little place of under 10,000 people where museums are one of the attractions.

Why are we talking art when we’re talking hockey player Leppanen?

“I worked at a museum, watching the paintings,” says the interesting Edmonton Oilers defence prospect, who led the Finnish Liiga, their highest-level hockey, in points last season, breaking the longtime defenceman record of New Jersey Devils-Detroit Red Wings Brian Rafalski, who played over there.

Leppanen was like a security guard?

“Yeah, in a way. Nobody touches the paintings. That was my job.”

Clearly, the 183-pound Leppanen, who spent four years in Division 2 league the Mestis back home before m

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