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Sami Kapanen’s new teammate is his 16-year-old son, making us all feel ancient

From the Department of Suddenly Feeling Really, Really Old …

Sami Kapanen played 12 seasons in the NHL with the Hartford Whalers, Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers, endearing himself to fans with his versatility and hustle.

Now 39, he spent the last four years playing for KalPa Kuopio in SM-liiga over in Finland.

On Saturday, Kapanen will make history, following in the proud familial tradition of Gordie, Mark and Marty Howe: Playing on the same professional team as his son for the first time.

Yes, Sami Kapanen is playing professionally with his son. [Expletive] you, non-stop passage of time.

Via Iltasanomat.fi, here’s the scoop on the Kapanens’ debut together (via Puck Daddy reader ‘J’):

SM-Liiga team Kalpa will have two Kapanen in their roster next Saturday. Sami Kapanen who has had a long career in top hockey leagues around the world told that one major reason for him to continue playing was the opportunity to play with his son on top level. Saturday this will happen.

Kasperi Kapanen, 16, will be in the roster against Ilves, Kalpa have just announced. For the first time Kasperi played already in December, but father Sami was not in roster. Younger Kapanen is expected to join 4th line together with Jyri Junnila and Joonas Riekkinen.

Take a gander at the Kapanens in uniform here.

Now, you may be wondering how a 16-year-old player gets on the roster of a team in a competitive pro league. Perhaps it won’t come as a shock to hear that Sami Kapanen is a major ownership shareholder in KalPa Kuopio.

That rationale does a disservice to Kasper Kapanen, a talented player who has appeared on the Finnish junior national teams … but having a part-owner as a dad probably didn’t hurt.

After the Kapanens make history, we eagerly await Marty Brodeur to be backed up by Anthony Brodeur sometime in 2017.

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