World Hockey Championship silver medalist faces up to 10 years in prison in drug case in Finland

Former Finnish national hockey team defender Jere Karalahti was arrested by a Helsinki court on suspicion of committing a serious drug crime, reports Ilta‑Sanomat.

It is assumed that it was committed in the Finnish capital from June 1 to September 29 of this year. Charges must be filed by mid-January. Serious drug offenses are punishable in Finland by prison sentences ranging from one to ten years.

“The preliminary investigation is still ongoing, the police have no additional information,” said criminal inspector Markku Juurikkamäki.

Karalahti’s lawyer Mikko Ruuttunen said his client “completely denies the allegations.”

Last week, Karalahti competed in a boxing event in Helsinki and lost a decision to former bodybuilder Mathias Niema.

Karalahti is 50 years old, as a member of the Finnish national team he became the bronze medalist of the World Championship three times (1998, 1999, 2014), and won bronze at the world championship in 2000. In the NHL he played for Los Angeles and Nashville, in the KHL for Dynamo Minsk and Jokerit Helsinki. Karalahti retired from playing in 2016.