Finland’s first openly gay ice hockey player Janne Puhakka allegedly shot dead by ex partner after break up

YLE News has reported that “Police told Finnish media on Tuesday that a 66-year-old man has admitted to shooting the 29-year-old Puhakka.

The police statement did not confirm the identity of the suspect.

“However, according to Yle's information, Puhakka's partner, the 66-year-old Norwegian veterinarian Rolf Nordmo, has admitted to the killing.

"Based on an interview with the suspect, the motive for the crime was the end of the relationship between the victim and the suspect," Detective Inspector Matti Högman said in the police's statement.”

It is believed that Rolf Nordmo had moved out of the couple’s apartment they shared a few weeks before Janne Puhakka’s death but returned there reportedly to take care of some ‘practical matters.’

Rolf Nordmo is reportedly now in police custody and it is expected that he will remain in police custody until a court hearing has been set. People magazine revealed that in a statement released by the Police of Finland, “the  statement said that “police have now questioned the man suspected of committing a homicide in Espoo's Henttaa on October 13th” and alleged that “the suspect has told that he shot the victim with a shotgun and caused the victim's death.”

Janne Puhakka was reportedly a cast member of the Finnish reality show Petolliset, an offshoot of the Dutch reality series, The Traitors. Janne Puhakka however is best known for playing ice hockey for Espoo Blues in Finland’s top Liiga hockey league. Janne reportedly retired from hockey three years after meeting Nordmo. 

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin took to Instagram to pay tribute to Janne and shared a black and white image of the former ice hockey player with a broken heart emoji. 

Jason Nikkinen also paid tribute to Janne on Instagram and said: “Janne Puhakka will be remembered as a great friend, teammate and a true role model whose courage, creativity & positive attitude made a real impact not only within ice hockey, but also in the broader world of Finnish sports & society.

“Janne is now gone, but his legacy will live forever. Sincere condolences to the family and those who were closest to him.”

Many have paid tribute to Janne Puhakka on his personal Instagram and one fan said: “My sweet little brother. I don’t believe this is real man. You made the world a beautiful and better place to live in. I love you. You are the greatest of all. Sandness, pain and longing are baseless. Strength to all Janne’s relatives and friends.”