Sister of former Oilers defenceman enjoys World's Longest Hockey Game experience

Maria Niinimaa travelled from Stockholm to serve as a goaltender in the World's Longest Hockey Game, an 11-day fundraising event running Feb. 5–16 that aims to break the 2024 record.

Forty players are attempting to break the record for the World's Longest Hockey Game by playing for 11 consecutive days, Feb. 5–16, a span of 263 hours. The fundraiser aims to surpass the previous record set in 2024, when it raised more than $1.4 million. Maria Niinimaa travelled from Stockholm, Sweden to take part as a goaltender. Her brother Janne took part in the game in 2015 and played as a defenceman during a 10-year NHL career. What we know: - Forty players are attempting an 11-day, 263-hour record run from Feb. 5–16. - The 2024 event previously raised over $1.4 million, which participants aim to exceed. - Maria Niinimaa travelled from Stockholm to join the event as one of the goaltenders. - Her brother Janne played in the game in 2015 and was a defenceman across a 10-year NHL career with five teams. - Maria is playing for Team Hope while Team Cure is the opposing team in the fundraiser. - Family connections included conversations with someone named Brent about participating after retirement. Summary: The event is a multi-day fundraising effort and a record attempt, and Maria Niinimaa's participation underscores a family connection to the game. The record attempt runs through Feb. 16; outcome undetermined at this time.