With 1:10 remaining in a tense WCHA rivalry game between Northern Michigan and Michigan Tech, Wildcats goalie Atte Tolvanen did something that turned a competitive regular-season game into a historic event. Tolvanen calmly collected a loose puck and fired 180 feet into Tech’s vacated goal. It clinched a vital win for the ‘Cats, and set off a social media feeding frenzy. Finnish goalies throughout North America sounded off, loud and proud.

“It was sick!” said UMass goalie Filip Forsberg, who will be representing Finland at the World Juniors later this month. “I saw the goal on social media. It was really cool.”

Ferris State’s Roni Salmenkangas had to stash his own competitive nature to give props to his countryman. 

“Even though we play in the same conference, you just have to appreciate what he did, and be happy for him,” the Ferris freshman said. “That video has gone viral, you can see that as a free advertisement for Finland.”

Here it is. The video you've all been waiting for. The first goalie goal in program history and 11th in NCAA history by @NMUHockey Atte Tolvanen! @espn @SportsCenter @ESPNAssignDesk #SCtop10 #NMUwildcats #ShareNMU pic.twitter.com/QCX60MAUZI

— NMU Athletics (@NMU_Wildcats) December 8, 2018

NHL.com picked up the story, and spun it as a sibling rivalry between Atte and his younger brother Eeli Tolvanen, a forward for the Nashville Predators, who just scored his first career NHL goal. It left them in a dead heat in the family goal-scoring race. 

“I think there’s going to be a lot of competition when we go home for the summer,” said little bro. 

Aside from being delightful eye candy—Tolvanen’s sprint to the head of the celebratory conga line, high-fiving the Northern bench deserves 100% on Rotten Tomatoes—the event shines even brighter when viewed through the lens of history.

? @NMUHockey ?
The second goalie goal in WCHA history and 11th in NCAA history was enough to earn Atte Tolvanen his second league Goaltender of the Week award this season!
STORY: https://t.co/eFM53ojkii#NMUwildcats #ShareNMU pic.twitter.com/j9B1HRFLqM

— NMU Athletics (@NMU_Wildcats) December 10, 2018

He’s the only Finn and the 11th NCAA goaltender to ever score a goal, and, he’s only the fourth college kicker to shoot the puck directly into the opponents’ net himself. Only G Damian Rhodes of Michigan Tech was ever credited with scoring in the WCHA, but he never shot the puck. An NHL search revealed one Finn who is credited with a goal—Mika Noronen of the Sabres back in 2004—but he did not propel that puck. So, when it comes to Finnish goaltenders’ scoring prowess, Tolvanen is in a league by himself. Friday’s historic marker was no accident.

“I tried in Bowling Green earlier this year, but I missed it by like five feet,” Tolvanen told the Daily Mining Gazette in Friday’s giddy post-game scrum. “I told the guys I’d get it in next time.” 

And true to his word, the Finn delivered, elating the entire goaltending nation of Finland. 

“Of course I’m proud, he’s a Finnish goalie, it’s always a good representation of our country,” said Kevin Lankinen, a minor league goalie in the NHL Blackhawks organization, who played against Tolvanen back in Finland as a junior. “I’m proud of him scoring a goal, makes me want to score a goal myself, too.”

Finland ranks second only to Quebec in reputation as a breeding ground for star goalies. Lankinen has a theory about Finnish personalities to help explain his country’s success in developing so many star goalies. 

“It might come from the nature of the people,” said Lankinen from his current home in Indianapolis. “We like to be by ourself, not outgoing. Got the mentality that you have to do whatever it takes, I think that’s probably the biggest reason.”

Based on Atte’s wild celebration and the enormous social buzz from his dynamic feat, it appears that Finnish goalies throughout North America are shedding their reputations as dour Norse and embracing the light. Ferris State’s Salmenkangas will likely be facing Northern Michigan’s Tolvanen at least once this weekend in their two-game WCHA set, and the rookie is not shy about confronting his much-decorated countryman.

“I’m really looking forward to facing him, as it is extremely rare that two Finnish goalies face each other in the NCAA,” Salmenkangas said. “It might be the first time ever!” 

Two Finn goalies starting a college game against each other is not as rare as Salmenkangas believes. A quick check with College Hockey, Inc., revealed that two Finns started between the pipes back on January 29, 2016, as Minnesota Duluth’s Kas Kaskisuo faced his countryman in the opposing crease that night at Northern Michigan, a youngster by the name of Atte Tolvanen. For the record, the Wildcats’ frosh defeated that year’s NCAA finalists 4-3. 

Tolvanen is now the WCHA’s reigning goalie of the week and goalie of the month, and last Friday became the first Finn goalie on record to shoot and score in North America. Atte Tolvanen is quickly raising the profile of a school, a league and the perception of his countrymen. Not bad work for half a season.

Tim Rappleye is the author of "Jack Parker's Wiseguys" and "Hobey Baker, Upon Further Review," released in November. He can be reached @TeeRaps.