However, being on the road with the Kraken for more than a week will give him more time to bond with his teammates and impress the coaches should he be needed in the future.
“The thing is, if we have an injury in the first game or whatever, it gives us an opportunity to have him as a backup or whatever in the second game, so be a little bit more secure from that standpoint,” Kraken coach Lane Lambert said. “Also, it’s nice to see him back here and enjoying it like our other Finnish players.
“Each of them is extremely proud to be here and we’re excited for each of them, so I’m glad he’s here.”
Kocco is still trying to establish himself as a goaltender as he moved to North America to play the 2023-24 season after splitting the season between the Carpathians (2-5-1, 2.36 GAA, .906 save percentage, one shutout) and the Pelicans (9-0-3, 1.49 GAA, .926 save percentage, top four in Finland).
He had a strong first season with Coachella Valley, going 20-10-2 with a 2.26 GAA and a .913 save percentage in 33 games in 2024-25, and followed that up by going 19-10-2 with a 3.13 GAA, a .901 save percentage and two shutouts in 35 games last season.