COMING TO AMERICA; EUROPEANS PLAYERS ADJUST TO LANGUAGE, GAME.

Byline: Greg Christensen

For decades, National Hockey League players came from the small towns of Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia, and the farms of the Prairie provinces. A select few trickled in from United States collegiate programs.

But the face of the league has been changing. More and more, it has taken a European look. In 1967-68, 1.3 percent of the players were born outside North America. This season, that number is up to 23.9 percent.

Players from Russia and other states of the former Soviet Union, the Czech Republic, Finland and Sweden have become a force. Last year, six of the top 10 scorers were European-born, including the top three - Jaromir Jagr, Peter Forsberg and Pavel Bure.

The NHL has truly become a reflection of the global community.

``Society has progressed, you know more people of the world than ever before,'' said Ducks defenseman Fredrick Olausson, who left Sweden and joined the Winnipeg Jets in 1985.

But the transitions that European-born players go through when they come to North America aren't always easy and are as varied as the backgrounds of the players themselves.

``When I came to Las Vegas, it was really a big difference,'' said Ducks defenseman Ruslan Salei of Belarus, who played a season with the Las Vegas Thunder of the International League before being drafted in the first round by the Ducks in 1996.

Even though he came to the United States with Russian Vladimir Tsyplakov of the Kings, Salei admits the the glitz and glamour of Vegas was a bit overwhelming.

``I thought all of America was like Las Vegas,'' he said, laughing.

Ducks rookie Antti Aalto's first North American season (1997-98) was spent in the calm atmosphere of Cincinnati, but it was no laughing matter for the native of Finland.

He had failed to make the Ducks' final cut, didn't speak much English and then injured an elbow, ending his season last January.

``I don't think I was ready; I didn't think it was going to be that tough,'' Aalto admits. ``It was OK to play hockey. But it just surprised me - the bus trips and everything.

``I was homesick after the first months, and I wanted to go home so bad.''

For others, the transition is much easier. The Ducks' Teemu Selanne of Finland waited four years after he was drafted to join the Winnipeg club, and he had no problems making the adjustment to North American life - on or off the ice.

The outgoing, energetic Selanne scored an NHL rookie-record 76 goals in the 1992-93 season.

``It depends on what kind of person you are,'' Selanne said. ``Being away from home, different language - some guys don't like that.

``But it doesn't bother me. My wife and I are both really positive people. It wouldn't bother us if we played in Alaska. We always find a way to live and be happy.''

Command of the language is probably the biggest obstacle for European players. It's crucial off the ice, and certainly doesn't hurt on it.

The Swedes are way ahead in this department. They learn English in school and most are fluent by the time they arrive. The Finns, Czechs and Russians have a much tougher time.

Salei learned German in school and didn't know a world of English. He admits being envious of a player like current teammate Johan Davidsson.

``You look at Johan and he came over here and speaks perfect English,'' Salei said. ``He can communicate with everybody.

``My first year, I would walk in the dressing room and I didn't know what was going on. The guys were talking about something and I'd have to ask the other Russian guys.

``You feel like you are losing something. . . you aren't in.''

Salei, who has learned to speak English by watching television and being around English speakers, said it's almost impossible to bond with other players without a grasp of the language.

``When you can communicate you can go out and have a couple of beers and talk,'' he said. ``(When you don't speak English), what are you going to talk about? They don't understand you and you don't understand them.''

Salei said ``hockey is hockey,'' even when there is a language barrier. But Kings coach Larry Robinson had trouble teaching Aki Berg during Berg;s rookie season because the Finnish defenseman could understand little of what Robinson said.

Aalto said his improved English allowed his natural instincts to take over this season and he made the team.

``Last year, I had to think about everything that was said,'' said the winger, who feels last year was his worst in professional hockey.

Then there's the adjustment to the game itself. For years, European players were thought of as soft and unable to adjust to the smaller NHL rinks after having played on larger surfaces at home.

But there's no disputing the toughness of Colorado's Forsberg, Anaheim's Tomas Sandstrom and former Detroit defenseman Vladimir Konstantinov.

``There's no question about the Europeans anymore,'' Ducks coach Craig Hartsburg said. ``Some of them play a lot harder than some North Americans. If people still think that way, it's the dark ages.

``(Rinks) are probably the only thing they have to adapt to and these guys coming over are smart; it doesn't take them very long.''

To back that up, all you have to do is look at the NHL's scoring leaders. And some feel that the Europeans may even come to the NHL with a more advanced game than the North American-born players.

``They teach you skills and skating, and I think that's a big advantage,'' Selanne said of being trained overseas. ``For us, when we can add some hard work and toughness here, you have a pretty good package.''

``They do a good job developing players over there,'' said Ducks assistant GM David McNab, who has extensive experience scouting in Europe. ``We aren't in a real rush to get them over here (after players have been drafted). Some guys come over later, but they are ready to play.''

McNab also said today's Europeans are benefiting from the experiences of the players who preceded them.

``First-generation players didn't know about training for the NHL, but today's players know what they have to do,'' he said. ``There has been an evolution and they are being coached by former NHL players.''

EURODISNEY

Like the rest of the league, the Mighty Ducks' roster has gained a lot of European players lately.

Pos Player Country

C Antti Aalto Finland

C Johan Davidsson Sweden

C Josef Marha Czech Rep.

D Fredrik Olausson Sweden

D Ruslan Salei Belarus

RW Tomas Sandstrom Finland

RW Teemu Selanne Finland

D Pavel TrnkaCzech Rep.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos, Box

PHOTO (1--Color) Anaheim's Teemu Selanne (8) says he had no problems adjusting to North American life, on or off the ice.

(2) The Mighty Ducks' Fredrik Olausson left Sweden and joined the Winnipeg Jets in 1985.

Michael Caulfield/Associated Press

BOX: EURODISNEY (see text)