Five-time Stanley Cup Champion Esa Tikkanen facing charges in his home country

Esa Tikkanen, who won five Stanley Cups throughout his NHL career and is widely regarded as one of the best hockey players to come out of Finland, is facing criminal charges in his home country. Tikkanen, now 58, has been charged with aggravated tax fraud.

According to court documents, the offences are alleged to have occurred from 2015 to 2019 and involve money Tikkanen made abroad. He denied committing any crimes.

"I have not committed any offence, it is a matter of disagreement with the tax authorities," Tikkanen told reporters in Finland.

At one point, Tikkanen had assets worth up to $178,000 US seized by authorities in Finland. However, that has since been reversed. No court date has yet been set for his hearing.

Tikkanen won four Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers, as well as one with the New York Rangers. Besides the Oilers and Rangers, Tikkanen also played for St. Louis, New Jersey, Vancouver, Florida and Washington. He also won bronze at the Olympics with Finland in 1998.

Source: Ilta-Sanomat

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