Finnish star forward Janne Puhakka, 29, murdered by his 66 year old partner

According to a report from Finnish publication Ilta-Sanomat, former Liiga star forward Janne Puhakka was murdered in his Espoo, Finland home yesterday.

Puhakka, 29, was the league's first openly gay player and had been featured in the Finnish reality show The Traitors this past season. Police have arrested Puhakka's 66 year old partner Rolf Nordmo under suspicion of homicide.

More from Ilta-Sanomat (Translated from Finnish):

According to IS information, the murder took place on Sunday evening at the property where ex-hockey player Janne Puhakka , 29, and his partner, Norwegian veterinarian Rolf Nordmo , 66, live.

"We have a reasonably good understanding of what has happened,: crime commissioner, head of investigation Matti Högman tells Ilta-Sanom. "But, of course, we only suspect and the investigation is in the early stages," Högman says.

The police suspect that the act was particularly brutal and cruel. In addition, the police suspect that there was sound judgment in the act.
"We suspect sound judgment and a particularly raw and cruel way of doing things," Högman tells Ilta-Sanom.

The suspect came out of the apartment himself and the police arrested him. The arrest went peacefully.

- Ilta Sanomat

Producers for The Traitors have stated that next month's finale of the show, which had been filmed with Puhakka, has been put on hold indefinitely.

As for Puhakka's hockey career, he'll be remembered as a pioneer in his native Finland for being the first openly gay player to play in the nation's top league. After playing back to back seasons with the QMJHL's Chicoutimi Sagueneens from 2013-2015, Puhakka played one full season in Liiga (2015-16) before playing in the lower Mestis league and eventually in Southeastern France.