Pekka Lampinen
Registered User
With the exception of a couple of second tier games, hockey is on Christmas break in Finland now.
A few weeks back Ilves decided that their starter Juha Pitkämäki wasn't playing well enough anymore for them to afford a seventeen-year-old backup and they acquired a new goalie. That puts Tuukka Rask's (2005) pro career temporarily on hold and he'll concentrate on Jr A games. At that time he dominated the U20 league in GAA and save% but failed and got pulled in the following two games. As the WJC neared, he then regained form with two solid performanes.
Blues was missing two lines' worth of forwards and so Mikko Lehtonen (2005) enjoyed a premature pro debut. The coach was very happy with his attitude and tactical ability.
At first Teemu Laakso (2005) seemed to be nowhere near SM-Liiga, but then HIFK suffered a defenseman shortage and Laakso got his chance. His two games were most successful although he was struck by the reality of pro hockey as Josh Holden took him temporarily out of the game by ramming him against the boards. What happens in Helsinki and Grand Forks around New Year will decide whether he returns to Jr A.
With the way he had been playing, Jesse Joensuu (2006) was bound to hit the net soon. A longish pass sent him on a 1-on-1 rush, he made some dekes to manage a shot from the defenseman's feet and appeared on the scoresheet for the first time in SM-Liiga.
A few weeks back Ilves decided that their starter Juha Pitkämäki wasn't playing well enough anymore for them to afford a seventeen-year-old backup and they acquired a new goalie. That puts Tuukka Rask's (2005) pro career temporarily on hold and he'll concentrate on Jr A games. At that time he dominated the U20 league in GAA and save% but failed and got pulled in the following two games. As the WJC neared, he then regained form with two solid performanes.
Blues was missing two lines' worth of forwards and so Mikko Lehtonen (2005) enjoyed a premature pro debut. The coach was very happy with his attitude and tactical ability.
At first Teemu Laakso (2005) seemed to be nowhere near SM-Liiga, but then HIFK suffered a defenseman shortage and Laakso got his chance. His two games were most successful although he was struck by the reality of pro hockey as Josh Holden took him temporarily out of the game by ramming him against the boards. What happens in Helsinki and Grand Forks around New Year will decide whether he returns to Jr A.
With the way he had been playing, Jesse Joensuu (2006) was bound to hit the net soon. A longish pass sent him on a 1-on-1 rush, he made some dekes to manage a shot from the defenseman's feet and appeared on the scoresheet for the first time in SM-Liiga.
