Played on Oct 4, 2025
Game Played in Vaasan Sähkö Areena
General Game Notes: Saturday’s U20 SM-sarja game played in Vaasa, where the home team Sport was on the back foot for most of the match. We witnessed an excellent start from SaiPa in the second period, as they scored three goals within the first five minutes, which completely changed the course of the game. Although Sport managed to get back into the game and close the gap, they couldn’t turn things around, and we eventually saw a solid SaiPa victory by a three-goal margin.
Ville-Veikko Hiltunen (G, L, 6’0″, 193, SaiPa U20, 01/14/2006)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Ville is a left-handed goaltender of medium stature. From the start of the game, he actively helped his teammates, for example by stopping pucks behind the net, which was a positive, though he also showed some minor lapses in this area. He displayed good positional play, Ville is an active skater, and showed strong awareness while tracking the puck behind screens and orientation in the chaos in front of the net. He managed to control most shots in his equipment or successfully kicked the puck to the corner.
Vertti Svensk (D, L, 6’0″, 165, SaiPa U20, 11/09/2007)
Game Rating
A
1 Viewing
Comments: Vertti is a left-handed defenseman of medium height who played on the second defensive pair, as well as on the first power play and penalty kill units. Without question, he was the best player on the ice – and here’s why. Offensive defender, puck mover, an agile and smooth skater, Vertti showed excellent movement, strong edgework, quick changes of direction, and great awareness with his head up. In the defensive zone, he demonstrated a very active approach, especially excelling in battles along the boards and in checking situations. We could see moments where he smartly froze the game, using his body and timing effectively to allow a better-positioned teammate to recover the puck, or when he blocked an opponent to provide support. One of Vertti’s biggest strengths was his board play – he used both his power and intelligence, and it seemed like he came out of nearly every battle with the puck on his stick. His takeaways often led to quick transitions to offense and rushes for his team. He displayed great game sense and the ability to move from tight to open space even under pressure. There were also several moments when he calmly turned the play behind his own net to wait for better support from teammates and start a controlled breakout. Thanks to his agility, he was also very effective in 1v1 battles and along the defensive blue line, maintaining a close gap, successfully forcing opponents to the boards or stopping them with his body – overall excellent physical play. He made quick and smart passes on both sides of the ice and was also a big contributor offensively. Playing with his head on a swivel and always facing the game, he moved the puck quickly to create scoring opportunities. His efficient puck movement often resulted in dangerous rushes for his team. He showed very good zone entries and confident play in the offensive zone, not hesitating to make dekes or create space for his team to set up. When possession was lost, he didn’t hesitate to jump on the forecheck. Vertti also created scoring chances for himself, showing a hard and quick shot with a fast release. There were a few less positive moments as well – for example, an unfortunate own goal that deflected off his skate following a backchecking play, where it was difficult to react to the bounce. Another instance was a goal against during the penalty kill that came from a rush where Vertti had joined the offense and wasn’t back in time. Overall, however, it was an impressive performance, and he played a major role in his team’s victory.
Veeti Moilanen (C, R, 5’11”, 172, SaiPa U20, 09/08/2005)
Game Rating
A
1 Viewing
Comments: Veeti is a right-handed center of medium height who played on the second line and was also used on both the power play and penalty kill. He showed good success in the faceoff circle throughout the game. A solid skater with efficient movement both with and without the puck, he played with confidence supported by his soft hands and high puck possession time. In general, he likes to play with the puck and isn’t afraid to take risks – as shown in the third period when he made a precise and smooth saucer pass below the offensive blue line. He moved the puck quickly to support offensive transitions from the defensive zone and was effective in moving it from tight spaces along the boards to open areas before joining the rush. He also showed a quick shot with a fast release, which we could see on the play that led to his goal which was the goal number six for his team.
Simppa Svensk (RW, L, 6’1″, 157, SaiPa U20, 07/31/2005)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Simppa is a left-handed, right-winger of medium stature, played in the first line and on the power play. Although he recorded three assists, his performance was most impressive in the first period. He stood out with good physical play and effectively provided support on the open ice, for example by blocking an opponent to allow his teammate to gain the puck and continue the play in the offensive zone. Thanks to his quick reaction and backchecking already in the offensive zone, where he swiftly gained possession and turned the play, his team scored their second goal of the game. One of his key strengths is board play, where he can effectively protect the puck and free himself toward open space.
Vojtech Hora (D, L, 6’3″, 181, SaiPa U20, 08/02/2008)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Vojtech is a tall, left-handed defenseman who played in the third pair and was also used on the penalty kill. He delivered a consistent performance throughout the game but stood out the most in the third period. A good skater with strong edgework, he showed quick changes of direction – for example, when he held the puck smartly under pressure, stayed calm, and waited for a better passing option, both when facing forecheck pressure and during controlled breakouts. He showed calmness on the stick in the defensive zone overall and wasn’t afraid to support the offense. He moved the puck quickly and used width passes effectively. He defended the defensive blue line well in 1v1 situations and protected his goalie when needed. Offensively, he showed soft hands in the offensive zone and a clear willingness to play with the puck – when given the opportunity, he tried to move toward the middle to create plays. One area for improvement would be board play; although he showed good puck protection and had several successful battles along the boards, there were moments where he approached the boards incorrectly – not fully facing the opponent or firm enough to win the battle decisively.
Joona Ronkko (D, L, 5’11”, 177, SaiPa U20, 08/31/2005)
Game Rating
A
1 Viewing
Comments: Joona is a left-handed defenseman of average height who played on his team’s first pairing and was also part of the second power-play unit and the penalty kill. He delivered a consistent performance and showed good chemistry with his defensive partner. He played with his head up and moved the puck quickly, which led to effective transitions from defense to offense. He was also strong in the breakout, where his smart passes helped his team again to move smoothly from the defensive to the offensive phase. On the offensive side, he showed soft hands and good awareness on the offensive blue line, moving the puck quickly and using the width with accurate tape-to-tape passes. Defensively, he effectively covered the middle of the ice – a great example came in the final minute of the game while killing a penalty, where he demonstrated an aggressive approach from his position in the net-front area, successfully forcing opponents into the corners and less dangerous spots. In that same shift, he blocked two shots and played a key role in helping his team secure the win.
Richard Zemlicka (C, L, 6’3″, 187, SaiPa U20, 04/04/2006)
Game Rating
A
1 Viewing
Comments: Richard is a tall and strong, left-handed center who played on the first line, taking part in both power play and penalty kill. He delivered a consistent performance throughout the game, recording two goals and one assist. He effectively uses his size and power, which clearly lifts the confidence and impact of his entire line. He is the kind of player who’s tough to play against, showing great physical play and readiness to protect the goalie when needed. We could see him using his body well, especially in the net-front area, where he battled to create space for himself. Overall, he was very active around the crease with a strong net drive and good pressure to the net, which also led to one of his goals. For his size, he’s a good skater with efficient movement, and once he gains speed, he’s hard to stop. He showed strong forechecking, using an active stick, which resulted in several takeaways. He’s not lazy to move his feet, moves the puck quickly, and joins the rush – qualities that also contributed to another one of his goals. As an area for improvement, I would recommend focusing on faceoffs, where his success rate was relatively low.
Anze Zezelj (LW, L, 5’9″, 177, SaiPa, 03/24/2005)
Game Rating
A
1 Viewing
Comments: Anže is a left-handed, left-winger of smaller stature who played in the first line and was also used on both the power play and penalty kill. He showed good skating, hockey IQ, and puck skills, with soft hands that led to his first goal following a nice finish. Anže consistently faced the game and used the middle area effectively, both with and without the puck. He provided support on the boards and used his stick actively. An offensive driver, he supplied his teammates with smart passes and showed good covering of the net-front area in the offensive zone. He also displayed his skill on the team’s seventh goal, finishing a great individual move with a clever deke, showing confidence and a willingness to play with the puck. As the area for improvement is board play and physical play.
Emil Vanninen (D, L, 6’3″, 199, Sport U20, 03/12/2007)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Emil is a left-handed, taller defenseman who played in the first defensive pair, second power-play unit, and on the penalty kill. In the first period, he stood out for effectively using his active stick and moving the puck quickly to support the offense. The second period was one of his best, as he smartly used the middle during breakouts. On the penalty kill, he recorded a successful block that led to a quick transition to offense, resulting in a goal for his team. He also made good use of his size, particularly in board play, where it was difficult for opponents to move him, especially when he protected the puck effectively.
Thierry Andrey (LW, L, 5’9″, 161, Sport U20, 08/24/2007)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Thierry is a left-handed, left winger of smaller stature, who played on the second line and was also part of the second power-play unit. He stood out mainly in the middle part of the game. He showed good skating movement, relentless backchecking, and solid physical play. Thierry was also active in his team’s offensive game – among his strengths are his soft hands, which he uses to find open space, and his smart passing, as seen in his assist on his team’s third goal. His zone entries also deserve mention, as he effectively gained puck possession for himself and his team to set up in the offensive zone and create pressure late in the game.
Tim Ekman (C, L, 5’8″, 159, Sport U20, 12/07/2005)
Game Rating
A
1 Viewing
Comments: Tim is a left-handed center of smaller stature who played on the first line and was also used on the power play. His faceoff success rate was slightly above 50%. Despite his smaller frame, he showed good physical play and strong board work, using his speed and excellent change of direction to move his feet quickly toward the middle and create space for himself, supported by his soft hands. He demonstrated very good puck protection, which contributed to his high puck possession time. Tim used his skill set effectively in the offensive zone, showing confidence and a clear willingness to play with the puck and make dekes. He had no problem handling pressure or keeping the puck below the offensive blue line to take responsibility, create space, and help his team generate scoring chances.
Elias Mourujarvi (C, L, 6’3″, 187, Sport U20, 04/11/2005)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Elias is a tall, left-handed center who played on his team’s second line and was also part of the first power-play and penalty-killing units. He made a strong impression mainly in the first period. His faceoff success rate was slightly above 50%. He plays with his head on a swivel, which was evident through his smart, hard, and accurate passes that consistently fed his teammates. In general, he moved the puck quickly to create offensive opportunities and was very active in finding open space to shoot. Defensively, he used his stick actively and effectively during checking situations and worked to get on the defensive side of the play whenever his team didn’t have puck possession.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images