Played on Oct 10, 2025
Game Played in ISKU Arena
General Game Notes: Friday’s game was played in Lahti. The home team, Pelicans, was the better side for most of the match, even though Ässät won the first period. From the second period on, the home team took control of the game and eventually secured a well-deserved win.
Leevi Leppalahti (G, L, 5’10”, 176, Assat U20, 08/12/2007)
Game Rating
A
1 Viewing
Comments: Leevi is a left-handed goaltender of smaller stature who delivered an excellent performance throughout the entire game, keeping his team’s chances alive until the final minutes with confident saves. He showed above-average stickhandling skills and actively helped his teammates with the breakout, several times clearing the puck all the way down the ice during the penalty kill. Demonstrated good ability to find the puck even in traffic when his vision was obstructed. He made several quick saves, showing strong post-to-post movement and good reactions through his quick slide. His communication with defensemen was also very good – he actively directed the play in his own zone, making his defenders’ jobs easier. Although he allowed three goals, Leevi delivered a convincing performance and was one of the bright spots for his team.
Alexander Kim (LW, R, 5’11”, 163, Assat U20, 09/26/2005)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Alexander is a right-handed, right winger of medium height who played on the first line and was also part of the power play unit. He was on the ice in the final minutes during the 6-on-5 situation as his team tried to tie the game. He moved smoothly and effectively on his skates and showed good awareness with his head on a swivel. We saw several smart passes from him – for example, on his assist for the opening goal, when his cross pass found a teammate in a perfect scoring position. There were also multiple moments when, after a quick rush, he looked for better-positioned teammates in the slot, sometimes using accurate backhand passes. He also showed strong backchecking in the third period. Overall, he appeared as an offensive driver and a cerebral tactician, however, despite a solid performance, there is room for improvement in his consistency and in crucial moments when his top line needed to create more pressure and turn the game around.
Sakari Kostilainen (RW, L, 5’11”, 177, Assat, 12/02/2006)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Sakari is a left-handed right winger of medium height who played on his team’s third line and was also used on both the power play and penalty kill. He was on the ice in the final minutes during the 6-on-5 situation. He delivered a consistent performance throughout the game, showing both physical play and solid puck control. The combination of his soft hands and smart passes helped create scoring chances for his team, as did his play in the offensive zone – particularly along the boards, where he effectively moved toward the middle of the ice. In the third period, when his team was trailing, he emerged as one of the leaders trying to spark his teammates. Although his period began with a minor penalty, he later showed strong backchecking and forechecking, battling for every meter of ice to gain puck possession to help his team push to score and tied the game.
Samuel Huzevka (D, L, 6’5″, 207, Pelicans U20, 05/30/2006)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Samuel is a tall, left-handed defenseman who played on the second defensive pair and was also used on the penalty kill. A puck mover and defensive defenseman, he showed good physical play and used his size effectively, especially his strength, which in combination with his active stick gave him a clear advantage both in defensive situations and in board play. For his size, he demonstrated good skating ability, with several moments – for example on the offensive blue line – where he moved his feet quickly to get off the boards and shift the play toward the middle. He also showed hard and accurate passes.
Valtteri Nurmi (D, L, 5’11”, 154, Pelicans U20, 10/09/2004)
Game Rating
A
1 Viewing
Comments: Valtteri is a left-handed defenseman of medium height who played on the third pair. He delivered a consistent performance characterized by strong game presence and good movement toward the play. Valtteri is a good skater capable of generating speed, which gives him an advantage. Combined with his ability to quickly change direction – both with and without the puck – and his calmness on the stick on both sides of the ice, he appeared as a solid prototype of a two-way defenseman with an offensive mindset. He moved the puck quickly and was not afraid to join the rush to support the attack and create scoring opportunities. He also showed his strengths in defensive duties, for example in 1v1 situations where he tracked the attacking player well, prevented him from getting through, and allowed his team to regain puck possession and transition to offense.
Samu Alalauri (D, R, 6’2″, 203, Pelicans, 05/31/2008, UMass Amherst)
Game Rating
A
1 Viewing
Comments: Samu is a right-handed defenseman of taller stature who played on the team’s top defensive pair and was also used on the first power-play unit. A young and promising underage defenseman who still managed to stand out as one of the best players on the ice. Although his first period wasn’t particularly dominant, Samu delivered a consistent overall performance. He is an agile skater, an offensive-minded defenseman, and a confident puck mover, showing good mobility throughout the game. He played with calm on the stick and demonstrated strong board play, where he was able to quickly and effectively create space to skate from tight to open areas. He also used the middle of the ice effectively and relied on his smart decision-making, moving the puck quickly through accurate and simple passes. His composure was impressive – even under pressure, he stayed calm, using quick changes of direction to open up space and create time for a smart outlet pass. His ability to escape pressure from tight areas was outstanding, supported by his soft hands and overall poise. In the second period, he scored a goal after a nice combination play with his teammates, joining the rush and finishing confidently from the slot area into an open net. He also showed an active stick, especially noticeable during his backchecking efforts. Overall, Samu delivered an excellent performance.
Leevi Koskinen (RW, R, 5’10”, 187, Pelicans U20, 08/01/2005)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Leevi is a right-handed, right winger of medium to smaller stature who played on the first line and was also used on the power play. He was most noticeable in the first period, but his impact faded as the game went on. He was actively involved in faceoffs and showed good ability to move quickly and efficiently on his skates, which caused problems for opponents, especially during the rush when he used his speed to break through their defense and create chaos. Quick changes of direction, combined with his soft hands, helped him move the puck effectively from the boards into open space. An area for improvement would be his consistency, as mentioned above.
Vilho Sivonen (C, L, 5’6″, 131, Pelicans U20, 10/11/2006)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Vilho is a left-handed center of smaller stature who played on the fourth line. Despite limited ice time, his contribution to the team was clearly noticeable. He showed a strong performance on faceoffs, winning nine out of thirteen draws. In the first period, he stood out with his determination and aggressive approach, successfully getting under his opponents’ skin. He continued this effort in the second period, showing agility, quick change of direction, and confidence while playing under pressure on the offensive blue line – where he managed to beat a opponent, drawing a penalty that gave his team a power play opportunity. He is capable of generating high skating speed both with and without the puck, which was evident especially in his active forechecking throughout the game.
Joonas Paqvalin (LW, L, 6’2″, 196, Pelicans, 08/07/2006)
Game Rating
A
1 Viewing
Comments: Joonas is a left-handed left winger of taller stature who played on the second line and was also used on the first power-play unit. He recorded two points in the game, including an empty-net goal in the final minutes. Good skater, both with and without the puck. An offensive driver who consistently tried to get into the slot area or create chances for his teammates through smart passes to the middle of the ice. One of these effective plays (moment when Joonas moved the puck smart and effectively from the corner to the teammate within speed) led to the team’s first goal of the game. His team also took advantage of this strength during the power play, where he positioned himself on the right circle and looked to use cross-ice passes to set up teammates in better scoring positions. The combination of his soft hands, smooth skating, and ability to make space on the boards and move his feet toward open ice resulted in a high puck possession time for him and his team. Joonas was one of the most noticeable players on his team, with his biggest strength being his play with the puck.
Luka Arkko (LW, L, 6’3″, 212, Pelicans U20, 01/14/2008)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Luka is a tall, left-handed left winger who played on the second line and was also used on the power play. He scored two goals in the game – one on a light deflection in the net-front area and another after a nice passing play on the power play, finishing into an open net. He is a skilled forward who showed good puck control, soft hands, and smart passing, demonstrating smoothness and confidence, for example through saucer passes to the middle of the ice. In the second period, he showed his willingness to battle in the net-front area, where he redirected a blue line shot to score, and he did so again in the power play in the third period as mentioned above. Overall, he delivered a solid performance, though he was slightly less visible in open play.
Aaro Chrons (C, L, 6’2″, 192, Pelicans, 04/18/2005)
Game Rating
A
1 Viewing
Comments: Aaro is a left-handed center of medium stature who played on the second line and was also used on the power play. A good skater with smooth movement across the width of the ice, often covering for defensemen on the blue line and helping to prevent counterattacks. He plays physical hockey and is strong on the puck. When playing without the puck and during checking, he makes effective use of an active stick. Shows good puck protection, which allows him to move into free space and feed his teammates with smart passes. This was visible especially on the power play, where from his position on the left circle he moved the puck quickly and effectively used cross passes to stretch the opponent’s defense. Demonstrated good puck control overall, supported by his soft hands and accurate saucer passes. His line caused the most trouble for the opposing team. As an area for improvement, faceoffs should be mentioned, as he showed a weak success rate – winning only three out of thirteen.
Eelis Teutari (RW, L, 6’0″, 168, Pelicans, 05/16/2005)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Eelis is a left-handed, right winger of medium stature who played on the third line, was part of the first power play unit, and was also used on the penalty kill. He plays with his head on a swivel and showed good game awareness, using an active stick while checking to help his team regain puck possession quickly. He demonstrated good movement within the puck, which was visible for example at the offensive blue line, where he confidently held onto the puck. He has no problem protecting it effectively thanks to his soft hands. He also showed strong board play, being able to move from tight to open space efficiently through good puck protection.
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