Played on Oct 18, 2025
Game Played in Kuopion Jaahalli (Niiralan)
Lassi Paananen (G, L, 6’1″, 183, HPK U20, 02/25/2006)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Lassi is a left-catching goaltender of medium height who faced 27 shots. While this was fewer than the opposing goalie, it’s important to highlight that he made at least three world class saves that could be considered near-certain goals, and he handled them very well. He showed good movement in the crease and quick lateral slides to stay prepared for shots from sharp angles. He kept his team in the game and maintained their chances of winning up until the opponent’s late pressure, where he was beaten twice on rebounds. Overall, a solid performance, though he would benefit from a closer look in future games for a more detailed evaluation.
Akseli Ketonen (D, R, 5’11”, 152, HPK U20, 09/10/2005)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Akseli is a right-handed defenseman of medium height who played on the second defensive pair. He was also used on the power play, was on the ice during the final minutes when his team was defending against a 6-on-5 situation, and took shifts in overtime. He is an offensively oriented defenseman with good mobility, and he frequently positioned himself in the slot area in the offensive zone, consistently creating pressure there. He also looked for space in similar areas on the power play to open up shooting opportunities. At almost every chance, he tried to join the attack and was very effective as a non-puck carrier, finding open space to become a passing option, while also providing good support for his teammates when needed. He consistently faced the play, maintaining strong awareness, and displayed an aggressive approach on the defensive side of the game, especially along the boards. In overtime, he used his active stick well both to push opponents out of the zone and to prevent zone entries in the neutral zone. He moved the puck quickly and always looked to re-enter the play and get the puck back, which naturally led to some turnovers, something common among players who want the puck on their stick and take an active role in driving play.
Ilari Makinen (RW, L, 6’0″, 161, HPK U20, 12/12/2008)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Ilari is a left-shot right winger of above-average height who played on the first line, and was used on both the power play and the penalty kill. He was also on the ice in the closing minutes when the opponent pulled the goalie for an extra attacker. He is an agile skater who showed good physical play and used an active stick, for example during forecheck pressure, and also showed active involvement on face-offs. It was clear that he wanted to play close to the puck — not only to provide support, but to actively engage and influence the play. The main area for improvement lies in his board play, particularly in the defensive zone, where adding more aggressiveness and efficiency would help him win pucks more consistently.
Anton Maatta (C, L, 6’0″, 166, HPK U20, 08/05/2005)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Anton is a left-handed center of average size who played on the second line and was used on the power play, penalty kill, and in overtime. He showed good quickness in his change of direction, which stood out especially in board play, allowing him to move from tight to open space and find better passing options. In the offensive zone, he often looked to move the puck quickly and effectively off the boards into open ice. He also demonstrated solid game awareness, providing timely support to recover possession and making sure to face the play to maintain a clear view to see what to do next. He has a quick shot and didn’t hesitate to use it when the opportunity appeared. As an area for improvement, consistency could be highlighted — he delivered strong sequences in the first and second periods, but his impact was less noticeable in the third.
Vili Toivonen (RW, L, 5’10”, 166, HPK, 08/25/2005)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Vili is a left-shot winger of smaller stature who played on the first line and was used on the power play, penalty kill, and in overtime. He opened the scoring in the first period on the power play, finishing with a quick and accurate shot from the right side into the top corner. Throughout the game, he frequently attacked the slot area and showed confidence along the offensive blue line, where he wasn’t afraid to hold onto the puck, use a quick deke, and create situations that resulted in extended puck possession for his team. He is agile and effective both with and without the puck, demonstrating good game awareness — for example, with quick and accurate passes in the neutral zone to support offensive transition even he was under pressure. He also showed solid physical play and an active stick, illustrated in overtime when he effectively pushed the opponent out of the defensive blue line area to deny entry.
Elias Sihvola (G, L, 6’1″, 181, KalPa, 06/03/2005)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Elias is a left-handed goaltender of medium height who delivered a very good performance throughout the game. He showed agile and quick movement, good positioning, and strong reaction skills. He moved well along the goal line and effectively covered angles on shots from the side. He made several strong saves and reliably kicked the puck to the corners. Elias supported his team effectively during penalty kills and tracked the puck well even in traffic or when his sightlines were obstructed. He also actively contributed to his team’s puck movement to use his stick, stop the puck and help with the breakouts.
David Timofejev (LW, L, 5’10”, 158, KalPa U20, 08/04/2006)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: David is a left-handed left winger of smaller stature who played on the team’s first line and was also used on the power play, the final minutes with the extra attacker and in overtime. In the first period he was not very noticeable, but his performance improved as the game progressed, with the third period being his strongest. He is a good skater with really good speed, which he benefited from primarily when carrying the puck. He caused problems for defenders thanks to his puck skills and was effective on zone entries, confidently bringing the puck into the offensive zone. He showed confidence in possession, not hesitating to turn back with the puck and maintain control around the offensive blue line. On the power play, he moved the puck quickly through short, accurate passes, and he also showed a good work rate on the backcheck. Thanks to his effort and determination in the net-front area, he scored the tying goal on a rebound with 11 seconds left in the game.
Akseli Pulkkanen (C, L, 5’10”, 172, KalPa U20, 08/07/2006)
Game Rating
A
1 Viewing
Comments: Akseli is a left-handed center of smaller stature who played on the first line and was used in all situations; power play, penalty kill, the final minutes with the extra attacker, overtime, and he also took part in the shootout, where he scored with a confident move. He delivered a consistent performance throughout the game and was especially impactful in the second and third period. Akseli is a really good skater with very good agility and quick changes of direction, both with and without the puck. This allowed him to move effectively from tight to open space, for example on the boards, where he often escaped pressure and carried the play to the middle of the ice. He showed soft receive and soft hands, which were well demonstrated on his goal, where he entered the zone with confidence, protected the puck, changed direction, and scored the first goal of his team. He played with head on a swivel and showed smart playmaking decisions, consistently feeding his teammates with quick and accurate passes, including a no-look pass. He has a quick shot and acted as a cerebral playmaker and offensive driver for his team. On the power play, he operated on the left side and controlled the pace, moving the puck and creating danger, for instance through passing into the slot for redirections. In the final two minutes of the game, when his team was pushing to tie the score, he played a crucial role in both goals. On the first one, he made the primary pass leading to the shot and rebound. On the second, he was the shooter whose initial attempt created the rebound that was finished into the net. Overall, Akseli showed confidence, skill, and a strong impact on the offensive side of the game.
Lenni Tarkiainen (D, L, KalPa U20, 09/07/2006)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Lenni is a left-shot defenseman of medium height who played on the third defensive pair and was also used on the penalty kill. He is an agile skater who showed good game awareness in the defensive zone. His frequent shoulder checks and effort to consistently face the play allowed him to maintain good situational overview, which he used especially in board play situations where his quick change of direction helped him protect the puck and make effective decisions. We could see this for example during one of the breakouts, when he did not hesitate to turn the play back to find a better passing option, and then joined the attack — leading to an effective zone entry through a dump-in, which he chased down himself to gain puck possession time for his team. He showed reliable board play and moved the puck quickly and simply when needed. Defensively, he was effective in defending the rush, able to switch into a more aggressive mode and successfully protect the middle of the ice while pushing the opponent toward the boards. Although there was one situation in the first period around the defensive blue line where he misread the play and stepped to the outside while the opponent drove inside, overall he delivered the consistent, steady performance expected from a defensively-oriented defenseman and contributed to his team’s win.
Rasmus Miilunpohja (C, L, 5’9″, 153, KalPa U20, 12/11/2008)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Rasmus is a left-handed center of smaller stature who played on his team’s third line. He was also used on the power play and penalty kill, and was on the ice when his team played six-on-five to tie the game. He showed very good physical play and an aggressive, active approach on both ends of the ice. This was particularly evident on the penalty kill, where he provided subtle support by blocking an opponent’s stick to help his teammate exit the zone. He actively used his stick throughout his forechecking, which was most noticeable in the third period when his team needed to control the puck to create scoring chances. He moved effectively with the puck, finding open space and protecting it well. After a misplay in the offensive blue line area following a zone entry, his team allowed a counterattack that led to the opponents scoring to make it 2-0. But mistakes are part of the game, overall Rasmus delivered a strong performance. His determined approach was one of the key reasons his team stayed resilient and managed to finish the game with a victory.
Rasmus Pakarinen (C, L, 6’0″, 163, KalPa U20, 02/21/2007)
Game Rating
1 Viewing
Comments: Rasmus is a left-shot center of medium height who played on the second line and was used on the power play, penalty kill, in overtime, and in the final minutes when his team had six skaters. He scored the goal that brought his team back into the game and later recorded the winning goal in the shootout. He showed strong puck skills, using his soft and quick hands both on the boards and in open ice, along with the ability to move from tight to open space thanks to quick changes of direction. His awareness was noticeable through several smart and quick passes, including feeds from the boards into the slot to set up scoring chances for his teammates. He also displayed a hard and quick shot of his own. On the power play, he operated in the net-front area, where we could see him attempting to deflect pucks and create screens. He played a crucial role in second goal by establishing position in front of the net, applying pressure, and scoring on a rebound through his determined net-front presence. Despite taking an unnecessary penalty in the second period, he generally delivered a good performance.
Eicca Happonen (D, R, 5’11”, 176, KalPa U20, 09/21/2004)
Game Rating
A
1 Viewing
Comments: Eicca is a right-shot defenseman of medium height who played on the first defensive pair. He was used in all situations — power play, penalty kill, the final minutes with the extra attacker, and also in overtime. He recorded three assists and provided stability and calmness for his team throughout the game. He played a key role on the offensive blue line during the last two goals that allowed his team to erase the deficit and tie the game. He is an offensive-minded defenseman and a good, agile skater with the ability to change direction quickly to get into better positioning. He handled pressure well, which he showed in the defensive zone with quick reverse passes to use his teammate on the weak side, as well as his willingness to turn the play back during breakouts to find better options and start the attack effectively. Defensively, he showed an active stick and a confident presence along the boards. He frequently faced the play, maintained an aggressive approach, protected the puck well, and demonstrated smart decision-making — for example, when he chose to freeze the puck and wait for support in less favorable situations, but also in 1v1 battle on the boards. With the puck, he appeared very confident, showing strong puck skills and a quick shot release. His movement along the offensive blue line was effective and played an important part in the tying goals. He was also reliable on the power play, moving the puck quickly side-to-side to create shooting lanes. In the final minutes of the game, he also blocked an important shot thanks to good positioning in the slot area.