Played on Oct 3, 2025
Game Played in Kouvolan Jaahalli
General Game Notes: It was a very close game from the start until the final buzzer. The home team had a strong start and played an even first period. In the second period, Tappara looked slightly stronger and more productive, taking control for a stretch of the game. The last period was again balanced – KooKoo pushed hard in the final minutes, created good offensive pressure, but couldn’t find the tying goal and instead allowed an empty-netter.
Oiva Juntunen (LW, L, 6’0″, 201, KooKoo U20, 08/07/2008)
Game Rating
A
1 Viewing
Comments: Oiva is a left-handed, left winger on the third line, of medium height, and played on his team’s second power-play unit. He wasn’t very noticeable in the first period, but in the rest of the game, especially in the second period, he showed his strengths, which are described below. We could see, simply put, great game presence, which means that Oiva moved well toward the play, wanted to be involved with the puck, and most importantly showed excellent willingness to fight and battle for every puck. His game includes an active forecheck, where he effectively uses his active stick. He showed good and especially smart board play, characterized by solid puck protection, where Oiva demonstrated his ability to use his strength effectively while looking to pass and find his teammates in the slot. We could also see his determination to fight in the net-front area in the offensive zone to make space for a potential rebound. He showed good backhand control, followed by a quick and accurate shot from a tight angle, which resulted in Oiva scoring KooKoo’s first goal of the game.
Eemil Savolainen (D, L, 5’11”, 174, KooKoo U20, 06/12/2004)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Eemil is a left-handed defender of smaller stature, playing on the first defensive pair and used on both the second power-play unit and the penalty kill. He is an excellent skater characterized by agility and quick changes of direction, which he used effectively on both sides of the ice. We could especially see his dominance in small areas during the first period, where he was able to use his mobility to quickly find open space – whether moving into open ice himself or making a quick breakout pass to his teammates. A puck mover who plays with his head up, allowing for quick and accurate passes. He also keeps his head on a swivel, which gives him great awareness of the game – for example, he successfully and effectively defended a 2 on 1 situation in the third period after his team lost the puck in their defensive zone. He recorded two successful blocked shots and one assist.
Joose Inhala (D, L, 6’0″, 194, KooKoo U20, 04/25/2005)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Joose is a left-handed defenseman of medium height, playing on the second defensive pair and used on the first power play unit. He showed good mobility, which was visible on the offensive blue line, during zone entries, and through his play with his head up. He successfully blocked a shot in the second period and was most active in the third, producing hard and quick passes to move the game and help his team tie the score. He also impressed with his backchecking and overall calmness on the stick and had one assist.
Doman Szongoth (C, L, 6’1″, 195, KooKoo U20, 06/08/2008)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Domán is a left-handed center of medium height, playing on the second line and used on both the first power-play unit and the penalty kill. He is a tenacious player, which we could clearly see through his backchecking, where he used an active stick and showed a strong willingness to battle throughout the game. His strength in board play was noticeable, as he effectively used his body and strength to cover the puck and make space, never hesitating to provide support to his teammates, especially along the boards. A smart player who creates chances with his intelligent passes and good vision. He keeps his head on a swivel and likes to stay aware of what’s happening around him, both when his team has the puck possession and when they don’t. In the offensive zone, he likes to move the play from the strong side to the weak side and use that as an advantage for his team. He had a good success rate in the faceoff, winning four out of six. Although at first glance his skating might appear to be a weakness, he is capable of generating good speed to get to loose pucks and put opponents under pressure.
Roope Tossavainen (LW, L, 5’11”, 181, KooKoo U20, 12/05/2004)
Game Rating
A
1 Viewing
Comments: Roope is a left-handed left wing of medium height, playing on the first line and used both on the first power play unit and the penalty kill. At first glance, he stood out with his agility and quick change of direction. One of his main strengths is his great speed, and his quick feet help give him an advantage in puck battles and to be first on the puck – both in open ice and along the boards. With the puck, we could repeatedly see his attempts to drive effectively into the slot area and to the middle of the ice in general. He played aggressively on the penalty kill, successfully breaking up the opponent’s setup. An offensive driver with a great net drive, which led to him scored his team’s second goal of the game. Overall, he had no problem playing under pressure, showing good zone entries where he often turned back toward the blue line and moved the puck along the boards down below the goal line. He made very effective use of the entire offensive zone, which resulted in high puck possession time – it often seemed like he was everywhere, and at certain moments, you simply had the feeling that the puck just found him. He also showed good puck control and protection below the offensive blue line, demonstrating calmness on the stick and a clear willingness to battle for every puck.
Eetu Patila (LW, L, 5’10”, 166, KooKoo U20, 12/16/2008)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Eetu is a left-handed, left winger of smaller height, playing on the fourth line and also used on the penalty kill. Among his strengths shown today, skating and the speed he is able to generate clearly stand out. We could see his speed and work ethic especially during his constant forechecking and backchecking efforts, most notably while penalty killing, where he also effectively used his active stick. He recorded one successful blocked shot in the game. Thanks to his speed, he often caused problems for the opponent’s defense – for example, with his attempts to effectively tear through their structure and drive to the net during offensive transitions. He showed good puck protection, moved the puck quickly, and used width passes effectively. Overall, he seemed to be more of an offensive contributor, but it’s important to take into consideration that he is still an underage player.
William Gammals (G, L, 6’0″, 191, Tappara U20, 02/12/2008)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: William is a medium-sized, left-catching goaltender who delivered a consistent performance throughout the game. He was active in stopping pucks behind the net and helping with the breakout, which he showed several times with his aggressive positioning and quick movement to stop the puck before an incoming forechecker. He effectively kicked shots to the corners and showed excellent reactions on his knees, demonstrating quick reflexes. The only downside was the first goal against, where he failed to seal the gap between his arm and body and was beaten from the side. Overall, however, it was a reliable and solid performance.
Jesper Kotajarvi (D, L, 6’0″, 183, Tappara, 07/24/2007)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Jesper is a left-handed defenseman of medium height who played on the first pair and was also used on both the first power play and penalty kill units. He stood out mainly with his strong physical play and effective puck protection, which allowed him to perform well in small areas and find open ice to make plays. He has a quick and hard shot and had one assist.
Roni Lehtosaari (C, L, 6’2″, 203, Tappara U20, 08/20/2004)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Roni is a tall, left-handed center from the first line and a member of both the power play and penalty killing units. He appeared as a good skater characterized by efficient movement. Among his strengths are his passing skills – quick, effective saucer passes, and a good use of the full width of the ice. It’s important to highlight his calmness on the stick, which brings confidence to his team – whether during power plays, zone entries, or plays below the blue line – he doesn’t panic under pressure. This is also supported by the fact that he consistently plays with his head up, which allows him to read the game well and create combination plays. He demonstrated his great sense of space and timing in the second period when he smartly positioned himself between the circles and scored with a strong, accurate shot after a precise feed from his teammate. Also strong and confident in board play. Roni won 12 out of 19 faceoffs.
Joonas Rajala (RW, L, 5’10”, 183, Tappara U20, 10/28/2007)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Joonas is a left-handed right winger from the second line, also playing on the power play. He was most noticeable during the first and second periods, less so in the third. He made an impact early with a quick transition into the offensive zone, where a smart and well-timed pass during a 2 on 1 situation offered his teammate good scoring opportunity. We could see his good and quick movement, especially with the puck on his stick, which he effectively used during zone entries. Strong in board play, he preferred to play with his back to the opponent while protecting the puck. Joonas had one assist.
Dani Mikkonen (LW, L, 5’9″, 161, Tappara U20, 01/26/2005)
Game Rating
A
1 Viewing
Comments: Dani is a left-handed, left wing of smaller height, a member of the first line, playing both on the power play and penalty kill. He didn’t have the best start to the game, but his performance exploded in the second and third periods, becoming the key factor in Tappara’s win. He recorded a hattrick and added one assist. An offensive driver with good movement both with and without the puck. He moves the puck quickly – his passes are sharp, accurate, and smart, which he proved on Tappara’s third goal, when his cross-ice saucer pass found a teammate rushing into the slot and scored basically to the empty net. Dani has a quality shot characterized by a quick release and accuracy, which he showed on his first goal – a one-timer after quick reaction when jumped on the ice from the bench, following a great screen from one of his teammates. Soft hands were on display in his second goal after an individual play, when he quickly and effectively moved his body through his feet, from the boards to the crease and slipped the puck past the goalie. We could also see his puck-handling skills and good puck protection during his zone entries, where he gained the offensive zone several times effectively for his team. He is also willing to battle in the net-front area. He blocked three shots in the game – an impressive moment especially when he blocked two in a row during one shift in the second period to help his team under pressure, and despite the pain, he continued defending. He was the one played last minute of the game and finished his outstanding performance with an empty-net goal at the end of the game.
Juuso Rantala (D, L, 5’10”, 148, Tappara U20, 06/22/2006)
Game Rating
A
1 Viewing
Comments: Juuso is a left-handed defenseman of medium height who played on the second defensive pair and was also used on the penalty kill. He delivered a good and consistent performance throughout the game, with a small minus for a two-minute penalty after losing the puck on the offensive blue line. An offensively oriented defenseman with smooth skating, strong puck control, and a clear tendency to join and support the rush and offense. He plays physical hockey and does not hesitate to provide support on the boards to help his teammates win puck battles. Good agility combined with quick feet helps him to get free with the puck quickly and effectively find and move into open space – both across the ice and along the boards. A confident puck mover who isn’t afraid to turn the play back into the defensive zone to create time and space for a breakout with his team. Showed good faceoff participation and made several smart passes. Juuso also has a good, quick shot, which was visible especially during his attempts from the blue line.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images