U18: Team Finland vs Team Russia at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. In this player evaluation we focus on Team Finland and the players Neutral Zone feels had the most impactful games.
| Kasper Kulonummi | Finland U18 | International | R | D | 6’0″ | 175 | Helsinki, FIN | 2004 | 2021-2022: B |
#3 Team Finland – Kulonummi’s elite physical fitness was on full display versus Russia earning 26:24 of ice time, almost five minutes more than the next closest player in the game. He ran Team Finland’s power play (6:16 TOI) and was key contributor while playing a man down (4:05 TOI). In defensive transition his compact powerful base and quick lateral mobility allowed him to maintain tight gaps while Team Russia tried to maintain possession doing regroup after regroup. His stick was very good at taking away the lanes and although he was only credited with one blocked shot Kulonummi was consistently standing in shooting lanes showing a willingness to eat pucks. There were a few times when he tried to do too much as a puck carrier through the neutral zone, but in general he moved his feet to create lanes and moved the puck quickly. Impressively he had 10 takeaways compared to only 3 giveaways and led Team Finland with 5 shots on goal. There is no doubt that Kulonummi was the player who Team Finland’s coaches counted on the most.
| Otto Salin | Finland U18 | International | R | D | 5’11” | 190 | Helsinki, FIN | 2004 | 2021-2022: C |
#5 Team Finland – Salin was thinking offense in every situation. He was a constant presence in the attack and often times it was difficult to differentiate between him and the Finnish forwards. His passing was crisp and on the tape which made him effective on the power play. Salin worked well with his partner and on most shifts he provided instant transition. In the defensive zone Salin used his quickness to attack Team Russia’s forwards to end the cycle quickly and he showed excellent strength when pinning his man to the wall. He played 21:47 including 2:55 on the power play. He did not have any shifts while short handed. . His high skill level and offensive instincts make him fun to watch and very entertaining, but to be considered a high end National League prospect he must continue developing his play away from the puck and his ability to maintain tight gaps in defensive transition.
| Kasper Lundell | Finland U18 | International | L | F | 5’11” | 176 | Espoo, FIN | 2004 | 2021-2022: C |
#19 Team Finland – Lundell played an honest hardworking game that would translate well to North America. He stopped on every puck, battled along the walls and was very detail orientated away from the puck as his head was constantly on a swivel, his stick was in passing lanes and he was always a dependable weakside net front safety net. On the forecheck we liked his angles as an F1 and it was obvious he knew his job was to be disruptive in not letting the Russian defensemen get the net for easy breakouts. Lundell was a constant presence in front of the net and more than willing to take the goalie’s eyes away while on the power play. Although not as highly touted as some of his teammates, he earned more ice time than any other Finnish forward (18:07 TOI).
| Topi Ronni | Tappara | Liiga | L | C | 6’1″ | 180 | Hausjärvi, FIN | 2004 | 2021-2022: B- |
#11 Team Finland – Ronni played a responsible two-way game. During defensive zone wall battles he maintained net side positioning and showed the awareness to push his opponent into the scrum so he and his defensemen could pull the puck off the wall for quick transition. He kept things simple as a puck carrier through the neutral zone and often times utilized a strong side soft chip that allowed him to use his strength and power on puck retrievals. We liked his willingness to use his body to protect the puck while cycling and he (again) used his strength to bring the puck to the net. Although he scored his goal from the dot, on the power play he was used mostly as a net front presence who had the ability to slide to the goal line when needed. Here he showed the soft hands to one touch passes to the bumper as well as the hand eye coordination to tips pucks. He does not need to dust the puck off before passing or shooting. We feel Ronni is a player who’s strong straight forward game will translate to North America.
| Jere Lassila | Finland U18 | International | L | C | 5’9″ | 176 | Jyväskylän mlk, FIN | 2004 | 2021-2022: C |
#14 Team Finland – This water bug center iceman was literally always involved in the action and winning 50-50 puck battles, starting with winning 12 of 19 faceoffs. He has very quick feet and as a puck carrier showed high level elusiveness. His strong edge work allowed him to engage in wall battles or physical contact and then explode into open space for quick odd man situations. His passes were hard flat and on the tape. He handles passes cleanly on both his forehand or backhand while moving at top speed and was a consistent threat on zone entries. Lassila was used in all situations playing 5:25 on the power play, 2:16 while a man down and 17:46 in total ice time.
| Otto Heinonen | Finland U18 | International | L | D | 5’11” | 181 | Tampere, FIN | 2004 | 2021-2022: B- |
#8 Team Finland – Heinonen played a steady responsible game and was partnered primarily with Kulonummi during even strength and while killing penalties. He did not play a flashy high risk game. Instead choosing to make the simple hockey play that coaches rely on for wins. He won battles in front of his net or along the walls and did not get lost on the wrong side of the puck. He showed high level game awareness by setting legal picks to allow his teammates to have more time and space with the puck. His indirect passes were well timed and on the tape. Again, Heinonen consistently made the high percentage play and we feel that is the reason he was earning top pairing five on five minutes.
| Joakim Kemell | Finland U18 | International | R | RW | 5’11” | 176 | Jyvaskylan mlk | 2004 | 2021-2022: A |
#13 Team Finland – Kemell has a presence and he wanted the puck, especially in the offensive zone and in the high percentage scoring areas. His stick was always prepared, ready to fire the puck and when he did shoot the goalie had to make a save. On his goal Kemell read his linemates cycle early and sprinted to the goal mouth for a well timed one timer that the Russian goalie had no chance on. We loved his passion and willingness to be more than just an offensive threat. He wanted to block shots. He enjoyed physical contact and was the one player who was looking to put someone into the third row when throwing a check. In this setting he was a bull and often times over powered his opponents, but he has a goal scorer’s mindset and he is player Neutral Zone is excited to follow during his draft year.
| Jani Nyman | Finland U18 | International | L | LW | 6’3″ | 215 | Valkeakoski, FIN | 2004 | 2021-2022: B |
#12 Team Finland – Nyman has National League player written all over him. He is big strong and has the skating ability to accelerate quickly from a stand still or while crossing over in transition. In this game there were multiple times that his high end speed / back pressure allowed his defensemen to stand the Russian forwards up in the neutral zone and his puck retrieval skills turned a loose puck at Finland’s blueline into a clean zone entry. Nyman showed a shooter’s mentality in offensive zone and on line rushes. His frame and willingness to work make him a player NHL scouts will be watching closely this year.
| Otto Hokkanen | Finland U18 | International | L | C | 6’2″ | 185 | Lappeenranta, FIN | 2004 | 2021-2022: B- |
#10 Team Finland – Hokkanen is long, lanky and in this one used his size to set timely picks or be consistently in the way during offensive zone cycling. His assist on Kemell’s goal was a subtle thing of beauty. As the puck was cycled along the wall the Russian defender reached for the puck and Hokkanen deftly popped the stick in the air allowing him to receive the puck, get the net and find Kemell in the paint for a quick one timer goal. During defensive zone coverage he played with his head on swivel maintaining line-ups and showed excellent game awareness when he collapsed coverage to lift Matvei Michkov’s stick which certainly looked like he saved an open net goal in the third. Hokkanen displayed a solid two-way game with high compete versus Team Russia.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images
Game Stats are from InStat.