Played on Oct 25, 2025
Game Played in Raksilan Jaahalli
Scout: David Herman
General Game Notes: The U20 SM-Sarja game was played in Oulu, where the home team opened the scoring just a few seconds after the start. It was an even game overall, with the team from Vaasa showing strong effort and playing slightly better and more active hockey in the second half of the match. However, Kärpät was more effective in finishing their chances and eventually decided the game in their favor.
Jester Rossi (G, L, 6’0″, 172, Karpat U20, 03/28/2007)
Game Rating
A
1 Viewing
Comments: Jester is a left-catching goaltender of average height who didn’t face much action during the first two periods, but he really stood out in the final frame, helping his team secure the win with several key saves. Overall, he delivered a consistent performance and even recorded an assist after stopping the puck and quick breakout of his teammates that led to a goal for his team. He tracked the puck well in traffic and made all the saves he needed to keep his team composed. He showed good awareness in scrambles around the crease and reacted quickly to rebounds. His strong movement was especially visible during penalty kills, where he moved efficiently across the crease, read the play well, and consistently positioned himself where he needed to be. In a few instances, he seemed slightly uncertain when handling the puck with his stick — this could be an area for improvement.
Veeti Ruotsalainen (D, L, 5’11”, 166, Karpat U20, 07/28/2007)
Game Rating
A
1 Viewing
Comments: Veeti is a left-handed defenseman of average height who played on his team’s first pairing and was also used on both the power play and penalty kill. He scored his team’s first goal of the game just a few seconds after the opening faceoff with a precise shot from the slot, placed low to the left post — not overly powerful, but very accurate. He presented himself as a two-way defenseman. From a defensive perspective, he showed that he can command respect by battling hard in the net-front area against opposing forwards, not allowing them any space. He used his body effectively in 1v1 situations to separate opponents from the puck. On the penalty kill, he showed an aggressive approach — twice he quickly closed down an opponent and either froze the puck in the corner or directly won possession for his team. In the neutral zone, he stepped up well to deny zone entries. He also demonstrated strong game awareness — for example, after the opposing team recovered the puck and started a fast counterattack, Veeti on the offensive blue line read the play perfectly, angled the puck carrier toward the boards, and neutralized the threat, allowing his teammate to regain possession. From an offensive point of view, there was a lot to like as well. On three occasions, we saw nearly identical plays where Veeti gained possession below the blue line on the left side, showed great confidence, beat his opponent with a smart move, and then took a few quick strides into the slot area, creating a dangerous chance or shooting himself. His strong edgework gave him a big advantage in these situations. He was very useful for his team during breakouts and zone exits — either moving the puck quickly to a teammate or taking it himself, building speed, and as a left-handed defenseman, often carrying it up the left side along the boards to enter the offensive zone. After making a pass, he frequently joined the rush to stay involved and make himself available for a return pass. There were, however, a few inaccuracies connected with his breakout plays, and he also took an unnecessary two-minute minor penalty. Overall, though, Veeti delivered a very reliable and balanced performance on both sides of the ice.
Nooa Viuhkola (RW, L, 6’1″, 183, Karpat U20, 08/14/2006)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Nooa is a left-handed right winger of medium height who played on his team’s top line and was also used on both the power play and penalty kill. He played an extremely physical and aggressive style, finishing every check on the boards on both sides of the ice and setting the tone whenever possible. At times, he engaged in light provocations, making himself exactly the type of player who is tough to play against. He was quick in transition, communicated well with his teammates, and showed good awareness in both directions. Nooa capped off his strong performance by scoring an empty-net goal at the end of the game.
Frans Viita (C, R, 5’9″, 157, Karpat U20, 12/04/2006)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Frans is a right-handed center of smaller stature who played on his team’s second line and was also used on both the power play and penalty kill. He wasn’t very noticeable in the first period, but his performance improved as the game went on. After a defensive mistake by the opponent, he scored the game-winning goal on the power play, breaking away and finishing with a quick and accurate shot to the top left corner. In the defensive phase, he showed good awareness, playing with his head on a swivel and using quick passes to move the puck to his teammates, helping to transition the play from tight to open space and support a quick transition to offense. He played with an active stick, angled opponents well, and also recorded a blocked shot late in the game. With the puck on his stick, Frans played with speed and confidence, showing good puck control and working to move the puck toward the net-front area to create scoring chances.
Kalle-Veikko Martinmaki (D, R, 6’0″, 189, Karpat U20, 04/19/2006)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Kalle-Veikko is a right-handed defenseman of average height who played on his team’s first defensive pair and was also used on the penalty kill. He delivered a solid performance, especially on the defensive side of the game. In the defensive zone, he showed an active approach with an active stick and used his strength effectively, as seen for example on the defensive blue line, where he pushed an opponent off the puck and forced an offside, stopping the play. He also used the width of the ice well in cooperation with his defensive partner and effectively switched the play to the weak side when he saw it was the better option, finding a teammate in a good position to start the breakout or attack. He also recorded a blocked shot near the end of the game. Offensively, Kalle-Veikko was active and made hard and smart passes, as seen in his shot passes toward the net front area for deflections. He also showed a quick shot. He was most noticeable during the first period, while his impact later in the game leaned more toward defensive responsibilities.
Aleksi Tynkila (D, R, 5’10”, 156, Karpat U20, 09/20/2007)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Aleksi is a right-handed defenseman of average, slightly smaller height who played on his team’s third defensive pair. His performance was most noticeable during the first period. He presented himself as a two-way defender with clear offensive potential. A good skater with smooth puck movement, he played with his head up and showed confidence with the puck. He demonstrated strong puckhandling skills, for example during zone entries, where he wasn’t afraid to turn the play around to confuse the opponent and then quickly move into the slot to finish with a shot. In another instance, after gaining speed in the neutral zone, he confidently reversed the play when he saw no immediate option, looking for a better passing opportunity. Overall, when he had the puck, he moved it quickly to support fast and often middle-ice transitions to offense. In the defensive zone, he used board passes effectively toward the wings to help with quick zone exits. He also showed good anticipation on the offensive blue line, where he quickly surfed the opponent, pushed him to the boards, and stopped the counterattack immediately.
Waino Vierimaa (LW, L, 5’11”, 178, Karpat U20, 11/14/2005)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Wäinö is a left-handed left winger of average height who played on his team’s first line and also on the power play. He delivered a consistent performance throughout the entire game. He played a physical style of hockey and stood out especially in board play, where he effectively used his body to protect the puck and was able to move from tight to open space before quickly moving the puck to a teammate. He showed very good close support for his teammates on both sides of the ice, staying close to the play to recover pucks from battles. Wäinö also demonstrated smart support, for example when he slightly blocked an opponent’s stick to allow his teammate more space for play. Thanks to his puck skills and control, he was able to create puck possession time for his team, particularly in the offensive zone, where he worked to move the puck toward the slot area and create scoring opportunities.
Emil Vanninen (D, L, 6’3″, 199, Sport U20, 03/12/2007)
Game Rating
A
Emil is a left-handed, tall defenseman who excels at using his active stick and quick puck movement to support his team’s offense. During breakouts, he demonstrates good understanding of positioning, often moving to the middle to create scoring opportunities. On the penalty kill, Emil shows agility by blocking shots and leading to quick counter-attacks, which have resulted in goals for his team. He also utilizes his physical presence effectively, particularly in board play, where he can be difficult for opponents to displace while maintaining possession of the puck.
2 Viewings
Comments: Emil is a left-handed defenseman of tall stature who played on his team’s first pairing and was also used on the second power-play unit. A big, strong defenseman who effectively used his size advantage — a guy who is really tough to play against. He delivered a great performance, and here’s why. He played a physical game and showed an aggressive approach in the defensive zone and around the defensive blue line. He controlled the play around him well, for example through good shoulder checks, and showed confidence during breakouts, moving the puck quickly with hard and accurate passes. His active stick in the defensive zone — combined with his size and good coordination — made it very difficult for opponents to get past him, which we could see in many situations. He also used his strength effectively in board battles, where he often overpowered opponents. He recorded an impressive 15 takeaways in the game. In the offensive zone, he showed confidence on the blue line, good movement, and wasn’t afraid to make a deke to get into a better position. When he had the chance, he didn’t hesitate to shoot — his shots were hard and quick. His soft hands were also visible when he controlled a puck out of the air at the blue line to keep the zone for his team.
Thierry Andrey (LW, L, 5’9″, 161, Sport U20, 08/24/2007)
Game Rating
B+
Thierry showcases a well-rounded skillset that contributes to his team’s success. He excels at moving quickly across the ice, often making sharp cuts into the middle of the rink. His physical play and backchecking abilities help anchor his team’s defensive efforts, while his smaller stature is compensated by agility and quickness. In the offense, Thierry leverages his soft hands to create space and find open lanes, complemented by intelligent passing that sets up scoring opportunities.
2 Viewings
Comments: Thierry is a left-handed right winger of smaller stature who played on his team’s third line and was also part of the second power play unit. He is characterized by excellent skating, strong edgework, and above all, speed — he can generate high pace, which helps him either be first on the puck or stay effective during puck possession. Agile and mobile, he transitions quickly from tight to open space with quick changes of direction. He is also skilled with the puck, showing soft hands, which we could see through his quick and accurate passes, including saucer passes, and in board play, where he protected the puck well and freed himself from opponents. Thierry also used his speed effectively during zone entries, where we saw several situations in which he attacked toward the slot or sent smart passes in that direction to create scoring chances for his teammates.
Oliver Hult (LW, L, 5’10”, 189, Sport U20, 10/12/2006)
Game Rating
A
1 Viewing
Comments: Oliver is a left-handed left winger of rather smaller stature who played on his team’s first line and also took part on the power play. He was trusted on the ice in the final minute when his team was pushing to tie the game. A good skater with great edgework, which gives him strong coordination and balance on the ice. His quickness and agility allow him to get to pucks early, and he is also very fast when handling the puck. Overall, Oliver is strong on the puck and hard to dispossess — he changes direction quickly and protects the puck well. He benefits from this especially in board play, which is one of his main strengths. He reacts fast and in these situations is able to move the puck quickly or provide support to regain possession and transition either into open space or towards the net and slot area. When he gets into scoring chances, he often tries to change the shooting angle, but on his goal he showed that he can also release a quick shot without preparation. The goal came from good positioning in the net-front area during a power play, right after the puck battle along the boards. He recorded 11 shot attempts in the game. His soft hands were also visible when smoothly controlling the puck, for example when he handled a bouncing puck out of the air.
Waltteri Koivunen (RW, R, 5’10”, 183, Sport U20, 05/04/2006)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Waltteri is a right-handed right winger of smaller stature who played on his team’s second line and was also used on the power play. A good skater, he can generate high speed both with and without the puck, which we could see during his zone entries along the boards, as well as during power play zone entries. He showed good faceoff participation, for example in one situation where he reacted quickly, recognized the play, demonstrated his soft hands, and with a few quick steps got himself into the net-front area and finished the play. When he had a shooting opportunity, he tried to change the angle and showed a quick release. He played a physical style of hockey and was effective in board play, where we could see his good and quick decision-making to either keep possession himself or help his team maintain puck control.
Tim Ekman (C, L, 5’8″, 159, Sport U20, 12/07/2005)
Game Rating
A
Tim Ekman is a skilled center who utilizes his speed and agility to excel in various aspects of the game. His physical play and strong board work allow him to effectively navigate the ice and secure position in front of the net. Ekman’s ability to protect the puck and maintain possession time is notable, as it enables him to dictate the pace of the game. In the offensive zone, he demonstrates confidence and poise when carrying the puck, often using his dekes to create space and opportunities for scoring chances.
2 Viewings
Comments: Tim is a left-handed center of smaller stature who played on his team’s first line and was also used on the power play and in the last minute when his team played with one man advantage. He was among the most noticeable players in the game, and the reasons for that are described below. He delivered a consistent performance throughout the match and presented himself as an offensive driver and cerebral tactician with high hockey IQ. Tim is an excellent skater – not only technically strong but also capable of generating great speed, both with and without the puck. This was evident in 1v1 situations and zone entries, where once he picked up speed, he was very difficult to stop. He used multiple ways to enter the offensive zone — sometimes carrying the puck along the boards, but also effectively using the middle of the ice, for example during quick transitions from defense to offense, or when he attacked the slot area to create danger. He showed good game awareness, such as in the defensive zone when he performed shoulder checks to stay aware of his surroundings. He demonstrated close support in 2v2 battles, staying near his teammate to help regain puck possession. His understanding of the game was evident – he simply knows what to do. For example, in one situation along the boards, he provided smart support and quickly froze the play against a taller and stronger opponent, allowing his teammate to help and recover the puck. Tim also displayed a quick backcheck and an active stick, sometimes even starting his defensive pressure already in the offensive zone to regain the puck. Offensively, he distributed several smart and quick passes, often looking for better-positioned teammates in the net-front area – one of these plays led directly to his team’s only goal. He also made effective use of the offensive zone width to open passing and skating lanes. Thanks to his soft hands, strong puckhandling, quick movement, and ability to change direction rapidly, he was able to move from tight to open space or into the slot area effectively. He is confident with the puck and not afraid to attempt creative plays and dekes. There were a few minor mistakes, such as a brief miscommunication with a defenseman when switching coverage in the defensive zone, and one risky breakout pass that was intercepted in front of the net and led to an opponent’s scoring chance. However, for a player who often plays with the puck, these situations are part of the game. Overall, Tim delivered a very impressive performance.