Aleksi Heponiemi

Last updated

Aleksi Heponiemi
Andre Burakovsky and Aleksi Heponiemi.jpg
Heponiemi (left) with the Florida Panthers in 2022
Born (1999-01-09) 9 January 1999 (age 25)
Tampere, Finland
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 154 lb (70 kg; 11 st 0 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
NL team
Former teams		 EHC Biel
Oulun Kärpät
Florida Panthers
NHL draft 40th overall, 2017
Florida Panthers
Playing career 2018–present

Aleksi Heponiemi (born 9 January 1999) is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward currently playing for EHC Biel in the National League (NL), with his National Hockey League (NHL) rights held by Florida Panthers. Heponiemi was selected in the second round (40th overall) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft by the Panthers.

Contents

Playing career

After being selected 10th overall by the Swift Current Broncos in the 2016 CHL Import Draft, Heponiemi began his junior career for the Broncos in the 2016–17 WHL season. Early in the season, Heponiemi began to rise in draft rankings and became an offensive leader for the Broncos. He adjusted quickly to the playing style of the WHL and was named WHL Rookie of the Year, producing the most points and assists out of any rookie in the season with 86. [1]

Despite his statistics, Heponiemi's final scout ranking for the 2017 NHL Entry Draft was 26 by the NHL Central Scouting. [2] Scouts mainly praised Heponiemi for his efficient point producing, his creativeness, and his speed. Heponiemi was selected in the second round, 40th overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft by the Florida Panthers. [3] Due to his point-producing skill in his rookie season in the WHL, some think Heponiemi was a steal because of how late he was selected in the second round by the Panthers. [4]

Heponiemi had a career year during the 2017–18 season, where he accumulated 118 points in 57 regular season games. For his efforts, at the conclusion of the regular season he was named the Pattison Agriculture King of the Road, the Second Star of the season, [5] and the Eastern Conference Most Sportsmanlike Player. [6]

Following the conclusion of the season, Heponiemi turned professional and signed with Oulun Kärpät of the Liiga. [7] In the 2018–19 season, Heponiemi as a rookie appeared in 50 games for Kärpät producing 16 goals and 46 points. He led all Liiga rookies in points, while finishing second on Kärpät in points and tying for first on the club in assists. In the playoffs, Heponiemi tallied three goals in 17 games.

On 16 May 2019, Heponiemi was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Florida Panthers. [8]

With the 2020–21 North American season delayed until November due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Heponiemi was loaned by the Panthers to Swedish second-tier club, Modo Hockey of the Allsvenskan, on 9 August 2020. [9] Heponiemi made his NHL debut on 30 January 2021, scoring an overtime goal in the Panthers' 3–2 win over the Detroit Red Wings. He became the fourth player in NHL history to score an overtime goal in his NHL debut. [10]

Following his fourth season with the Florida Panthers, Heponiemi was unable to earn a full-time role with the Panthers and opted to return to Europe. Heponiemi subsequently secured a one-year contract with Swiss club EHC Biel-Bienne of the NL on 21 July 2023. [11]

International play

Medal record
Representing Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2019 Canada

Heponiemi played in the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, a tournament not regulated by the International Ice Hockey Federation but still considered an important tournament for under-18 players. He played 4 games for Finland in the tournament, recording 5 assists as Finland finished in 3rd place. [12] Heponiemi also participated and was named to Team Finland in the 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships where Finland finished 6th and Heponiemi scored 2 goals in 5 games with the team. [13]

Personal life

Heponiemi began playing hockey when he was four years old, and has two older brothers, Valtteri and Ville. Aleksi and his brother Ville both played for the Ilves youth junior team and in the 2015–16 season both brothers won the championship together. His brother, Valtteri current plays for the Pirkkala Penguins, a third division team in Pirkkala, Finland along with Ville who also plays for the Penguins, along with Valtteri. [14]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2015–16 Ilves Jr. A 7224271012
2016–17 Swift Current Broncos WHL 7228588618140888
2017–18 Swift Current BroncosWHL5728901182826525302
2018–19 Oulun Kärpät Liiga 501630468173038
2019–20 Springfield Thunderbirds AHL 493111416—————
2020–21 Modo Hockey Allsv 16681422—————
2020–21 Florida Panthers NHL 91122—————
2020–21 Syracuse Crunch AHL60666—————
2021–22 Charlotte Checkers AHL569303928713414
2021–22 Florida PanthersNHL60112—————
2022–23 Charlotte CheckersAHL621231431271670
2022–23 Florida PanthersNHL101232—————
2023–24 EHC Biel NL 22710171081120
Liiga totals501630468173038
NHL totals252466—————

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2015 Finland U17 5th50000
2016 Finland IH18 6th40550
2018 Finland WJC 6th52020
2019 FinlandWJCGold medal icon.svg73694
Junior totals21511164

Awards and honours

AwardYear
WHL
Jim Piggott Trophy 2017
First All-Star Team 2018
Brad Hornung Trophy 2018
CHL Sportsman of the Year2018

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyler Arnason</span> American ice hockey player

Tyler Lawrence Arnason is an American former professional ice hockey center who played in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Blackhawks, Ottawa Senators and the Colorado Avalanche.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swift Current Broncos</span> Western Hockey League team in Swift Current, Saskatchewan

The Swift Current Broncos are a Canadian major junior ice hockey team based in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. Founded in 1967, the Broncos relocated to Lethbridge, Alberta in 1974, and were known as the Lethbridge Broncos, before returning to Swift Current in 1986. The team plays in the East Division of the Western Hockey League's Eastern Conference, and hosts games at Innovation Credit Union iPlex. Swift Current is the smallest city with a team in the WHL, and the second smallest across the entire Canadian Hockey League. The Broncos are three-time WHL playoff champions, and won the 1989 Memorial Cup. Before any of their championships, the Broncos were known for a 1986 team bus crash that resulted in the deaths of four players.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tacoma Rockets</span> Ice hockey team

The Tacoma Rockets were a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League (WHL) from 1991 to 1995. They played at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington. The Rockets were granted as an expansion franchise, and were named after the defunct professional team of the same name. After the 1994–95 season, low attendance forced the team to move to Kelowna, British Columbia after only four seasons, where they became the Kelowna Rockets. While the Rockets drew high attendance numbers when they played the Seattle Thunderbirds, they did not draw as well with other teams. The Tacoma Dome was not well-suited for hockey as the risers for the seats were too shallow, making the sightlines bad for hockey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brad Moran (ice hockey)</span> Ice hockey player

Brad Moran is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre, his last team being the Nottingham Panthers of the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jussi Jokinen</span> Finnish ice hockey player (born 1983)

Jussi Petteri Jokinen is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward. After playing in his native Finland with Oulun Kärpät of the Liiga he was drafted by the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Dallas Stars in 2001 in the sixth round, 192nd overall, and spent his first three NHL seasons with the team. Jokinen has also played in the NHL for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes, Pittsburgh Penguins, Florida Panthers, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, Columbus Blue Jackets and Vancouver Canucks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Grabner</span> Austrian ice hockey player (born 1987)

Michael-René Grabner is an Austrian former professional ice hockey player. Grabner grew up playing for the local team in Villach, EC VSV. He moved to North America at the age of 17 and joined the Spokane Chiefs of the major junior Western Hockey League (WHL) to further his hockey career. After his second season with the Chiefs, he was selected 14th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michal Řepík</span> Czech ice hockey player

Michal Řepík is a Czech professional ice hockey left winger. He is currently under contract with HC Sparta Praha of the Czech Extraliga (ELH). Repik was selected by the Florida Panthers in the 2nd round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aaron Gagnon</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1986)

Aaron Gagnon is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toni Rajala</span> Finnish ice hockey player

Toni Rajala is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward for EHC Biel of the National League (NL). He was drafted 101st overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harri Säteri</span> Finnish ice hockey player (born 1989)

Harri Säteri is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender, currently playing with EHC Biel in the National League (NL). Although drafted in 2008 by the San Jose Sharks, he did not play in an NHL game until nearly a decade later as a member of the Florida Panthers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Connauton</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1990)

Kevin Connauton is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Tucson Roadrunners of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Utah Hockey Club of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 83rd overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Connauton has also played for the Dallas Stars, Columbus Blue Jackets, Arizona Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers, and Philadelphia Flyers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Petteri Lindbohm</span> Finnish ice hockey player

Petteri Lindbohm is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for Frölunda HC of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). He has previously played with Lausanne HC and EHC Biel of the National League (NL), Jokerit of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), and with the St. Louis Blues and Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Blues selected him in the 6th round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juho Lammikko</span> Finnish ice hockey player

Juho Lammikko is a Finnish professional ice hockey winger currently under contract with the ZSC Lions of the National League. He previously played for the Florida Panthers and Vancouver Canucks in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Henri Jokiharju is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). Jokiharju was selected 29th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the 2017 NHL entry draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reece Scarlett</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Reece Scarlett is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing under contract with Vaasan Sport of the Liiga. He was originally drafted by the New Jersey Devils, 159th overall, in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glenn Gawdin</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Glenn Gawdin is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing with the Ontario Reign in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Los Angeles Kings in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the fourth-round of the 2015 NHL entry draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kasper Puutio</span> Finnish ice hockey player

Kasper Akseli Puutio is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman for KalPa of the Finnish Liiga. He previously played for Oulun Kärpät.

Artyom Minulin is a Russian professional ice hockey defenseman for Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Logan Stankoven</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 2003)

Logan Stankoven is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted in the second round, 47th overall, by the Stars in the 2021 NHL entry draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Sourdif</span> Ice hockey player

Justin Sourdif is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger for the Charlotte Checkers in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect under contract to the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL).

References

  1. ↑ "Heponiemi named WHL Rookie of the Year; Steenbergen named Most Sportsmanlike". swbooster.com. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  2. ↑ "157 CHL Players in Final 2017 NHL Central Scouting Draft Rankings – CHL". chl.ca. 11 April 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  3. ↑ "Heponiemi Selected by Florida Panthers at 2017 NHL Draft". scbroncos.com. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  4. ↑ "Meet The Steal of the 2017 NHL Draft". thehockeywriters.com. 12 February 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  5. ↑ "Broncos Announce 2017/18 Awards Winners". scbroncos.com. 18 March 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  6. ↑ "Aleksi Heponiemi named WHL Eastern Conference Most Sportsmanlike Player". scbroncos.com. 21 March 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  7. ↑ "Heponiemi headed home after signing deal in Finnish Elite League". scbroncos.com. 28 May 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  8. ↑ "Florida Panthers agree to terms with Aleksi Heponiemi on three-year contract". Florida Panthers. 16 May 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  9. ↑ "Aleksi Heponiemi to Modo Hockey" (in Swedish). Modo Hockey. 9 August 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  10. ↑ McPherson, Jordan (30 January 2021). "Florida Panthers rookie caps NHL debut with game-winner in overtime against Detroit". Miami Herald. Retrieved 1 February 2021. Heponiemi is just the fourth player to score an overtime goal in his NHL debut. The others: Kirill Kaprizov for the Minnesota Wild (Jan. 14), Tim Sweeney for the Calgary Flames (Oct. 4, 1990) and Nick Knott for the Brooklyn Americans (Nov. 2, 1941).
  11. ↑ "EHC Biel sign Finnish forward Aleksi Heponiemi" (in German). EHC Biel. 21 July 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  12. ↑ "Aleksi Heponiemi to suit up for Team Finland at 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup". scbroncos.com. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  13. ↑ Olive, Jameson (26 December 2017). "2018 IIHF World Junior Championship Kicks Off". NHL.com. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  14. ↑ "Heponiemi, leader of WHL's marketplace, is now the leader of the World Cup". jatkoaika.com (in Finnish). 24 December 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.