Joel Blomqvist (ice hockey)

Last updated

Joel Blomqvist
20240204 AHL Skills Competition (53509981744) (cropped).jpg
Blomqvist in 2024
Born (2002-01-10) 10 January 2002 (age 23)
Nykarleby, Finland
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams
Pittsburgh Penguins
WBS Penguins  (AHL)
Oulun Kärpät
NHL draft 52nd overall, 2020
Pittsburgh Penguins
Playing career 2019present

Joel Blomqvist (born 10 January 2002) is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender who currently plays with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract as a prospect to for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Contents

Playing career

On 7 December 2019, Blomqvist made his Liiga debut for Oulun Kärpät against HIFK. [1] He made his first Liiga start on 26 December 2019 against JYP. [2] [3] In March 2020, Blomqvist signed a three-year contract with Kärpät. [4]

On 1 October 2020, Blomqvist earned his first Liiga win. [5] On 6 October, he was loaned to Kokkolan Hermes for the 2020–21 Mestis season. [6] On 7 October, he was drafted in the second round of the 2020 NHL entry draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins with the 52nd overall pick. [7] [8]

On 16 October 2021, Blomqvist recorded his first Liiga shutout. [9] On 15 April 2022, Blomqvist signed an amateur contract with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. [10]

In October 2022, Blomqvist sustained a concussion after a collision with HIFK's Iiro Pakarinen. [11] In December, after another collision, Blomqvist again suffered from concussion symptoms. [11] He returned to play for Kärpät in March 2023. [12] Blomqvist completed the 2022–23 Liiga season with Kärpät, posting a 6–5–8 record, 2.29 goals against average, .907 save percentage, and one shutout in 21 regular-season games; he then signed an amateur contract with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on 4 April 2023. [13] [14] On 5 April 2023, he signed with Pittsburgh on a three-year, entry-level contract that would begin in the 2023–24 NHL season. [15]

Blomqvist played with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the 2023–24 AHL season, and was selected to the AHL All-Star Game. [16]

Blomqvist made his NHL debut on 10 October 2024, in Pittsburgh's 6–3 win against the Detroit Red Wings. [17]

International play

Blomqvist represented the Finland junior team at the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. [18]

Personal life

Blomqvist was born to parents Anders and Nina, and has an older brother, Emil. [19] [17]

Blomqvist is a Finnish Swede. [19]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGPWLOTMINGA SO GAA SV% GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
2018–19 Oulun Kärpät Jr. A 11.93831.33.947
2019–20Oulun KärpätJr. A34266051.66.93110159303.03.897
2019–20 Oulun Kärpät Liiga 200163504.73.808
2020–21Oulun KärpätJr. A31.33.941
2020–21 Oulun KärpätLiiga2200120301.50.914
2020–21 Hermes Mestis 166469654312.67.90711636013103.10.908
2021–22Oulun KärpätJr. A100164504.63.868
2021–22 Oulun KärpätLiiga206359522151.32.940733437801.10.950
2021–22 HermesMestis4031239902.26.882
2021–22 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 101059202.05.926
2022–23 Oulun KärpätLiiga2165811814512.29.907312147903.69.848
2022–23 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsAHL101060404.00.852
2023–24 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsAHL452512626369512.16.921202120703.49.894
2024–25 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsAHL1887310575012.84.91410139304.60.885
2024–25 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 154917724903.81.885
Liiga totals45148142,3167461.92.91710455831701.75.922
NHL totals154917724903.81.885
Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
World Junior Championships
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2021 Canada

International

YearTeamEventResultGPWLOTMINGASOGAASV%
2018 Finland U17 Silver medal icon.svg52303131703.26.894
2019 Finland HG18 4th32102981112.33.919
2021 Finland WJC Bronze medal icon.svg
Junior totals84406112812.75.908

Awards and honors

AwardYearRef
Jr. A
Champion (Oulun Kärpät)2019
First All-Star Team2020
Jorma Valtonen Award 2020
Liiga
Best SVS% (940) 2022
AHL
All-Star Game 2024 [20]
Second All-Star Team 2024 [21]
All-Rookie Team 2024 [22]

References

  1. "Liiga.fi | Kausi 2019–20 | Ottelu". liiga.fi.
  2. Väänänen, Ville (26 December 2019). "Kärpiltä pakon sanelema ratkaisu Jyväskylässä – matkassa kaksi vasta 17-vuotiasta maalivahtia". Ilta-Sanomat.
  3. "Liiga.fi | Kausi 2019–20 | Ottelu". liiga.fi.
  4. "Peruspakki ja veskarilupaus jatkavat Kärpissä pitkillä pesteillä". Jatkoaika.com – Kaikki jääkiekosta. 5 March 2020.
  5. "Liiga.fi | Kausi 2020–21 | Ottelu". liiga.fi.
  6. Airio, Riikka (6 October 2020). "Joel Blomqvist lainalle Kokkolan Hermekseen". Oulun Kärpät.
  7. "Joel Blomqvist". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  8. "2020 NHL Draft: Complete results, list of picks for Rounds 1–7". NBC. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  9. "Liiga.fi | Kausi 2021–22 | Ottelu". liiga.fi.
  10. Hart, Nick (15 April 2022). "Almari Reassigned to Penguins, Blomqvist Signed to ATO". Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024.
  11. 1 2 Kuisma, Joonas (28 January 2023). "Normaalista poikkeava tunne päässä piinaa suomalaisen jääkiekon 21-vuotiasta suurlupausta – "On raskasta"". Ilta-Sanomat.
  12. "Lauri Marjamäki paljasti sankarivahti Joel Blomqvistin paluun syyn". 13 March 2023. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023.
  13. Hart, Nick (4 April 2023). "Penguins Sign Blomqvist & Krannila to ATOs". WBS Penguins.
  14. "Kärppien maalivahti siirtyy Pohjois-Amerikkaan – Ilmaveivimies liittyy joukkuekaveriksi". 5 April 2023. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023.
  15. "Penguins sign goaltender Blomqvist to a three-year, entry-level contract". Pittsburgh Penguins. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  16. "Joel Blomqvist Thriving in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton | Pittsburgh Penguins". www.nhl.com. 5 February 2024.
  17. 1 2 "Dream Debut for Joel Blomqvist | Pittsburgh Penguins". www.nhl.com. 11 October 2024.
  18. "IIHF – Players battle for World Juniors ticket". IIHF International Ice Hockey Federation.
  19. 1 2 "Getting to Know: Joel Blomqvist | Pittsburgh Penguins". www.nhl.com. 26 August 2024.
  20. "Joel Blomqvist to represent Penguins at 2024 AHL All-Star Classic". Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  21. "2023–24 AHL First, Second All-Star Teams unveiled". American Hockey League. 18 April 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  22. "2023–24 AHL All-Rookie Team named". American Hockey League. 17 April 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.