Juha Leimu

Last updated
Juha Leimu
Juha Leimu.jpg
Born (1983-01-30) January 30, 1983 (age 42)
Tampere, Finland
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Tappara
Pelicans
Ilves
National teamFlag of Finland.svg  Finland
NHL draft undrafted
Playing career 20032019

Juha Leimu (born January 30, 1983, in Tampere, Finland) is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman.

Contents

Playing career

Leimu broke into the SM-liiga during the 2009–10 season, joining Tappara on an eight-game trial after starting the year with Lempäälän Kisa. His strong play earned him a contract for the remainder of the season, [1] where he tallied 24 points in 36 games. In May 2010, he signed a three-year extension with the team. [2] The following season, 2010–11, he posted his best career numbers, scoring 12 goals and adding 31 points in 50 games.

Following the end of his contract with Tappara, Leimu signed a two-year deal with the Pelicans on April 26, 2013. [3] In his first season with Lahti, he led all Pelicans defensemen in goals, scoring 10. During the 2013–14 playoffs, Leimu netted the overtime winner in Game 2, securing a first-round series victory over HIFK. [4]

Ahead of the 2014–15 season, Leimu was appointed as the team's captain. [5] Throughout the season, he missed several stretches of play because of injuries [6] [7] but still managed to tally 16 points over 40 games. On November 20, 2014, he agreed to a two-year contract extension with the Pelicans. [8]

Leimu set a Liiga record for the quickest hat-trick, netting three power-play goals in only 44 seconds during a 5–6 overtime defeat to JYP Jyväskylä on December 15, 2015. [9] That same season, he led all defensemen in the league with 16 goals.

In 2011, Juha Leimu earned the opportunity to represent the Finland national team, appearing in an international exhibition game against Slovakia. [10]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1998–99 Ilves U16U16 SM-sarja292822501831010
1999–00Ilves U18U18 SM-sarja245492
2000–01Ilves U18U18 SM-sarja3617213826
2001–02Ilves U20U20 SM-liiga1573104
2002–03Ilves U20U20 SM-liiga43030
2003–04Ilves U20U20 SM-liiga3715122714
2004–05 Koovee Suomi-sarja 19741110
2005–06 KooveeSuomi-sarja27971612911212
2006–07 LeKi Suomi-sarja3418314944682106
2007–08 LeKi Mestis 4399184030112
2008–09 LeKiMestis421316294430226
2009–10 LeKiMestis13471110
2009–10 Tappara SM-liiga 36717241673252
2010–11 TapparaSM-liiga5012193140
2011–12 TapparaSM-liiga2422420
2011–12 LeKiMestis10000
2012–13 TapparaSM-liiga577152255151126
2013–14 Lahti Pelicans Liiga481010203282138
2014–15 Lahti PelicansLiiga406101634
2015–16 Lahti PelicansLiiga511618341293250
2016–17 Lahti PelicansLiiga3111617450222
2017–18 Lahti PelicansLiiga4328102831232
2018–19 IlvesLiiga382792240000
Liiga totals418751121872635110102020

References

  1. "Liiga".
  2. "SM-liiga: Mikko Saariselta sammui valmentamisen liekki - Jääkiekko - Ilta-Sanomat". Archived from the original on 2015-04-02.
  3. "Pelicans hankki viivapelotteen Tapparan hopeajoukkueesta". 26 April 2013.
  4. "SM-liiga: Juha Leimu päätti HIFK:n kauden ja Ville Peltosen uran - SM-liiga - uutiset, tulokset ja videot - Ilta-Sanomat". Archived from the original on 2014-03-19.
  5. "Kapteenin C-kirjainta rintaansa sovitteleva Juha Leimu kärsinyt pienistä vaivoista". 28 August 2014.
  6. "Pelicansin harjoitusotteluissa väläytellyt kaksikko viikoiksi sivuun". September 2014.
  7. "Pelicansin kapteeni telakalle".
  8. "Kapteeni Juha Leimu jatkaa Pelicansissa | Pelicans". Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-30.
  9. "Pelicansin Juha Leimu iskussa – Hippoksen illassa syntyi hurja ennätys - Kiekko - Keskisuomalainen". www.ksml.fi. Archived from the original on 2015-12-22.
  10. "EHC: Leijonat nimetty Slovakia-otteluihin".