Ray Kaunisto

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Ray Kaunisto
Ray Kaunisto (cropped).jpg
Kaunisto with the Utica Comets in 2014
Born (1987-02-07) February 7, 1987 (age 38)
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Forward
Shot Left
Played for Manchester Monarchs
St. John's IceCaps
Syracuse Crunch
Lake Erie Monsters
Utica Comets
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 20102016

Ray Kaunisto (born February 7, 1987) is an American former professional ice hockey forward. He last played with the Brampton Beast of the ECHL.

Contents

Playing career

He played hockey at Northern Michigan University from 2006 to 2010, along with his younger brother Kory Kaunisto. On March 31, 2010, he was signed as a free agent by the Los Angeles Kings to a two-year entry-level contract. [1] After two seasons with Kings affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs, Kaunisto became an unrestricted free agent on June 20, 2012, when the Kings did not tender him a qualifying offer. [2]

On August 21, 2013, Kaunisto signed with the AHL's St. John's IceCaps, an affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets. Kaunisto however spent the majority of the 2012–13 season, in the ECHL with lower tier affiliate, the Colorado Eagles.

On August 28, 2013, he signed as a free agent to a one-year ECHL contract with the Kalamazoo Wings. [3]

During his second season with the Wings in 2014–15, and after appearing in 43 games, Kaunisto was traded to the Evansville IceMen on March 11, 2015. [4] The following day he was moved onto the Florida Everblades to finish out the season.

In the 2015–16 season, Kaunisto was without a club. On February 6, 2016, he signed with the Brampton Beast to play a final professional game in the ECHL before announcing his retirement from professional hockey on February 8, 2016. [5]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2004–05 Soo Indians NAHL 55202040721446108
2005–06 Cedar Rapids RoughRiders USHL 535141978811212
2006–07 Northern Michigan University CCHA 4130330
2007–08 Northern Michigan UniversityCCHA40851344
2008–09 Northern Michigan UniversityCCHA40771456
2009–10 Northern Michigan UniversityCCHA4018143278
2010–11 Manchester Monarchs AHL 5786145072134
2011–12 Manchester MonarchsAHL74715226540110
2012–13 St. John's IceCaps AHL10000
2012–13 Colorado Eagles ECHL 537162311310002
2013–14 Kalamazoo Wings ECHL34210124660002
2013–14 Syracuse Crunch AHL61014
2013–14 Lake Erie Monsters AHL30112
2013–14 Utica Comets AHL191124
2014–15 Kalamazoo WingsECHL43591476
2014–15 Florida Everblades ECHL14571212101018
2015–16 Brampton Beast ECHL10000
AHL totals160172340125112244

Awards and honours

AwardYear
College
CCHA All-Tournament Team 2010 [1]

References

  1. 1 2 "Ray Kaunisto player profile". The Hockey News . March 31, 2010. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  2. "Kings announce Qualifying offers". Los Angeles Kings. June 20, 2012. Retrieved June 20, 2012.
  3. "K-Wings add four to roster". Kalamazoo Wings. August 28, 2013. Archived from the original on October 30, 2013. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  4. "Ray Kaunisto comes to Evansville in trade with Kalamazoo". Evansville IceMen. March 11, 2015. Archived from the original on March 15, 2015. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  5. "Retirement from pro hockey". Twitter. February 6, 2016. Retrieved February 6, 2016.