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Lenni Hämeenaho

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Lenni Hämeenaho
Hämeenaho with Porin Ässät in 2023
Born (2004-11-07) November 7, 2004 (age 19)
Kajaani, Finland
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 174 lb (79 kg; 12 st 6 lb)
Position Right wing
Shoots Right
Liiga team Ässät
NHL draft 58th overall, 2023
New Jersey Devils
Playing career 2022–present

Lenni Hämeenaho (Finnish: [ˈlenːi hɑˈmeːˌnɑho], born November 7, 2004) is a Finnish professional ice hockey right wing who currently plays for Porin Ässät of the Finnish Liiga.[1][2] He was selected in the 2nd round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, 58th overall by the New Jersey Devils.[3]

Playing career

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Junior

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Hämeenaho started playing ice hockey at the age of four.[4] He played youth hockey with Kajaanin Hokki until the family moved to Ylivieska, where he and his brother joined the Ylivieskan Jääkarhut [fi] organization.[5][6]

Entering the 2019–20 season, Hämeenaho, his brother, and teammate Valtteri Viirret [fi] moved to Pori to play for Porin Ässät.[5][6]

Professional

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Porin Ässät (2022–present)

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Hämeenaho with Porin Ässät in 2022

In April 2022, Hämeenaho signed a three-year SM-liiga contract with Ässät.[7] He made his SM-liiga debut at 17 years old on September 14, 2022, in the opening game of the 2022–23 season against Tampereen Ilves. Playing right wing on Ässät's fourth line with Kalle Myllymaa and Niklas Appelgren, Hämeenaho had 13 minutes of ice time.[8] He scored his first goal in the SM-liiga on October 29, 2022, in a 4–3 loss to KooKoo. He recorded 2 goals and a plus-minus of +3, and was named the third star of the match.[9] He finished the season with 21 points in 51 games, plus 4 points in 8 playoff games. On July 29, 2023, Hämeenaho was selected 58th overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.[3][10]

Hämeenaho began the 2023–24 season on a hot streak, leading Ässät with nine goals and 14 points in the first 18 games.[11] Slowing down somewhat over the rest of the year, he finished with 14 goals and 31 points in 45 games, and Ässät missed the playoffs by just two points.[12] Joining Ässät's under-20 team for their playoffs, Hämeenaho recorded 12 points in 6 games en route to a championship victory.[13]

International play

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Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing  Finland
World U18 Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Germany
EYOF
Gold medal – first place 2022 Finland

Hämeenaho represented Finland in the European Youth Olympic Festival in 2022, scoring 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points.[14]

He won a bronze medal with Finland at the 2022 IIHF World U18 Championships. In a game against Sweden, he was chosen as Finland's best player of the game.[2]

He made his international U20 debut representing Finland at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, scoring 2 points in 5 games.[2]

Hämeenaho rejoined the Finnish WJC squad the following year.[15] He scored four goals and six points, including two goals in the bronze medal match where Finland conceded six straight goals, blowing a 5–2 lead to lose 8–5.[16]

Personal life

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Hämeenaho's brother, Veikka, also plays in the Ässät organization, on the U20 team as of the 2023-24 season.[17] Hämeenaho's father, Jarmo, represented Kajaanin Hokki in the Mestis and has been a coach for Hokki and Ässät's junior teams.[6][18][19]

Hämeenaho attended high school at the Porin suomalainen yhteislyseo [fi].[5]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2020–21 Porin Ässät U20 SM-sarja 1 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
2021–22 Porin Ässät U20 SM-Sarja 42 21 16 37 12 3 0 1 1 2
2021–22 Kokkolan Hermes Mestis 3 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2022–23 Porin Ässät Liiga 51 9 12 21 14 8 3 1 4 2
2023–24 Porin Ässät Liiga 46 14 17 31 10 — — — — —
2023–24 Porin Ässät U20 SM-sarja — — — — — 6 4 8 12 2
Liiga totals 97 23 29 52 24 8 3 1 4 2

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2022 Finland EYOF 1st place, gold medalist(s) 4 2 3 5 0
2022 Finland U18 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 6 2 1 3 2
2023 Finland WJC 5th 5 1 1 2 0
2024 Finland WJC 4th 7 4 2 6 4
Junior totals 22 9 7 16 6

Awards and honors

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Award Year Ref
U18 SM-sarja
Esa Tikkanen Award (Best Player) 2020-21 [2]

References

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  1. ^ "Liiga". liiga.fi. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d "Lenni Hämeenaho at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Fischer, John (June 29, 2023). "2023 NHL Draft: Devils Pick Lenni Hämeenaho at 58th Overall in the Second Round". All About The Jersey. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  4. ^ Sihvonen, Varpu. "Leijonat - U20 SM: Tulokashyökkääjä Hämeenaho Ässäpakan valttikortti". www.leijonat.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Seppänen, Antti. "Leijonat - U18 SM: Ässien tehoketjun laituri ponnisti Kajaanista kohti kirkkaampia valoja – "Haluan tuoda oveluutta ja maalipaikkoja"". www.leijonat.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c "Jääkiekko | Perheen koti, työt ja elämä Kajaanissa jäivät taakse poikien harrastuksen vuoksi – Mummokin seurasi perässä tuntemattomaan Poriin". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). September 16, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  7. ^ "U18 MM-kisoissa pelaava Lenni Hämeenaho jatkaa Ässissä". assat.com. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  8. ^ "Liiga". liiga.fi. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  9. ^ "Liiga". liiga.fi. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  10. ^ "NHL | Ässien Lenni Hämeenaho varattiin Erik Haulan seuraan NHL:ssä". Satakunnan Kansa (in Finnish). June 29, 2023. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  11. ^ Alanen, Lassi (November 4, 2023). "Finland Stock Watch: It's the Lenni Hämeenaho show in Ässät". eprinkside.com. Elite Prospects. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  12. ^ Gaudio, Julian (March 28, 2024). "Pair Of Devils European Prospects Seasons Come To An End". thehockeynews.com. The Hockey News. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  13. ^ Alanen, Lassi [@lassialanen] (April 12, 2024). "Ässät has taken down the U20 league title, winning the finals against TPS 3-1. The team placed 8th in the regular season, almost missing the playoffs all together. Playing a key role in the playoff run, Lenni Hämeenaho (#NJDevils) added 12 points in 6 games" (Tweet). Retrieved April 12, 2024 – via Twitter.
  14. ^ Mennander, Pasi. "Leijonat - Pikkuleijonat turnausvoittoon Euroopan Nuorten Olympiafestivaaleilla – Venäjä kaatui finaalissa maalein 4–3 – Näin ottelu eteni". www.leijonat.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  15. ^ Robinson, Cam (December 13, 2023). "Chasing Glory: The top players to watch at the 2024 World Junior Championships". EP Rinkside. Elite Prospects. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  16. ^ Nichols, James (January 5, 2024). "Devils Hameenaho, Finland Stunned in WJC Bronze Medal Game". newjerseyhockeynow.com. New Jersey Hockey Now. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  17. ^ "Veikka Hämeenaho at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  18. ^ "Jarmo Hämeenaho at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  19. ^ Touru, Ville (December 31, 2022). "Tämä perhe on muuttanut ympäri Suomen jääkiekon perässä – nyt poika on maajoukkueen tähti". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved October 21, 2023.
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