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]
| Lenni Hämeenaho | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Hämeenaho with Porin Ässät in 2023 | |||
| Born |
November 7, 2004 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 | ||
Playing career
editJunior
editHämeenaho 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 organization.[5][6]
Entering the 2019–20 season, Hämeenaho, his brother, and teammate Valtteri Viirret moved to Pori to play for Porin Ässät.[5][6]
Professional
editPorin Ässät (2022–present)
edit
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
edit| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's ice hockey | ||
Representing  Finland
| ||
| World U18 Championship | ||
 |
2022 Germany | |
| EYOF | ||
 |
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
editHämeenaho'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.[5]
Career statistics
editRegular season and playoffs
edit| 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
edit| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Finland | EYOF | 
|
4 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2022 | Finland | U18 | 
|
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
edit| Award | Year | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| U18 SM-sarja | ||
| Esa Tikkanen Award (Best Player) | 2020-21 | [2] |
References
edit- ^ "Liiga". liiga.fi. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Lenni Hämeenaho at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Sihvonen, Varpu. "Leijonat - U20 SM: Tulokashyökkääjä Hämeenaho Ässäpakan valttikortti". www.leijonat.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved January 4, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "U18 MM-kisoissa pelaava Lenni Hämeenaho jatkaa Ässissä". assat.com. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
- ^ "Liiga". liiga.fi. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
- ^ "Liiga". liiga.fi. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
- ^ "NHL | Ässien Lenni Hämeenaho varattiin Erik Haulan seuraan NHL:ssä". Satakunnan Kansa (in Finnish). June 29, 2023. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
- ^ Alanen, Lassi (November 4, 2023). "Finland Stock Watch: It's the Lenni Hämeenaho show in Ässät". eprinkside.com. Elite Prospects. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
- ^ Gaudio, Julian (March 28, 2024). "Pair Of Devils European Prospects Seasons Come To An End". thehockeynews.com. The Hockey News. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Nichols, James (January 5, 2024). "Devils Hameenaho, Finland Stunned in WJC Bronze Medal Game". newjerseyhockeynow.com. New Jersey Hockey Now. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
- ^ "Veikka Hämeenaho at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
- ^ "Jarmo Hämeenaho at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
- ^ 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.
External links
edit- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or The Internet Hockey Database