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Finnish prospects update
Written by: Mikko Vuori on 12/10/2000 
If you think someone is missing, feel free to ask for them to be added to update.
Stats: position, name, games, goals, assists, points, plus/minus andpenalty minutes
W Teemu Elomo 30 1+ 6= 7 +4 34
Dallas 1997 pick, speedy winger Teemu Elomo
has had problems with scoring. Only
one goal in 30 games in not what coach
Jortikka is expenting from him.
D Ray Giroux 22 3+ 9=12 +1 34
Inlanders' Ray Giroux started season in IFK
Helsinki. He suffered from wrist injury,
and was not able to play as well as can.
Giroux plays now for AIK in Sweden.
W Niklas Hagman 30 15+ 6=21 -2 24
Florida procpect Hagman uses his speed
and good shot to score. He is still quite one
dimensional player.
W Jukka Hentunen 30 9+14=23 +3 18
Calgary 2000 6th round pick Hentunen
had a slow star with Jokerit, but
after great performance in Finnish national team
he started to score also in SM-liiga.
F Mikael Holmqvist 27 2+ 3= 5 0 8
Holmqvist was not able to practis at summer
because of a injury. He hasn't been able
to take a step to next level with his game.
W Hannes Hyvönen 30 9+ 6=15 +1 20
Sharks late round pick Hannen Hyvönen
has started to play hockey instead
of taking bad penalties. He could
reach 20 goals.
C Niko Kapanen 30 4+12=16 1 10
Stars prospect Niko Kapanen hasn't
yet been able to adjust to TPS Turku's system.
Has been good in Finnish national team.
D Marko Kauppinen 26 2+ 2= 4 -2 8
Philly prospect Kauppinen doesn't have a
regular job in Jokerit Helsinki, though
he plays for Finland in Moscow's
national team tournament. He has
played some games in Sweden.
C Mikko Koivu 15 0+ 1= 1 +1 2
2001 prospect Mikko Koivu has split
season between TPS senior and junior team.
Managed to get one point in 15 games.
D Ilkka Mikkola 17 1+ 2= 3 +10 10
Mikkola missed games with infury.
After that he has played solid hockey.
D Tero Määttä20 0+ 1= 1 -2 14
Sharks 2000 pick has had a regular job in
Blues' defense. Hasn't been great, but
no one was expecting that would.
W Tuomas Pihlman 27 2+ 5= 7 +8 18
2001 procpects Pihlman has been playing
as a checker in JYP Jyväskylä. He leads
team in plus/minus with +8.
F Teemu Riihijärvi 30 3+ 9=12 0 38
Sharks former 1st round pick Riihijärvi
is now a decent player in SM-liiga.
He is still far from NHL.
W Jani Rita 26 1+ 3= 4 -2 18
Jani Rita has been playing in Jokerit's
3rd line. That means no pp-time.
Hamilton next season?
W Mikko Ruutu 30 2+ 3= 5 +3 20
Ottawa's late round pick Mikko Ruutu has played
good defensive hockey for Jokerit Helsinki.
Might move to minors in couple years time.
F Tuomo Ruutu 29 5+ 4= 9 +2 28
2001 prospect Tuomo Ruutu has centered
Jokerit's 3rd line. With 9 points he
is eight in team's scoring.
W Tony Salmelainen 22 1+ 1= 2 -1 2
Oilers 2nd round pick in 1999 Tony
Salmelainen missed last season with injuries.
He has seen only limited ice time in IFK
Helsinki. Lately he has played for Ilves
Tampere.
C Tommi Santala 30 9+12=21 -4 60
Atlanta's 1999 pick Tommi Santala
has been playing with Pavel Rosa and
Timo Pärssinen. He has been able
to put up pretty nice numbers.
D Henrik Tallinder 30 3+ 3= 6 +10 40
Tallinder has played solid hockey for
TPS Turku. He uses his size quite nicely.
W Timo Vertala 25 12+ 6=18 +5 34
Montreal prospect Timo Vertala has
continued to play well for Tappara.
Lately he has missed games
with ankle injury.
W Tomek Valtonen 17 2+ 1= 3 +3 78
Tomek Valtonen has done what he is asked to.
Plays in Jokerit's checking line. Might
move to minors in couple years time.
D David Ytfeldt 11 0+ 4= 4 -2 26
Caucks pick Ytfeldt has suffered from
back injuries. He's been able to
play on 11 games so far.
Goalie info in next update!
Copyright 2000 Hockey’s Future. Do not reprint or otherwise duplicate without permission of the editorial staff.
