Lenni Hämeenaho

Lenni Hämeenaho (Born 7 November 2004) is a Finnish professional ice hockey right wing who currently plays for Porin Ässät of the Finnish Liiga.[1][2] He has generally been considered one of the most promising players in his age group, and as the 2022–2023 season progresses, Hämeenaho is expected to be a first-round selection at the NHL draft in 2023.[3]

Lenni Hämeenaho
Born (2004-11-07) 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 Eligible 2023
Playing career 2022–present

Playing career

Junior

According to Hämeenaho himself, he started playing ice hockey at the age of four.[4] His youth team was Kajaanin Hokki and he played there until spring 2018, until Hämeenaho moved to Ylivieska Jääkarhut's C-junior team at the age of 13 together with his older brother Veikka.[5] The entire Hämeenaho family also moved to Ylivieska.[6] Lenni was the team's best scorer in both the C-junior Mestis Qualifiers with 20+26=46 and the C-junior Mestis with 8+19=27.[7]

For the 2019–2020 season, Hämeenaho, together with his brother Veikka and defender Valtteri Viirret, moved from YJK to Porin Ässät through a tryout, when the club's coaching manager Jaakko Välimaa contacted them. The entire Hämeenaho family moved to Pori so the brothers could play in Ässät.[5][6]

Porin Ässät (2022–present)

In April 2022, Hämeenaho signed a three-year Liiga contract with Ässät.[8] He made his Liiga debut when he was only 17 years old in the opening round of the 2022–2023 season on September 14, 2022 in an away game against Tampereen Ilves. Hämeenaho was placed on the right wing in Ässät's fourth line next to Kalle Myllymaa and Niklas Appelgren.[9] He got 13.26 minutes of ice time in the match.[10] Hämeenaho scored his first goal in Liiga with two goals on October 29, 2022 away against KooKoo. In the match that ended in Ässät's 4–3 loss, he was involved in every goal of his team, and Hämeenaho was marked with a power rating of +3. Miika Katajainen chose him as the third star of the match.[11] Hämeenaho played 51 regular season games with 21 points. He played a total of 8 playoff games with 4 points.

International play
Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing Finland
IIHF World U18 Championships
Bronze medal – third place2022 Germany
EYOF
Gold medal – first place2022 Finland

Hämeenaho reprecented Finland in the European Youth Olympic Festival in 2022.[12] Hämeenaho scored 2 goals in the tournament and got a total of 5 points. Hämeenaho played in the U18 World Championship with Finland in 2022, where Finland won bronze.[2] In a game against Sweden, he was chosen as Finland's best player of the game.

Hämeenaho reprecented Finland in the 2023 World Junior Championships. Hämeenaho played 5 games and got 2 points.[2]

Personal life

Hämeenaho's brother, Veikka, also plays in the Ässät organization, currently in the U20 team.[13] Hämeenaho's father, Jarmo, reprecented Kajaanin Hokki in the Mestis and has been a coach for Hokki's and Ässät's junior teams.[6][14]

Hämeenaho is currently studying in the Porin Suomalainen Yhteislyseo (PSYL)[5]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2020–21 Ässät FIN. Jr 1 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
2021–22 Ässät FIN. Jr 42 21 16 37 12 3 0 1 1 2
2021–22 Hermes Mestis 3 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2022–23 Ässät Liiga 51 9 12 21 14 8 3 1 4 2
Liiga totals 51 9 12 21 14 8 3 1 4 2
Mestis totals 3 0 0 0 0 — — — — —


International
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
Junior totals 15 5 5 10 2

References
  1. "Liiga". liiga.fi. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  2. "Lenni Hämeenaho at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  3. "Lenni Hämeenaho lähtee hakemaan MM-kullan lisäksi näyttöjä NHL-seuroille: "Varmasti huomioidaan enemmän, jos onnistuu kisoissa"". Jatkoaika.com - Kaikki jääkiekosta (in Finnish). Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  4. Sihvonen, Varpu. "Leijonat - U20 SM: Tulokashyökkääjä Hämeenaho Ässäpakan valttikortti". www.leijonat.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  5. Seppänen, Antti. "Leijonat - U18 SM: Ässien tehoketjun laituri ponnisti Kajaanista kohti kirkkaampia valoja – "Haluan tuoda oveluutta ja maalipaikkoja"". www.leijonat.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  6. "Jääkiekko | Perheen koti, työt ja elämä Kajaanissa jäivät taakse poikien harrastuksen vuoksi – Mummokin seurasi perässä tuntemattomaan Poriin". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). 2022-09-16. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  7. "YJK U16 at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  8. "U18 MM-kisoissa pelaava Lenni Hämeenaho jatkaa Ässissä". assat.com. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  9. "Liiga". liiga.fi. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  10. "Liiga". liiga.fi. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  11. "Liiga". liiga.fi. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  12. Mennander, Pasi. "Leijonat - Pikkuleijonat turnausvoittoon Euroopan Nuorten Olympiafestivaaleilla – Venäjä kaatui finaalissa maalein 4–3 – Näin ottelu eteni". www.leijonat.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 2023-01-05.
  13. "Veikka Hämeenaho at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
  14. "Jarmo Hämeenaho at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
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