Aron Kiviharju

Aron Kiviharju (born 25 January 2006)[1] is a Danish-born, Finnish ice hockey defenceman for HIFK of the Finnish Elite League (Liiga). He is considered one of the most promising players in his age group, and a likely first round pick at the 2024 NHL draft.[2][3][4]

Aron Kiviharju
Born (2006-01-25) 25 January 2006
Esbjerg, Denmark
Height 178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight 75 kg (165 lb; 11 st 11 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
Liiga team
Former teams		 IFK Helsingfors
HC TPS
National team  Finland
NHL Draft Eligible 2024
Playing career 2022–present

Career

The Dubuque Fighting Saints drafted Kiviharju as the 147th pick in the 2022 USHL Futures Draft. However, he continued to play with TPS for the 2022–23 season. Kiviharju made his professional debut at only 16 years old in the second round of the Champions Hockey League on 4 September 2022 against EV Zug. He was marked as the seventh defender of TPS.[5] Kiviharju had 13:47 minutes of ice time in the match, ending in a 0–4 loss for TPS. Kiviharju made his Liiga debut in the opening round of the regular season on 13 September away game against Tappara.[6] Kiviharju played 21 games and scored three points in the 2022–23 season.

For the 2023–24 Liiga season Kiviharju switched clubs by joining HIFK.[7][8] Kiviharju suffered an injury requiring an operation. IFK Helsingfors did not disclose what kind of injuri Kiviharju is suffering, but he will be expected back in February 2024.[9][10]

Career statistics
    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2022–23TPS TurkuLiiga210332—————

Personal life

Aron "Arska"[11] Kiviharju was born in Esbjerg, Denmark, while his father, Jani, was playing with EfB Ishockey. Kiviharju grew up in Raisio, Finland.[12]

References
  1. "Liiga". liiga.fi. Retrieved 2023-01-07.
  2. "Huippuasiantuntija lataa todella kovan arvion Suomen tähdestä: "Jos hän ei ole ykkösvaraus"". www.iltalehti.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  3. Ferrari, Tony. "Meet Aron Kiviharju, the 2024 NHL Draft Star". The Hockey News. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  4. "2024 NHL Draft Preview: Aron Kiviharju the next super talent in Finnish hockey - EP Rinkside". 2024 NHL Draft Preview: Aron Kiviharju the next super talent in Finnish hockey - EP Rinkside. 2022-04-29. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  5. "Matches". www.championshockeyleague.com. Retrieved 2023-01-07.
  6. "16-vuotias superlupaus debytoi SM-liigassa – kausi pyörähtää käyntiin huippuottelulla". mtvuutiset.fi (in Finnish). 2022-09-13. Retrieved 2023-01-07.
  7. "Aron Kiviharju". HIFK (in Finnish). Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  8. Huttunen, Sasha (2023-03-24). "Nyt pamahti siirtopommi! TPS:n timantti Aron Kiviharju, 17, loikkaa HIFK:hon". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  9. Hyvärinen, Eetu (2023-10-04). "Aron Kiviharju pitkään sivussa". HIFK (in Finnish). Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  10. Knuuttila, Mikko (2023-10-04). "Aron Kiviharju, 17, sai karmeita uutisia". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  11. "Aron Kiviharju teki kiekkohistoriaa - HC TPS" (in Finnish). 2022-04-12. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  12. "TPS:n 16-vuotias huippulupaus Aron Kiviharju tekee historiaa MM-kisoissa". www.iltalehti.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 2023-01-07.
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