Lenni Hämeenaho

Lenni Hämeenaho (Finnish: [ˈlenːi hɑˈmeːˌnɑho], 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 was selected in the 2nd round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, 58th overall by the New Jersey Devils.[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 58th overall, 2023
New Jersey Devils
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 46 points and the C-junior Mestis with 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 for 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 at 17 years old on September 14, 2022, in the opening game of the 2022–2023 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.[9] He scored his first goal in 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.[10] He finished the season with 21 points in 51 games, plus 4 points in 8 playoff games.

On 29 July 2023, Hämeenaho was selected 58th overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.[3][11]

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

Hämeenaho represented Finland in the European Youth Olympic Festival in 2022, scoring 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points.[12]

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]

Personal life

Hämeenaho's brother, Veikka, also plays in the Ässät organization, on the U20 team as of the 2023-24 season.[13] Hämeenaho's father, Jarmo, represented Kajaanin Hokki in the Mestis and has been a coach for Hokki and Ässät's junior teams.[6][14][15]

As of October 2020 Hämeenaho is 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 U20 1 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
2021–22 Ässät U20 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

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

Awards and honors
Award Year Ref
U18 SM-sarja
Esa Tikkanen Award (Best Player) 2020-21 [2]
Most Assists (37) 2020-21 [2]

References
  1. "Liiga". liiga.fi. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  2. "Lenni Hämeenaho at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  3. Fischer, John (2023-06-29). "2023 NHL Draft: Devils Pick Lenni Hämeenaho at 58th Overall in the Second Round". All About The Jersey. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  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. "NHL | Ässien Lenni Hämeenaho varattiin Erik Haulan seuraan NHL:ssä". Satakunnan Kansa (in Finnish). 2023-06-29. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  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.
  15. Touru, Ville (2022-12-31). "Tämä perhe on muuttanut ympäri Suomen jääkiekon perässä – nyt poika on maajoukkueen tähti". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 2023-10-21.
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