Veli-Matti Savinainen

Veli-Matti Savinainen (born 5 January 1986) is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward who currently plays for Tappara of the Liiga.

Veli-Matti Savinainen
Born (1986-01-05) 5 January 1986
Espoo, Finland
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 181 lb (82 kg; 12 st 13 lb)
Position Forward
Shoots Left
Liiga team
Former teams		 Tappara
Ässät
HC Yugra
Leksands IF
Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod
Kunlun Red Star
Jokerit
National team  Finland
Playing career 2005–present

Playing career

Savinainen has previously played for the Liiga clubs, Ässät and Tappara, and for HC Ugra, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod of the Russian KHL, as well as Leksands IF of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). He Joined Leksands IF on a one-year contract on 30 August 2014 after spending the 2013–14 season with Ugra.[1]

After completing his second stint with HC Yugra following the 2017–18 season, posting 17 points in 50 games, Savinainen left as a free agent but opted to continue in the KHL, in joining Chinese outfit Kunlun Red Star on a one-year contract on May 2, 2018.[2]

Following his lone season in China in the 2018–19 season, Savinainen returned to Finland to continue in the KHL, signing a two-year contract Jokerit on May 4, 2019.[3]

International play
Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing  Finland
World Championships
Gold medal – first place2019 Slovakia
Silver medal – second place2014 Belarus

Savinainen was named to the Finland men's national ice hockey team for competition at the 2014 IIHF World Championship.[4]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2001–02 Blues FIN U16 12 11 4 15 18 2 0 0 0 0
2003–04 FoPS FIN.2 U20 28 9 8 17 45 — — — — —
2004–05 FoPS FIN.2 U20 12 2 6 8 20 — — — — —
2004–05 FoPS FIN.3 U20 13 6 7 13 24 2 0 3 3 32
2005–06 FoPS FIN.3 U20 1 0 2 2 2 — — — — —
2005–06 FPS Mestis 35 3 3 6 20 — — — — —
2006–07 FPS Mestis 44 14 19 33 60 — — — — —
2007–08 Ässät SM-l 48 4 7 11 52 — — — — —
2007–08 KooKoo Mestis 2 1 1 2 2 — — — — —
2008–09 Ässät SM-l 51 6 19 25 18 — — — — —
2009–10 Ässät SM-l 50 6 7 13 48 — — — — —
2010–11 Ässät SM-l 55 9 13 22 34 6 0 3 3 0
2011–12 Ässät SM-l 60 17 14 31 67 4 1 1 2 2
2012–13 Ässät SM-l 46 20 16 36 43 16 4 5 9 10
2013–14 HC Yugra KHL 49 13 6 19 54 — — — — —
2014–15 Leksands IF SHL 24 5 5 10 12 — — — — —
2014–15 Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod KHL 25 2 3 5 4 4 0 0 0 10
2015–16 Tappara Liiga 44 7 15 22 18 18 2 2 4 28
2016–17 Tappara Liiga 55 30 26 56 36 17 5 6 11 30
2017–18 HC Yugra KHL 50 9 8 17 10 — — — — —
2018–19 Kunlun Red Star KHL 37 9 9 18 45 — — — — —
2019–20 Jokerit KHL 44 11 13 24 27 6 3 0 3 6
2020–21 Jokerit KHL 52 14 10 24 58 4 0 0 0 2
2021–22 Jokerit KHL 45 5 7 12 23 — — — — —
Liiga totals 409 99 117 216 316 61 12 17 29 70
KHL totals 302 63 56 119 225 14 3 0 3 18
SHL totals 24 5 5 10 12 — — — — —

International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2013 Finland WC 4th 10 3 1 4 4
2014 Finland WC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 7 0 0 0 2
2017 Finland WC 4th 10 3 4 7 4
2018 Finland OG 6th 5 1 1 2 2
2018 Finland WC 5th 8 4 4 8 6
2019 Finland WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 10 0 5 5 0
Senior totals 50 11 15 26 18

References
  1. "Savinainen ready for LIF". Leksands IF (in Swedish). 30 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  2. "Kunlun announce squad signings" (in Russian). Kunlun Red Star. 2 May 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  3. "National winger Savinainen to wear Jokerit jersey" (in Finnish). Jokerit. 4 May 2019. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  4. "Roster forming – 2014 WM – International Ice Hockey Federation IIHF". iihfworlds2014.com. Retrieved 9 May 2014.


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