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 SM-liiga. He was selected in the 2nd round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, 58th overall by the New Jersey Devils. Playing career

Junior 
According to Hämeenaho himself, he started playing ice hockey at the age of four. 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. The entire Hämeenaho family also moved to Ylivieska. Lenni was the team's best scorer in both the C-junior Mestis Qualifiers with 46 points and the C-junior Mestis with 27. 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. Professional

Porin Ässät (2022–present) 
In April 2022, Hämeenaho signed a three-year SM-liiga contract with Ässät. He made his SM-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. He scored his first goal in the SM-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. 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. International play 

Hämeenaho represented Finland in the European Youth Olympic Festival in 2022, scoring 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points. 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. He made his international U20 debut representing Finland at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, scoring 2 points in 5 games. Personal life 
Hämeenaho's brother, Veikka, also plays in the Ässät organization, on the U20 team as of the 2023-24 season. Hämeenaho's father, Jarmo, represented Kajaanin Hokki in the Mestis and has been a coach for Hokki and Ässät's junior teams. As of October 2020 Hämeenaho is studying in the Porin Suomalainen Yhteislyseo (PSYL)

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Awards and honors

References

External links

2004 births
Living people
Porin Ässät (men's ice hockey) players
Finnish ice hockey players
Kokkolan Hermes players
New Jersey Devils draft picks