Kasper Halttunen

Kasper Halttunen
Born (2005-06-07) 7 June 2005 (age 19)
Helsinki, Finland
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 207 lb (94 kg; 14 st 11 lb)
Shoots Right
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams		 San Jose Sharks
London Knights (OHL)
HIFK
NHL draft 36th overall, 2023
San Jose Sharks
Playing career 2022–present

Kasper Halttunen (born 7 June 2005) is a Finnish junior ice hockey player for the London Knights in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) as a prospect to the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League (NHL).[1] Halttunen was drafted 36th overall by the Sharks in the second round of the 2023 NHL entry draft.[2]

Playing career

Halttunen made his professional debut for IFK Helsingfors on 24 September 2022, in a game against KooKoo Kouvola.[3][4] Following his selection by the Sharks, as the first Finnish prospect chosen in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, Halttunen was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with San Jose on 12 July 2023.[5] In August 2023, he signed for the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League.[6] In the 2024 playoffs Halttunen led the OHL in playoff goals as the Knights won the J. Ross Robertson Cup.[7] As OHL champions, the Knights played in the 2024 Memorial Cup in Saginaw, where they reached the championship game but were defeated 4–3 by the host Saginaw Spirit, in a rematch of the teams' semi-final series during the OHL playoffs.[8] Halttunen was named to the Memorial Cup All-Star Team.[9]

International play

Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing  Finland
IIHF World U18 Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Germany

Halttunen represented Finland at the 2022 IIHF World U18 Championships where he recorded three goals and two assists in six games and won a bronze medal.

Career statistics

Bold indicates led league

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2021–22 Jokerit U20 41 24 14 38 75 1 1 0 1 25
2022–23 HIFK U20 18 18 6 24 14 3 0 0 0 0
2022–23 HIFK Liiga 27 0 1 1 8 1 0 0 0 0
2022–23 Kiekko-Vantaa Mestis 3 1 2 3 2 3 1 1 2 4
2023–24 London Knights OHL 57 32 29 61 61 18 17 9 26 14
Liiga totals 27 0 1 1 8 1 0 0 0 0

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2021 Finland HG18 4th 5 0 0 0 6
2022 Finland U18 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 6 3 2 5 0
2022 Finland HG18 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 5 1 2 3 4
2023 Finland U18 5th 5 6 4 10 6
2024 Finland WJC 4th 7 3 3 6 4
Junior totals 28 13 11 24 20

Awards and honours

Award Year Ref
CHL
Memorial Cup All-Star Team 2024 [9]
OHL
J. Ross Robertson Cup champion 2024 [7]

References

  1. ^ "Kasper Halttunen at eliteprospects.com". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Kasper Halttunen huudettiin ensimmäisenä suomalaisena NHL:n varaustilaisuudessa". Yle Urheilu (in Finnish). 17 January 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Liiga". liiga.fi. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  4. ^ Pulkkinen, Aki-Petteri (24 September 2022). "HIFK:lla ja HPK:lla nuoret debytantit SM-liigassa – 16-vuotias lupaus kovaan paikkaan Kärppiä vastaan". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  5. ^ "San Jose Sharks sign forward Kasper Halttunen to entry-level contract". San Jose Sharks. 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  6. ^ "Knights sind import pick Halttunen". London Knights. 9 August 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Tournament field set for 2024 Memorial Cup presented by Dow". chl.ca. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  8. ^ Alter, David (3 June 2024). "Maple Leafs Prospect Easton Cowan and London Knights Fall Short in Heartbreaking Memorial Cup Final to Saginaw Spirit". The Hockey News. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  9. ^ a b Séguin, Christopher (3 June 2023). "Spirit win their first-ever CHL championship title by defeating the Knights 4-3 in the final of the 2024 Memorial Cup presented by Dow". Canadian Hockey League. Retrieved 3 June 2023.


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