Antti Saarela

Antti Saarela (born June 27, 2001) is a Finnish professional ice hockey winger currently playing for Ilves of the Finnish Liiga.[1] He was drafted 123rd overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.[2]

Antti Saarela
Born (2001-06-27) 27 June 2001
Laitila, Finland
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 183 lb (83 kg; 13 st 1 lb)
Position Winger
Shoots Left
Liiga team
Former teams		 Ilves
Lukko
NHL Draft 123rd overall, 2019
Chicago Blackhawks
Playing career 2018–present

Playing career

Saarela made his Liiga debut for Lukko, playing one game during the 2017–18 Liiga season. He followed up by playing in twenty-four regular season games for Lukko during the 2018–19 Liiga season, scoring two goals and eight assists for ten points.[3] On April 3, 2019, Saarela signed an optional three-year contract for fellow Liiga club, Ilves.[4]

Personal

His father, Pasi Saarela, was a professional hockey player who enjoyed a lengthy career in the SM-liiga, most notably as a star player for local club, Lukko.[5] Antti was also coached through his junior career by Pasi at Lukko. His older brother Aleksi is also a professional hockey player currently playing with the Florida Panthers in the National Hockey League.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2017–18 Lukko Jr. A 25 6 9 15 6 — — — — —
2017–18 Lukko Liiga 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2018–19 Lukko Jr. A 21 7 8 15 32 — — — — —
2018–19 Lukko Liiga 24 2 8 10 20 4 0 0 0 0
2019–20 Ilves Liiga 40 4 8 12 12 — — — — —
2020–21 Ilves Liiga 47 7 7 14 51 5 0 3 3 4
Liiga totals 112 13 23 36 83 9 0 3 3 4

International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2017 Finland U17 6th 5 2 2 4 4
2018 Finland HG18 7th 3 0 0 0 2
2019 Finland U18 7th 5 1 2 3 6
2020 Finland WJC 4th 7 0 0 0 6
Junior totals 20 3 4 7 18

References
  1. "Antti Saarela player profile" (in Finnish). Liiga. 4 November 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  2. "2019 NHL Draft: Blackhawks select Antti Saarela with No. 123 pick in 4th round". secondcityhockey.com. 22 June 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  3. Antti Saarela profile - eurohockey.com
  4. "Ilvekselle kuusi uutta pelaajasopimusta" (in Finnish). Ilves. 3 April 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  5. "Pasi Saarela player profile". eliteprospects.com. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2020.

Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or The Internet Hockey Database

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