Jani Lajunen
Lajunen in 2023
Born (1990-06-16) 16 June 1990 (age 33)
Espoo, Finland
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 165 lb (75 kg; 11 st 11 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
SHL team
Former teams		 Örebro HK
Espoo Blues
Milwaukee Admirals
Peoria Rivermen
Växjö Lakers
Tappara
HC Lugano
National team  Finland
NHL Draft 201st overall, 2008
Nashville Predators
Playing career 2008–present

Jani Lajunen (born 16 June 1990) is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing with HC Sparta Praha of the Czech Hockey League (EHL). He was selected by the Nashville Predators in the 7th round (201st overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Having made his debut in SM-liiga in 2008, he made quick progress and became one of the key players with Espoo Blues. He was selected to the Finnish national team for the 2011 IIHF World Championship. At the age of 20 he scored his first national team goal against Norway in the quarterfinals at his second game of the tournament. Lajunen also scored a goal in the semifinals against Russia. Team Finland went all the way to the final game and swept Sweden 6–1, winning Finland's second IIHF World Championship gold medal to date.

19 February 2013, Lajunen was traded by the Predators to the St. Louis Blues for fellow minor leaguer Scott Ford.[1] He then played for Växjö Lakers of the Swedish Hockey League for two seasons before returning to Finland in joining Tappara on a two-year deal, commencing from the 2015–16 season.[2]

On 5 May 2017 Lajunen agreed to a two-year contract with HC Lugano of the National League (NL).[3] On December 24, 2018, Lajunen was signed to an early two-year contract extension by Lugano through to the end of the 2020–21 season.

On 20 May 2021, Lajunen left the Swiss National League as a free agent after four seasons and returned to the SHL, in agreeing to a two-year contract with Örebro HK.[4]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2006–07 Blues FIN U18 28 5 12 17 20 — — — — —
2007–08 Blues FIN U18 1 1 0 1 2 — — — — —
2007–08 Blues Jr. A 25 4 10 14 14 3 0 0 0 0
2007–08 Blues SM-l 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2008–09 Blues Jr. A 25 16 10 26 24 8 2 1 3 12
2008–09 Blues SM-l 25 1 1 2 4 2 0 0 0 0
2009–10 Blues Jr. A 4 1 1 2 0 — — — — —
2009–10 Blues SM-l 46 6 9 15 34 3 0 0 0 2
2010–11 Blues SM-l 60 10 12 22 46 18 3 4 7 12
2011–12 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 75 5 11 16 18 3 1 0 1 0
2012–13 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 40 1 4 5 14 — — — — —
2012–13 Peoria Rivermen AHL 19 1 1 2 4 — — — — —
2013–14 Växjö Lakers SHL 44 8 12 20 16 12 1 0 1 4
2014–15 Växjö Lakers SHL 48 5 15 20 35 18 6 5 11 8
2015–16 Tappara Liiga 58 16 17 33 18 18 4 6 10 6
2016–17 Tappara Liiga 59 14 21 35 22 18 2 7 9 8
2017–18 HC Lugano NL 42 6 19 25 20 16 3 11 14 8
2018–19 HC Lugano NL 41 8 15 23 14 4 0 1 1 2
2019–20 HC Lugano NL 49 7 19 26 18 — — — — —
2020–21 HC Lugano NL 38 9 12 21 24 5 1 0 1 0
2021–22 Örebro HK SHL 50 9 16 25 26 8 1 1 2 2
Liiga totals 249 47 60 107 124 59 9 17 26 28
NL totals 170 30 65 95 76 25 4 12 16 12

International

Medal record
Representing  Finland
Ice hockey
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2011 Slovakia
Silver medal – second place 2016 Russia
Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM
2008 Finland U18 6 1 0 1 2
2009 Finland WJC 6 1 0 1 0
2010 Finland WJC 6 1 4 5 6
2011 Finland WC 4 2 1 3 2
2016 Finland WC 6 0 0 0 2
2017 Finland WC 10 1 1 2 4
2018 Finland OG 4 0 1 1 6
Junior totals 18 3 4 7 8
Senior totals 24 3 3 6 14

References

  1. ^ "Predators acquire Scott Ford from St.Louis". Nashville Predators. 19 February 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  2. ^ "Fresh Swedish Champion Lajunen joins Tappara". Tappara (in Finnish). 6 May 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  3. ^ "Is Jani Lajunen one of HC Lugano's new import players?". www.swisshockeynews.ch. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  4. ^ "Welcome Jani Lajunen to Örebro" (in Swedish). Örebro HK. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.

External links

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