16
Aleksi Saarela (C)
Springfield Thunderbirds
| Name: |
Aleksi Saarela |
| Number: |
16 |
| Pos.: |
C |
| Shoots: |
L |
| Height: |
5-11 |
| Weight: |
198 |
| Birthdate: |
1997-01-07 |
| Birthplace: |
Helsinki, Finland |
Biography
2018-19: Notched career-highs in goals (30), assists (24), points (54) and plus/minus (+18) in 69 games with the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL)...Led the club in goals and placed second in points through the regular season...Followed with 15 points (7g, 8a) in 17-game playoff run to help Charlotte win Calder Cup Championship... Made his NHL debut with the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of their first-round series against the Washington Capitals on April 20. Acquired by the Chicago Blackhawks in a four-player trade on June 24.
Career Notes:
2017-18: Competed in 69 contests with the Checkers...Ranked third on Charlotte with 25 goals...Totaled 43 points (25g, 18a. 2016-17: Spent majority of season on loan to Lukko of Finnish Liiga and scored 15 goals and 13 assists in 49 games…Finished season with a nine-game stint with the Checkers, scoring six goals and four assists…Named AHL Player of the Week on 4/3/17 after tallying six points (4g, 2a) in four games. 2015-16: Suited up 51 times for Ässät in the Finnish Liiga, contributing 20 goals and 13 assists for 33 points…Helped Finland capture a gold medal at the 2017 U20 World Junior Championships and scored a total of five goals and seven assists in 15 games of international play. 2014-15: Tallied six goals and six assists in 51 games as a member of Ässät during his first full season in the Liiga…Won gold medal at the U18 World Junior Championships after producing three goals and five assists in seven games…Drafted in the third round (89th overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft by the New York Rangers.
