In the last Liiga update I mentioned a couple of promising goaltenders. Let’s add Emil Larmi to the list. Larmi entered the season as a back-up for Nathan Lawson, but has now taken over the net for HPK. The 20-year-old Lahti native is starting to pick up steam for the second half of the season. He is 8-3-3 since December first. In those 14 games he has 2.14 GAA and a 91.47 SV%. Worth noting is that he has four shutouts for the season. This is a small sample size, but he has been great for the past couple of months and played a key role in his team’s recent success. Plus his Twitter account is pretty funny. Here is one of Larmi’s recent Tweets, kudos to the goal post:

{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="fi"><p lang="fi" dir="ltr">Kunnia sinne minne se kuuluu. Kävin kiittämässä loistavasta yhteistyöstä. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tolppa?src=hash">#tolppa</a> <a href="https://t.co/uVviOQMLVy">pic.twitter.com/uVviOQMLVy</a></p>&mdash; Emil Larmi (@emillarmi) <a href="https://twitter.com/emillarmi/status/820338070432186368">14. tammikuuta 2017</a></blockquote>

<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

http://www.ruutu.fi/video/2892591 The highlights start at 0:40 mark.

Otto Koivula is still leading all rookies in scoring, if you use points per game. The WJC took him out of Liiga action for a while. He is now tied with Teemu Turunen with 0.56 PPG. Koivula even scored a goal, a game winning goal on overtime. The last time he scored a goal was on Oct 29. There was a scary incident in a game against Ässät. One of his teammates accidentally cut Koivula’s face with his skate. Koivula left the game and did not return. Luckily Koivula didn’t miss additional games because of this.

Feb. 2 Koivulas game winning overtime goal

{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="fi"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Otto Koivula's game-winner from today. Has some really impressive skill, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Isles?src=hash">#Isles</a> fans should be excited about this prospect. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ilves?src=hash">#Ilves</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Liiga?src=hash">#Liiga</a> <a href="https://t.co/Sr6FiXusCW">pic.twitter.com/Sr6FiXusCW</a></p>&mdash; Finnish jr hockey (@FINjrhockey) <a href="https://twitter.com/FINjrhockey/status/827248303238742016">2. helmikuuta 2017</a></blockquote>

<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

Miro Heiskanen scored a goal and added an assist, against Kärpät on February third. There was an exceptionally large group of NHL GM’s and scouts. Jarmo Kekäläinen, the GM of the Columbus Blue Jackets and John Davidson, the president of hockey operations were seen at the arena. The Anaheim Ducks had a duo of their GM, Bob Murray and his advisor, Dave Nonis keeping a close eye on the skilled defender. As we get closed to the end of this season, the hype train is rolling strong and for a reason. Bob McKenzie’s 2017 mid-season top prospects list had Heiskanen at thirteen. He could be the first defender of the board in the upcoming entry draft.

February third, a goal and an assist:

{youtube}fOpw6cQfvQk{/youtube}

January 20^th, Heiskanen scores again:

{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="fi"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Liiga?src=hash">#Liiga</a>: Here's a goal from LHD Miro Heiskanen (Ranked No. 14) in HIFK's 3-1 loss to <a href="https://twitter.com/VaasanSport">@VaasanSport</a> on Wednesday <a href="https://t.co/MRI0i8d0hN">pic.twitter.com/MRI0i8d0hN</a></p>&mdash; Steve Kournianos (@TheDraftAnalyst) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDraftAnalyst/status/822512245649223681">20. tammikuuta 2017</a></blockquote>

<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

Niko Salminen