Jokerit gets stronger with a returnee.
Olli Juolevi switches from Tappara to Jokers. Mika Kylmäniemi
As Iltalehti reported in February, defender Olli Juolevi will move from the back lines of new Finnish champion Tampere Tappara to Helsinki Jokers. Juolevi, 28, signed a one-year contract with the Jokers.
Juolevi returns to the club he represented in his junior years.
– Ollista already saw at a young age that he perceives the field in an exceptional way. Game intelligence is his absolute strength. When he stays fit, he is one of the best defenders in the League, the Sports Director of the Jokers Olli-Pekka Yrjänheikki says in the club’s press release.
In his time, Juolevi was a big NHL prospect. He was selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the fifth round of the first round in the 2016 summer NHL draft.
Juolevi has played 41 NHL games (2+1) in his career.
The fresh 191-centimeter defender has suffered from major injury concerns. In the second season, he played only nine regular season and nine playoff games in Tappara. In the recently ended season, there were a total of 26 games (18 in the regular season, 8 in the playoffs).
– Being able to represent the Jokers is a big deal for me. We have a lot of good players and the goals must be tough right from the start, says Juolevi.
