Mikkelin Jukurit is holding fast to its number one goalkeeper.
Mikkelin Jukurit, one of the big surprises of the ice hockey season, released something to the delight of supporters on Thursday bulletin. The goalkeeper who arrived in the city in the 2022–2023 season Markus Ruusu will continue in the team at least until the summer of 2026.
The defender, who played 41 matches in Jukurei, has finally broken through properly at the main league level in his seventh full SM league season. Ruusu, who hunted for big responsibility last year, is now the team’s number one replacement between the posts.
Ruusu has thanked for the trust and prevented 14 regular time wins out of 26 games. There have been the most clean sheets in the league: five. The tackle percentage of 90.95 also competes for the top spots. At this stage, Jukurit is third in the League.
Markus Ruusu continues in Mikkeli. Elmeri Elo / AOP
– Markus has shown by his own actions that he is a winning goalkeeper in the League. But we know that Markus’ goals are higher, and as a club we want to help him develop towards them, Jukurie’s development manager Mikko Hakkarainen comment.
Ruusu’s extension also brings relief to the tribe, as Jukurit will have to give up several important players at the end of the season. At least according to Iltalehti’s information Michal Kovarcik is saying goodbye to the lake landscapes of Etelä-Savo and moving to Oulu. The head coach Olli Jokinen continues his journey to Sweden.
Hakkarainen mentions on the club’s website that a couple dozen player contracts have been signed and a new coach has been found.
– We will inform you about these and the coaching group later, when the time is right, Hakkarainen says.