Vaasan Sport published bulk extension contracts.
Viljami Nieminen has been surprising in the early season. Vesa Pöppönen / All Over Press
The SM league club Vaasan Sport has used the option in the contract of Viljami Nieminen, who scored power points this season. Therefore, Nieminen will be cool in the eagle jersey next season as well, the club informs on social media.
Nieminen, 22, has played 30 matches this season and scored 9+14=23 power points in them.
– Viljami has shown that he is a top player in this series with his early season performances. He is a forward with great skating power who has managed to use his strength to his advantage and thereby increased his self-confidence. It was obvious that Viljam’s option would be used at this stage, Sportin vt. sports director Ari-Pekka Pajuluoma said in the club’s press release.
Sport also reported that it has signed an extension with its head coach Juuso Hahl and with assistant coach Janne Grönvall.
Hahl and Grönvall have signed a one-year contract extension with the club.
– We are very satisfied with the kind of changes the entire coaching has brought about in the players’ overall everyday life and sports. The change work is in progress, because nothing happens in a day. That’s why we felt that without anything else we should continue on the path we have chosen, Pajuluoma commented.
In addition, Anton Stråka, 26, who plays as a center, has signed a two-year contract extension with Sport.
Under Hahl’s leadership, Sport has played quite a good first season and the Vaasa club is currently ninth in the SM league standings. Hahl, 42, is in the first season of his career as a head coach at the SM league level.
Financial challenges
Juuso Hahl will continue as Sport’s head coach next season as well. Tomi Natri / All Over Press
Sport has been in the headlines recently due to its financial difficulties. Iltalehti reported on Tuesday that from the minutes of the board meeting of the Vaasan region’s arenas board, it appeared that Sport’s debt is currently around 600,000 euros.
The debt has increased, as at the end of February 2024 it was 556,450 euros.
– The debt is from a long time, director of the municipal corporation Michael Lyski told Iltalehte.
– It hasn’t come now.
The municipality manages Sport’s home rink, the Kuparisaari ice hall. The minutes also state that it has forgiven Sport’s debts for 70,000 euros.
Confirmation for HIFK
Helsinki IFK announced on Tuesday that it has acquired the cool Juuso Ikonen as a striker.
Ikonen, 29, has signed a one-month trial contract with the Helsinki club.
– This is a very experienced player at the League level. Juuso gives us width in attack – possibly also for the whole rest of the season, HIFK’s sports director Janne Pesonen said in the club’s press release.
In his career, Ikonen has played 412 SM league regular season matches with an output of 70+126=196. He played last season for Pori Ässie. In addition, he has represented Tappara, HPK, Kärppi, JYP and Blues in the SM league.
In his career, Ikonen has also played in the Swedish premier league in the SHL.