Iltalehti’s traditional Golden Lion recognition went to the goalkeeper again.
Iltalehti’s golden lion 2025 is KalPa goalkeeper Stefanos Lekkas. The prize will be awarded to the key character in the playoffs.
Lekkas played one in every spring playoff game and fought two zero games. The US watchdog fight percentage was 91.80 and the average of the goals scored 2.06.
The statistics improved from the regular season, with numbers 90.6 percent and 2.15.
Lekkas, acquired from Denmark to the Champions League for the 2023-2024 season, grew into a credit player in Kuopio in Kuopio. The goalkeeper played numerous dream matches in the playoffs and grabbed critical tackles.
Although more played in some matches, Lekkas gathered himself for the next game and kept his head cold in the tightest places, from sequence to the follow -up.
Stefanos Lekkas was allowed to raise the Canada bowl on Saturday. Mikko Lieri / AOP
An example of Vaskar’s skills was also seen in a decisive sixth final match. Lekkas endured SaiPa’s intense rotation and grabbed a vital fight for his team with underdog.
At the beginning of the follow-up, SaiPa got dangerous places for KalPa. The US guard did not bend.
– I was always thinking about the next shot and trying to live in an instant. I can’t score goals. I wanted to give the team the opportunity to win, Lekkas said in the party.
He arrived in Kuopio from Denmark from Odense Bulldogs.
– KalPa took the risk even though I played in Denmark. They saw something in me and believed in me. I couldn’t be happier.
– I love Finland and Kuopio. I couldn’t ask for more.
On Saturday, Lekkas rejected KalPa’s first Finnish championship in club history. SaiPa crashed in a decisive game 3-2 and in the series 4-2.
This is the second year in a row when the goalkeeper is awarded. Last year, Tappara was chosen as the Gold Lion Christian Heljanko.
Gold lions
Winners of the Iltalehti Gold Lion Prize:
1983 Matti Hagman HIFK
1984 Hannu Kamppuri Tappara
1985 Risto Jalo Ilves
1986 Markus Mattsson Tappara
1987 Jarmo Myllys Lock
1988 Rauno Korpi Tappara
1989 Hannu Jortikka TPS
1990 Hannu Virta TPS
1991 Jari Hirsimäki TPS
1992 Teemu Selänne Jokerit
1993 Raimo Summanen TPS
1994 Otakar Janecky Jokerit
1995 Saku Koivu TPS
1996 Petri Varis Jokerit
1997 Otakar Janecky Jokerit
1998 Olli Jokinen HIFK
The 1999 award was not awarded due to the outrageous finals
2000 Kai Nurminen TPS
2001 Hannu Jortikka TPS
2002 Kari Lehtonen Jokerit
2003 Esa Pirnes Tappara
2004 Niklas Bäckström Flyers
2005 Ilkka Mikkola Flyers
2006 Jukka Jalonen HPK
2007 Tuomas Tarkki Flyers
2008 Hannes Hyvönen Flyers
2009 Jarkko Immonen JYP
2010 Kai Suikkanen TPS
2011 Mikael Granlund HIFK
2012 Jani Tuppurainen JYP
2013 Antti Raanta Aces
2014 Juhamatti Aaltonen Flyers
2015 Joonas Kemppainen Flyers
2016 Patrik Laine Tappara
2017 Jukka Peltola Tappara
2018 Julius Junttila Flies
2019 Teemu Turunen HPK
2020 playoffs were not played due to pandemia
2021 Eetu Koivistoinen, Lock
2022 Christian Heljanko, Tappara
2023 Veli-Matti Savinainen, Tappara
2024 Christian Heljanko, Tappara
2025 Stefanos lekkas, KalPa
Stefanos Lekkas is a compact but very well -moving goalkeeper. He supported KalPa for many times during the season. Tomi Natri / AOP