Helsinki IFK held a press conference on Monday.
Jori Lehterä will play in IFK Helsinki next season. Mika Kylmäniemi / AOP
Finnish championship league club Helsinki IFK said at their press conference on Monday that they had acquired Jori Lehterä, Joni Ikonen, Sami Lepistön, Tony SundinAron Kiviharjun and Tomi Karhusen.
Lehterä, 35, has signed a two-year contract with HIFK. He played last season in Tampere’s Tappara and celebrated the Finnish championship at the end of the season. Lehterä and Tappara also won the hockey Champions League CHL during the season.
Iltalehti reported about Jokerit-bred Lehterä’s transfer to HIFK already in January.
Lepistö’s contract, on the other hand, is a 1+1 model.
Lepistö, 38, returns to the SM league after a break of many years. Cool as a defender, Lepistö is a product of the Jokers and has so far only represented his parent club in the SM league.
Last season, Lepistö played 52 regular season matches for the Swiss Langnau Tigers with an output of 5+15.
Superlupaus Kiviharju, 17, moves to HIFK on a two-year contract. He spent last season in the ranks of Turku Palloseura.
Ilta-Sanomat reports Kiviharju’s HIFK transfer in March.
Confirmations for every department
Striker Ikonen, defender Sund and Karhunen, who also played between HIFK’s posts last season, have signed a one-year contract with the club.
Ikonen, 24, played last season in the ranks of the SM league silver team Lahti Pelicans. He scored 19+14=33 power points last season.
Sund, 27, arrives at HIFK from Rögle, who plays in the Swedish premier league.
In addition to HIFK, 33-year-old Karhunen played last season for SHL club Brynäs and Swiss Bern.
The story is updated.
Aron Kiviharju will play for HIFK next season Jaakko Stenroos/AOP