Janne Pesonen
Encyclopedia
Janne Pesonen is a Finnish professional ice hockey
winger
currently an unrestricted free agent (UFA).
in 1998, playing in the second-highest division of hockey in Finland, the Mestis
.
in the Finnish top division, the SM-Liiga
, from 2001–02 and 2003–08. After his first season with Kärpät he returned to Hokki for one season in 2002–03. He returned to Kärpät in 2003–04 and won the SM-Liiga Rookie of the Year award, helping Kärpät to their first Finnish championship since 1981. His five seasons with Kärpät from 2003–08 saw Pesonen win four Finnish championships in total, in 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2008. He won the Jari Kurri trophy
, which is annually awarded the playoff MVP, in 2007. He had his best season in 2007–08 when he led the SM-Liiga in goals
, points
, and plus-minus, winning the Aarne Honkavaara
, Veli-Pekka Ketola
, and Matti Keinonen
trophies, respectively, for his efforts. That season he tallied 34 goals and 44 assists for a total 78 points in only 56 games played.
, on October 8, 2008. Pesonen would show his ability to adapt to the North American style of hockey by scoring 9 pts in his first seven games, scoring two goals and garnering seven assists. On October 31, Pesonen was recalled by the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he made his NHL debut on November 1 against the St. Louis Blues. Pesonen's stay with the Penguins was brief, and he was returned to the AHL after seven games. On March 16, Pesonen set a new record for points in a single season for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Baby Penguins, passing up Toby Petersen
's 67-point season of 2000–01
. At season's end, Pesonen finished with 82 points, fourth in the AHL in scoring and the highest point total by a Finn in AHL history.
n club Ak Bars Kazan of the Kontinental Hockey League on August 4, 2009. He left Kazan after two seasons for a try-out contract with the Winnipeg Jets
of the National Hockey League
(NHL) on August 11, 2011. He was released from the Jets on October 2, after failing to get an extended offer.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
winger
Winger (ice hockey)
Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink...
currently an unrestricted free agent (UFA).
Career
Pesonen began his career with HokkiHokki
Hokki are a Finnish ice hockey team based at Kajaani. Established in 1968. Full name of the club is Kajaanin Hokki.-The club:The team is currently coached by Vladimir Kolek...
in 1998, playing in the second-highest division of hockey in Finland, the Mestis
Mestis
Mestis, , is the second-highest ice hockey league in Finland.The league was established in 2000 to replace the first division. Since 2000, Mestis has been the highest hockey league in Finland that can be reached with playing merits only; the SM-liiga was closed in 2000...
.
Kärpät
He then played for KärpätKärpät
Oulun Kärpät is an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga based in Oulu, Finland. Their logo features a stoat ; "kärpät" is Finnish for stoats or ermines. The team has won five league championships .-History:...
in the Finnish top division, the SM-Liiga
SM-liiga
The SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice...
, from 2001–02 and 2003–08. After his first season with Kärpät he returned to Hokki for one season in 2002–03. He returned to Kärpät in 2003–04 and won the SM-Liiga Rookie of the Year award, helping Kärpät to their first Finnish championship since 1981. His five seasons with Kärpät from 2003–08 saw Pesonen win four Finnish championships in total, in 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2008. He won the Jari Kurri trophy
Jari Kurri trophy
The Jari Kurri trophy is an ice hockey trophy awarded by the Finnish SM-liiga to the best player in the SM-liiga playoffs. The trophy is named after Jari Kurri....
, which is annually awarded the playoff MVP, in 2007. He had his best season in 2007–08 when he led the SM-Liiga in goals
Goal (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to...
, points
Point (ice hockey)
Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one...
, and plus-minus, winning the Aarne Honkavaara
Aarne Honkavaara trophy
The Aarne Honkavaara trophy is an ice hockey trophy given by the Finnish SM-liiga to the player who scores the most goals during regular season play.Trophy Winners:1977-78: Markku Kiimalainen 1978-79: Kari Makkonen...
, Veli-Pekka Ketola
Veli-Pekka Ketola trophy
The Veli-Pekka Ketola trophy is an ice hockey trophy awarded by the Finnish SM-liiga to the player who scores the most points during regular season play.To date, Steve Kariya and Martin Kariya are the only two brothers to win the title.Trophy winners:...
, and Matti Keinonen
Matti Keinonen trophy
The Matti Keinonen trophy is an ice-hockey award given by the Finnish SM-liiga to the "most effective player" of the season .-Trophy winners:...
trophies, respectively, for his efforts. That season he tallied 34 goals and 44 assists for a total 78 points in only 56 games played.
Pittsburgh Penguins
On July 7, 2008, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced that they signed Pesonen to a one year contract. After 3 preseason games in which he tallied 1 goal and 1 assist, Pesonen was sent to the Penguins' AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsWilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. They play in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza...
, on October 8, 2008. Pesonen would show his ability to adapt to the North American style of hockey by scoring 9 pts in his first seven games, scoring two goals and garnering seven assists. On October 31, Pesonen was recalled by the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he made his NHL debut on November 1 against the St. Louis Blues. Pesonen's stay with the Penguins was brief, and he was returned to the AHL after seven games. On March 16, Pesonen set a new record for points in a single season for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Baby Penguins, passing up Toby Petersen
Toby Petersen
Tobias Emanuel Petersen is an American professional ice hockey right winger who currently plays for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League...
's 67-point season of 2000–01
2000–01 AHL season
The 2000–01 AHL season was the 65th season of the American Hockey League. The league realigns its divisions again. The Atlantic division is renamed the Canadian division. The Empire State division is replaced by the South division, with many teams shifting from the Mid-Atlantic division.Twenty...
. At season's end, Pesonen finished with 82 points, fourth in the AHL in scoring and the highest point total by a Finn in AHL history.
Ak Bars Kazan
After one season in North America, Pesonen opted to return to Europe and signed with RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n club Ak Bars Kazan of the Kontinental Hockey League on August 4, 2009. He left Kazan after two seasons for a try-out contract with the Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets were a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. They began play in the World Hockey Association in 1972, moving to the National Hockey League in 1979 following the collapse of the WHA...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL) on August 11, 2011. He was released from the Jets on October 2, after failing to get an extended offer.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1998–99 | Hokki Hokki Hokki are a Finnish ice hockey team based at Kajaani. Established in 1968. Full name of the club is Kajaanin Hokki.-The club:The team is currently coached by Vladimir Kolek... |
2. Divisioona 2. Divisioona 2. Divisioona is the fourth highest level of ice hockey in Finland. Teams playing in 2. Divisioona can be relegated to 3. Divisioona or promoted to Suomi-sarja- Teams 2010-2011 :South Group*GrIFK*Haukat*Jää-Tiikerit*KelA*K-Vantaa Itä*LT Kings... |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| 2000–01 | Kärpät Kärpät Oulun Kärpät is an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga based in Oulu, Finland. Their logo features a stoat ; "kärpät" is Finnish for stoats or ermines. The team has won five league championships .-History:... |
Jr. A SM-Liiga | 41 | 9 | 22 | 31 | 18 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2001–02 2001–02 SM-liiga season -Standings:-Quarterfinals:* Tappara Tampere - Espoo Blues 3:0 * HPK - Ilves 3:0 * Jokerit - Kärpät 3:1 * TPS - Pelicans 3:1 -Semifinals:... |
Kärpät | SM-liiga SM-liiga The SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice... |
9 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2001–02 | Kärpät | Jr. A SM-Liiga | 42 | 12 | 19 | 31 | 18 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 2002–03 | Hokki | Mestis Mestis Mestis, , is the second-highest ice hockey league in Finland.The league was established in 2000 to replace the first division. Since 2000, Mestis has been the highest hockey league in Finland that can be reached with playing merits only; the SM-liiga was closed in 2000... |
40 | 14 | 21 | 35 | 62 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 2003–04 2003–04 SM-liiga season -Standings:-Preliminary round:* Jokerit - JYP 2:0 * Tappara Tampere - Espoo Blues 1:2 -Quarterfinals:* TPS - Espoo Blues 4:2 * Kärpät - Jokerit 4:2... |
Kärpät | SM-liiga | 56 | 17 | 13 | 30 | 28 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 2004–05 2004–05 SM-liiga season -Standings:-Preliminary round:* Ilves - Ässät 2:0 * JYP - Tappara Tampere 1:2 -Quarterfinals:* Kärpät - Tappara Tampere 4:1 * Jokerit - Ilves 4:1... |
Kärpät | SM-liiga | 55 | 11 | 18 | 29 | 42 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2005–06 2005–06 SM-liiga season -Standings:-Preliminary round:* SaiPa - TPS 2:0 * Espoo Blues - JYP 2:1 -Quarterfinals:* Kärpät - Espoo Blues 4:2 * HIFK - SaiPa 4:2... |
Kärpät | SM-liiga | 53 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 34 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 8 | ||
| 2006–07 2006–07 SM-liiga season -Standings:-Preliminary round:* TPS - Pelicans 0:2 * Lukko - Ilves 1:2 -Quarterfinalss:* Kärpät - Pelicans 4:0 * Jokerit - Ilves 4:0... |
Kärpät | SM-liiga | 56 | 22 | 33 | 55 | 38 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 10 | ||
| 2007–08 2007–08 SM-liiga season -Standings:- Preliminary round :* HIFK - TPS 2:0 * Ilves - Lukko 2:1 - Quarterfinalss :* Kärpät - Ilves 4:2 * Espoo Blues - HIFK 4:1... |
Kärpät | SM-liiga | 56 | 34 | 44 | 78 | 58 | 14 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 10 | ||
| 2008–09 2008–09 NHL season The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the... |
Pittsburgh Penguins Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2008–09 2008–09 AHL season The 2008–09 AHL season is the 73rd season of the American Hockey League. 29 teams each played 80 games in the regular season, which ran from October 8 until April 12.-Team and NHL affiliation changes:... |
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. They play in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
70 | 32 | 50 | 82 | 33 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2009–10 2009–10 KHL season The 2009–10 KHL season was the second season of the Kontinental Hockey League. It was held from 10 September 2009 to 27 April 2010, with a break for the Olympic winter games from 8 February to 3 March... |
Ak Bars Kazan | KHL Kontinental Hockey League The Kontinental Hockey League is an international professional ice hockey league in Eurasia founded in 2008. As of 2009, it is ranked as the strongest hockey league in Europe.... |
42 | 14 | 11 | 25 | 12 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 2010–11 2010–11 KHL season The 2010–11 KHL season is the third season of the Kontinental Hockey League. It was held from 8 September 2010 and ended on 16 April 2011.The season started with the Opening Cup game between the last season's finalists, Ak Bars Kazan and the new team that was created by merging last season's... |
Ak Bars Kazan | KHL | 46 | 14 | 13 | 27 | 28 | |||||||
| SM-liiga Totals | 285 | 94 | 122 | 216 | 200 | 62 | 18 | 13 | 31 | 32 | ||||