Amerks Sign Luukkonen to Amateur Tryout
April 12, 2019 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release
Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
(Rochester Americans)
(Rochester, NY) - Rochester Americans General Manager Randy Sexton announced today that the team has signed goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to an Amateur Tryout contract.
Luukkonen, 20, joins Rochester having recently completed his first season with Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League, where he posted a 38-11-2-2 record in 53 appearances, leading the league in in both wins (38) and shutouts (6). He also finished second and third among all OHL netminders with a .920 save percentage and a 2.50 goals-against average, respectively, while his 38 wins set a franchise record for the Wolves, who advanced to the postseason for the second time in three years following a second-place finish in the OHL's Central Division.
The 6-foot-5, 214-pound netminder also compiled a 4-3 record with a 3.27 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage in eight playoff games for Sudbury.
Prior to signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres, Luukkonen spent the bulk of the 2017-18 season playing professionally for Leki (Mestis) of Finland's second division. In 24 games for Leki last season, he posted an 11-11-2 record and finished seventh in the league with a .909 save percentage.
Buffalo's second-round pick (54th overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft, Luukkonen was rated the No. 1 European goaltender by NHL Central Scouting in 2017. During the 2016-17 campaign, Luukkonen backstopped HPK (Finland Jr.) to a championship with the league's best goals-against average in both the regular season (1.78) and the postseason (2.01).
Internationally, the Espoo, Finland, native has represented his country on numerous occasions, most recently winning the gold medal with a 3-2 win over Team USA at the 2019 World Junior Championship in Canada. Luukkonen also participated in the 2018 World Junior Championship in Buffalo, and prior to that, took home silver and gold medals at the 2017 and 2016 Under-18 World Championships, respectively.
Amerks 2019-20 Season Ticket Memberships, which start as low as just $14 per game, are on-sale now. Season tickets for the 2019-20 season can be purchased online by visiting www.amerks.com/earlybird while current Season Ticket Members can renew their seats at www.amerks.com/renew. Full-season ticket member benefits include, but are not limited to, Riverside Club VIP Room access with Amerks Alumni, family meet and greet and annual Skate with the Players event, an exclusive preseason Ice Breaker Party and much more. For more information, visit www.amerks.com or call 1-855-GO-AMERKS.
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 Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen |
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