First Round Draft Pick Helenius Assigned By Tampa Bay
Published on December 9, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Mississippi Sea Wolves News Release
BILOXI, MS - The Mississippi Sea Wolves announced on Tuesday that goaltender Riku Helenius (REE-koo HELL-eh-nee-us) has been assigned to the club by the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League.
Helenius was drafted in the first round (15th overall) by Tampa Bay in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
Helenius, a 6-foot-3, 202-pound goaltender from Palkane, Finland, appeared in two preseason games for the American Hockey League's Norfolk Admirals, going 1-1-0 with a 4.00 goals-against average and .840 save percentage. He has not appeared in a regular season game with Norfolk.
The 20-year-old went 3-4-1 in his first eight games of North American professional hockey this season with the ECHL's Augusta Lynx, posting a 4.41 goals-against average and .874 save percentage. He recorded his first North American pro win in his debut, stopping 44 of 46 shots on October 21 at Gwinnett.
Helenius played his only season of major junior hockey last year with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League. He notched a 22-12-6 record in 41 games with a 2.42 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage.
The Sea Wolves are home tomorrow night and Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. and Sunday afternoon at 5:05 p.m. against the Gwinnett Gladiators! Get your tickets today by calling (228) 275-WOLF. At 4:00 p.m. on Saturday the Sea Wolves Alumni team will face off against a team on NHL alumni at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. Come out and see former Sea Wolves Chuck Thuss, John Evangelista, Steffon Walby, Dean Hulett, and others back in action! After the Alumni game, all participants will be available for autographs, and fans will be able to bid in a silent auction for their favorite Sea Wolves Alumni players' game-worn jersey! A ticket for Saturday night's game against Gwinnett will get you in to both games.
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