Ilves and 18-year-old forward Jani Nyman have agreed on a contract that covers the 2023–2024 season.
After making his Liiga debut in the Ilves shirt last season Jani Nyman has scored 9 points (6 goals, 3 assists) in 17 games this season. The forward is the fourth best scorer among rookies in the Finnish top league (Liiga). He scored one goal in the four CHL games he played this season.
Nyman has also recorded 6 points (5 goals, 1 assist) in two games for the Ilves U20 team and 13 points (7 goals, 6 assists) in eight games for the Finnish national under-20 team this season.
Last season Nyman was the top scorer for KOOVEE in the Mestis (second highest league) and received the league’s best rookie of the year award. The forward was also part of the Finnish national under-18 team that won bronze at the 2022 IIHF World U18 Championship.
Nyman was drafted in the second round of the 2022 NHL entry draft by the Seattle Kraken.
– Jani Nyman is one of the most talented players Ilves has had in the recent years. Year after year he has proven his ability to keep taking steps forward and rise to the next level. He is an exceptionally competitive player and has top-level working ethic that, alongside his talent, enable his development day after day, says Ilves sports director Timo Koskela.
– For his age, Jani is very dedicated to the sport and will keep developing a lot in the coming years. We have tried to support and help his development but in the end it’s the player who does the work. It’s fantastic that Jani stays at Ilves and will be a part of our team next season as well.
Watch Nyman’s interview (in Finnish) on YouTube
Contract situation for the 2023-2024 season
Goaltenders (1)
Jakub Málek 2024+1
Defensemen (5 + 2 options)
Karri Aho 2023+1, Santeri Airola 2023+1, Otto Heinonen 2024, Veeti Hietaniemi 2024+1, Otto Latvala 2024+1, Jarkko Parikka 2025, Tuomas Salmela 2024
Forwards (10 + 4 options)
Samu Bau 2024+1, Nikolai Hakala 2023+1, Joona Ikonen 2024, Emil Järventie 2024+1, Joona Korhonen 2023+1, Jakub Kos 2023+1, Panu Mieho 2024, Matias Mäntykivi 2024, Jani Nyman 2024, Joonas Oden 2024, Eetu Päkkilä 2024, Miro Ruokonen 2024+1, Aku Räty 2024, Tommi Tikka 2023+1
