NEWS PHOTOS JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers import defencemen Veeti Väisänen and Niilopekka Muhonen are both expected to play a large role on the back end for the WHL club.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Joining the Medicine Hat Tigers has brought a lot of change for Niilopekka Muhonen and Veeti Väisänen.
The pair of Finnish defencemen, drafted and signed in the 2024 CHL Import Draft, have been in the city for less than a month and are still learning the ropes of North America and the Gas City. From having to get all new hockey equipment, playing on smaller ice to finding their way around the city, there’s a lot to get comfortable with.
“It’s been fun so far, I like it a lot,” Muhonen said.
“It’s nice here, the rink is good, the guys are good,” added Väisänen.
Both 18-year-olds have had a whirlwind three-and-a-half months, getting drafted into the NHL, attending development camps and moving to Medicine Hat for the WHL season.
Muhonen, a product of Kuopio, Fin., was drafted in the fifth round, 158th overall by the Dallas Stars in June’s NHL Entry Draft. The Tigers selected him 47th overall in the following import draft.
He’s enjoyed what he has seen of Medicine Hat while riding with local product Josh Van Mulligen, who picks him up at his billets’ and the comfort he has in the locker room.
“It’s a very good team, every body is good people, it’s easy to play here,” Muhonen said.
Väisänen, hailing from Hamina, Fin., was a third round, 96th overall selected of the Utah Hockey Club. Medicine Hat snagged him 107th overall in the import draft.
They’ve started to adjust to the new ice surface and pace of play. Väisänen has noticed the speed difference when players are turning up ice, and Muhonen says the smaller surface plays into his game.
Both describe themselves as two-way defencemen, neither shy away from physicality while also having a desire to move and carry the puck up ice. The early display of their skills has associate coach Joe Frazer in a happy trance.
“Veeti played 50 pro games last year in Finland and you can tell like he plays a mature game. He’s hard, he’s physical, moves the puck quick, great skater. He’s gonna be really important for us,” Frazer said.
“Looking at Niilo, he’s 6-foot-4 and can skate, sees the ice really well. He’s got a great stick defensively. Both guys going to NHL camps, like, that’s really going to help them because it’s going to be fast there and it’s small ice. So when they come back from that, they’ll be even better.”
They’re both looking forward to rejoining their NHL clubs for rookies camps after the weekend, having already attended the development camps in the summer.
“It was fun to see how they did everything there,” Muhonen said.
Muhonen played at the Finnish U20 level, with KalPa U20 in the SM-sarja league. He had four goals and 11 points in 27 games. Väisänen played with KooKoo of the Liiga pro league in Finland last season, putting up two goals and 10 points in 50 games.
They were both part of the Finnish team that won bronze at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Frazer says getting two players who’ve played at a pro or near-pro level goes a long way for getting them comfortable and playing at the highest level for the orange and black.
“You get a mature player who’s played pro already, that’s huge for us,” Frazer said. “Niilo played in a great league over in Finland as well. When you watch the Fins, they’re well coached, they play the game the right way. They’re harder, so we’re really excited about both guys.”
The Tigers host the Calgary Hitmen on Saturday at Co-op Place in preseason fashion.
