Kasper Kotkansalo
| Kasper Kotkansalo | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
16 November 1998 Espoo, Finland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | ||
| Weight | 198 lb (90 kg; 14 st 2 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| Liiga team Former teams |
Kiekko-Espoo Ässät HIFK | ||
| NHL draft |
71st overall, 2017 Detroit Red Wings | ||
| Playing career | 2020–present | ||
Kasper Kotkansalo (born 16 November 1998) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman for Kiekko-Espoo of the Finnish Liiga. Kotkansalo played college hockey at Boston University. He was drafted 71st overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
Playing career[edit]
On 13 October 2016, Kotkansalo committed to play college ice hockey for Boston University during the 2017–18 season.[1] During the 2016–17 season, Kotkansalo recorded one goal and 11 assists in 47 games for the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League (USHL).[2] After the 2019–20 season was abruptly cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kotkansalo returned to his native Finland to be with his family.[3] He finished his career with two goals and 23 assists in 112 games for the Terriers.[4]
On 2 August 2020, Kotkansalo announced he would not return to Boston University for his senior season, citing uncertainties with the COVID-19 pandemic, and would stay in his native Finland to play hockey.[5] On 3 August 2020, Kotkansalo signed a one-year contract with Ässät of the Finnish Liiga.[6] He made his professional debut for Ässät on 2 October 2020.[7] He scored his first career goal on 28 November 2020.[8]
Career statistics[edit]
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2015–16 | Espoo Blues | Jr. A | 48 | 4 | 15 | 19 | 36 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | ||
| 2016–17 | Sioux Falls Stampede | USHL | 47 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 43 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Boston University | HE | 40 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Boston University | HE | 38 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Boston University | HE | 34 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | Ässät | Liiga | 58 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 56 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | HIFK | Liiga | 52 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | HIFK | Liiga | 24 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | HIFK | Liiga | 23 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Liiga totals | 157 | 10 | 30 | 40 | 80 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
References[edit]
- ^ Shulman, Dan (13 October 2016). "Men's Hockey: Defenseman Kasper Kotkansalo Commits to BU". sites.bu.edu. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ Kulfan, Ted (19 August 2017). "Red Wings prospect Kasper Kotkansalo banks on sizable future". The Detroit News. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ Wakiji, Dana (25 September 2020). "By the Numbers Prospects: Kasper Kotkansalo". NHL.com. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ "Due to COVID-19 situation, Boston University's Kotkansalo staying in Finland for '20-21 season". USCHO.com. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ Wakiji, Dana (12 August 2020). "Wings prospect Kotkansalo playing in Finland this season". NHL.com. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ "Puolustus vahvistuu uudella ja tutulla nimellä". assat.com (in Finnish). 3 August 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ "Ässät - TPS kokoonpanot". assat.com (in Finnish). 2 October 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ "TPS - Ässät 4-1". assat.com (in Finnish). 28 November 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
External links[edit]
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
- 1998 births
- Living people
- Porin Ässät (men's ice hockey) players
- Boston University Terriers men's ice hockey players
- Detroit Red Wings draft picks
- Finnish ice hockey defencemen
- HIFK (ice hockey) players
- Ice hockey people from Espoo
- Finnish expatriate ice hockey players in the United States
- Sioux Falls Stampede players