The Prince George Cougars have travelled to Finland for its next wave of young imported talent.
Jonni Karkkainen was selected 12th overall by the Cats at the 2020 CHL Import Draft today (June 30) based out of the northern European country's Junior 'B' hockey league equivalent.
The 17-year-old forward also has international experience, representing the Fins at the Under-16 and -17 levels.
Altogether, he's accumulated four points in 17 games with the white and blue.
Karkkainen has played the last 3 seasons with @HIFKHockey's U-16 & U-18 teams, serving as captain & alternate captain the last 2 years. According to Cougars' PxP @Fraser_PG, the Kerava product is committed to playing in northern B.C. for 2020-21 | #CityOfPG pic.twitter.com/inqUm1Bzj2
— Kyle Balzer (@KyleBalzer) June 30, 2020
“We are thrilled to have been able to select Jonni this morning,” said Cougars General Manager and Head Coach Mark Lamb in a social media post, who’s been known to favour Finnish players after selecting three during his tenure with Swift Current (2009 to 2016).
“He is a solid all-around player who already has great size. He has natural leadership abilities as he has been a captain for his team in Finland. He can play both centre and wing, and has all the intangibles you look for in a young player. We believe he’ll fit right in.”
This is the second time in history Prince George has taken a Fin at the Import Draft.
In 2012, the Cougars selected current Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Joonas Korpisalo fifth overall, but decided not to come and play in northern B.C.
Karkkainen, originally from Kerava, has been in HIFK Helsinki's system since coming onto the junior scene in 2017.
He's worn his team's red sweater in the nation's capital for three seasons, serving as the U-16 captain and U-18 alternate captain during that span.
Standing at six-foot-one, Karkkainen recorded 18 points in 29 games in his 2019-20 campaign, including nine goals and nine assists.
At this point, it's reported that he intends to move to Prince George for next season and will join Filip Koffer as the Cougars' two import players for 2020-21.
Koffer was selected out of the Czech Republic 10th overall from the 2019 CHL Import Draft.
