A Finnish trio of forwards for Lausanne HC

For the next two seasons, Lausanne HC will count on the three Finns for their offensive department. Janne Kuokkanen, 26, is a known name in Switzerland, as he suited up for HC Fribourg-Gottéron from 2022 to 2023, while Ahti Oksanen, 31, and Lauri Pajuniemi, 24, will both play for the first time in the National League.

In the press release, team manager John Fust highlights the importance of synergies between players: "Kuokkanen is a dominant center forward with a good physique who has formed a good duo with another of our reinforcements, Lauri Pajuniemi, who is a great talent. Pajuniemi is an energetic player with a very physical game who is maturing. Oksanen too is physically very solid, and he was very effective alongside Antti Suomela during the 2022-23 season."

Lausanne HC has now eight imports under contract: defenders Lawrence Pilut and David Sklenička, and forwards Antti Suomela, Michael Raffl, and Robin Kovacs, together with the three newest acquisitions.

All three Finns suited up in Sweden this past season: Kuokkanen and Pajuniemi for the Malmö Redhawks, while Oksanen for IK Oskarshamn. Kuokkanen collected 44 points in 43 games, Oksanen recorded 30 points in 47 games, and Pajuniemi put up 35 points in 43 outings.

( 03 June 2024 | lle* )