Lenni Hameenaho, 20, the youngest player on Team Finland, is a good example of how consistent work will take a player from one level to another. Two seasons ago, Hameenaho was a bit of a wunderkind in the Finnish Liiga when he led the league in scoring by players under 19, collecting 21 points in 51 games, and adding another three goals and four points in the playoffs.
 
“He showed he could score even in the post-season. In a way, this is natural progression for him,” Janne Vuorinen, Assat Pori then-Director of Hockey Operations and Chief European Scout of the NHL Central Scouting said in 2023.
 
The natural progression has continued.
 
Last season he finished second in Assat Pori scoring behind only Jan-Mikael Jarvinen, 31 points in 46 games, and this season, Hameenaho was behind Jarvinen again, but now he had 51 points in 58 games and finished 15th in Liiga scoring.
 
“It all comes down to hard work both on and off the ice,” Hameenaho says. As with most young players, his focus has been on getting stronger and adding explosiveness to his skating.
 
His great Liiga season was enough to earn him an invitation to Team Finland’s preparation camp, and he’s never gone home. Hameenaho, who has represented Finland in the U18 and World Juniors tournaments, has now graduated to the Ice Hockey World Championship level.
 
The scoring touch is still there. The 20-year-old has three points in four games, including one goal, against Slovenia.
 
“I came straight from the bench, jumped on a 3-on-2 and Waltteri Merela saw me in the slot, and I just put everything I had on it,” Hameenaho says.
 
“I wasn’t sure if it went in because there was no huge reaction from the crowd. It felt good to score my first [Ice Hockey World Championship] goal even though it may not have shown on my face,” he says with a smirk. “It’s nice to get it over with.”
 
Hameenaho, who recently signed his entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils, has averaged 13 minutes a game playing on Finland’s second line with Patrik Puistola and Juuso Parssinen. The line scored Finland’s both goals in the 2-1 win over Austria, with Hameenaho collecting an assist.
 
“I’ve watched this tournament since I was a kid, so it’s great to be here and play, and I think I’ve played fine,” he says.
 
“It’s a little bigger event that the World Juniors, but I don’t think there have been big surprises for me. Then again, since I’ve never played in this tournament, I didn’t quite know what to expect. I’ll just keep an open mind.”
 
He quickly adds that he’s trying to improve his play game by game. “I’ll try to take it all in,” he says.
 
The preliminary round is about halfway through, and Finland is holding onto a place in the quarterfinal, with three important games – against Latvia, Canada, and Slovakia – still in front of them.
 
“The game against Sweden showed me what it takes to play with the best in the world, while the game against Slovenia was a good chance for me to play a little more relaxed and even score that goal. Every game is a chance to learn something, both for myself and the team,” he says.
 
In a long tournament, even small roster changes can add a necessary spark, or lighten up the mood. Finland had one of those moments in the game against Slovenia when coach Antti Pennanen added Hameenaho’s Pori teammate Jarvinen in the lineup to make him, at 37, the oldest player to make a Team Finland Ice Hockey World Championship debut.
 
“I think his being added to the team loosened up the room a little bit and made the atmosphere lighter. I'm happy for him," said Hameenaho.  
 
And with the team lightening up, finding chemistry, and taking steps, who knows what may happen.
 
“I think the secret to these tournaments is making sure there’s progress from game to game. I don’t think any of the teams here are happy with the way they play yet,” Hameenaho says.
 
“So, we’ll always try to be better than in the previous game.”