Coventry Blaze sign Janne Kivilahti, complete roster for 2021/22

Janne Kivilahti, Coventry Blaze’s final signing of the autumn, will not make his EIHL competition debut this weekend (9-10 September), The Boar Sport can confirm.

Although the 29-year-old Finn is unavailable for Coventry’s upcoming Challenge Cup double-header against the Cardiff Devils, the Skydome Arena outfit is “hopeful” that he could feature against the Belfast Giants on 17 October.

“We’re very happy to get Janne on board,” Blaze head coach Danny Stewart said on Tuesday (5 October). “He’s a very skilled player that has produced everywhere he has been.”

“He will bring speed and skill to our line-up; an area we feel we need a bit more of. He will certainly help us create more offence both five-on-five and on the powerplay.”

During his junior career, Kivilahti spent time with Finland’s biggest clubs: Jokerit, Espoo Blues, and Kärpät.

The 5’10” winger made his senior debut with HCK in 2012/13, registering two assists in ten regular-season appearances in the Finnish second division. He became an established figure in the team a year later, notching 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in 40 appearances.

Kivilahti ended his time in Finland following the 2017/18 season, leaving his homeland with 131 points (58 goals, 73 assists) in Mestis 197 regular-season games. A year earlier, he won a bronze medal with Espoo United.

After arriving in Sweden in 2018/19, the left-shot winger registered 33 points (19 goals, 14 assists) in 77 appearances second-tier appearances. Kivilahti also has 57 points (25 goals, 32 assists) to his name from 54 third division games.

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Coventry Blaze, 2021/22 Roster:

C.J. Motte – 29-year-old goalie, USA

Jordan Hedley – 24-year-old goalie, GBR

David Clements – 26-year-old defenceman, GBR

Justin Hamonic – 27-year-old defenceman, CAN

Dillon Eichstadt – 27-year-old defenceman, USA

Nathanael Halbert – 25-year-old defenceman, CAN-GBR

Dane Gibson – 27-year-old defenceman, CAN

Joey Raats – 25-year-old defenceman, USA-CAN

Ross Venus – 27-year-old forward, GBR

Alex Forbes – 25-year-old forward/defenceman, GBR

Luke Ferrara – 28-year-old forward, GBR

Johnny Curran – 26-year-old forward, CAN

Janne Laakkonen – 39-year-old forward, FIN

Alec Marsh – 25-year-old forward, USA

David Broll – 28-year-old forward, CAN

Matthew Thompson – 27-year-old forward, CAN

Evan Bloodoff – 30-year-old forward, CAN

Ryan Penny – 26-year-old forward, CAN

Janne Kivilahti – 29-year-old forward, FIN

Two-Way Deals:

Sam Russell – 21-year-old defenceman, GBR (Milton Keynes Lightning)

Austin Mitchell-King – 19-year-old forward, GBR (Telford Tigers)

Nathan Ripley – 19-year-old-forward, GBR (Sheffield Steeldogs)