Sami Vatanen profiled on IIHF.com.
Sami Vatnanen, the Ducks' fourth-round draft pick in 2009, has been enjoying a 5-1 run through the IIHF World Championships for Team Finland. The soon-to-be 19-year-old has been scoring some highlight-reel goals for the Suomi, and was profiled today on the IIHF Web site:
"Everybody understands that he's not as strong as the more experienced and older players, but he's just 18, that will come. All in all, he's a fantastic player, and probably won't stay in Finland very long," [former Team Finland and NHL defenseman Reijo Ruotsalainen] adds.
Fortunately for the Finnish fans, Vatanen recently signed a contract extension that will keep him in Jyväskylä for another two years.
"I'm not listening to any other offers, I signed with JYP, and that's where I'll play," says the Anaheim Ducks' fourth-round pick, 106th over all, in 2009.
"I don't plan my career too much, I just try to enjoy playing, and take it one season at a time. I had a big role in Jyväskylä last year, so why not next year, as well. All I want to do now is to keep on developing as a player," he adds.
About J.P.
J.P. Hoornstra has been covering the Anaheim Ducks since 2007. Eight months after the University of Wisconsin won its third NCAA hockey championship, he was born in a frigid Madison winter. He betrayed his blue-blooded beginnings by graduating from UCLA in 2003, and welcomes any and all dialogue on the finer points of hockey.
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