Juha Leimu

Juha Leimu
Born (1983-01-30) January 30, 1983 (age 41)
Tampere, Finland
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Defense
Played for Tappara
Pelicans
Ilves
National team  Finland
NHL draft undrafted
Playing career 2003–2019

Juha Leimu (born January 30, 1983, in Tampere, Finland) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey defenceman.

Playing career

Leimu made his SM-liiga debut in 2009–10 when he was offered an eight-game trial period with Tappara having spent the start of the season in Lempäälän Kisa. After the tryout his contract was extended for the rest of the season. [1] Leimu recorded 24 points in 36 games and was awarded a three-year extension in May 2010.[2] In 2010–11 Leimu had his career season with 12 goals and 31 points in 50 games.

After his contract with Tappara expired, Pelicans signed Leimu to a two-year contract on April 26, 2013.[3] During his opening season in Lahti Leimu led all Pelicans defencemen in goals scored with 10. In the 2013–14 playoffs Leimu scored the overtime goal in Game 2 that eliminated HIFK in the opening round.[4]

Prior the 2014–15 season Leimu was named the team captain.[5] Leimu was sidelined on multiple occasions during the season due to injuries[6][7] and recorded 16 points in 40 games. On November 20, 2014, he signed a two-year contract extension with Pelicans.[8]

Leimu holds the Liiga record for the fastest hat-trick after scoring three power-play goals in just 44 seconds in a 5–6 overtime loss against JYP Jyväskylä on December 15, 2015.[9] Leimu's 16 goals in 2015–16 season were a league high for defensemen.

Leimu played for Finland national team in a friendly games against Slovakia in 2011.[10]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1998–99 Ilves U16 U16 SM-sarja 29 28 22 50 18 3 1 0 1 0
1999–00 Ilves U18 U18 SM-sarja 24 5 4 9 2 — — — — —
2000–01 Ilves U18 U18 SM-sarja 36 17 21 38 26 — — — — —
2001–02 Ilves U20 U20 SM-liiga 15 7 3 10 4 — — — — —
2002–03 Ilves U20 U20 SM-liiga 4 3 0 3 0 — — — — —
2003–04 Ilves U20 U20 SM-liiga 37 15 12 27 14 — — — — —
2004–05 Koovee Suomi-sarja 19 7 4 11 10 — — — — —
2005–06 Koovee Suomi-sarja 27 9 7 16 12 9 1 1 2 12
2006–07 LeKi Suomi-sarja 34 18 31 49 44 6 8 2 10 6
2007–08 LeKi Mestis 43 9 9 18 40 3 0 1 1 2
2008–09 LeKi Mestis 42 13 16 29 44 3 0 2 2 6
2009–10 LeKi Mestis 13 4 7 11 10 — — — — —
2009–10 Tappara SM-liiga 36 7 17 24 16 7 3 2 5 2
2010–11 Tappara SM-liiga 50 12 19 31 40 — — — — —
2011–12 Tappara SM-liiga 24 2 2 4 20 — — — — —
2011–12 LeKi Mestis 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2012–13 Tappara SM-liiga 57 7 15 22 55 15 1 1 2 6
2013–14 Lahti Pelicans Liiga 48 10 10 20 32 8 2 1 3 8
2014–15 Lahti Pelicans Liiga 40 6 10 16 34 — — — — —
2015–16 Lahti Pelicans Liiga 51 16 18 34 12 9 3 2 5 0
2016–17 Lahti Pelicans Liiga 31 11 6 17 4 5 0 2 2 2
2017–18 Lahti Pelicans Liiga 43 2 8 10 28 3 1 2 3 2
2018–19 Ilves Liiga 38 2 7 9 22 4 0 0 0 0
Liiga totals 418 75 112 187 263 51 10 10 20 20

References

  1. ^ "Liiga".
  2. ^ "SM-liiga: Mikko Saariselta sammui valmentamisen liekki - Jääkiekko - Ilta-Sanomat". Archived from the original on 2015-04-02.
  3. ^ "Pelicans hankki viivapelotteen Tapparan hopeajoukkueesta". 26 April 2013.
  4. ^ "SM-liiga: Juha Leimu päätti HIFK:n kauden ja Ville Peltosen uran - SM-liiga - uutiset, tulokset ja videot - Ilta-Sanomat". Archived from the original on 2014-03-19.
  5. ^ "Kapteenin C-kirjainta rintaansa sovitteleva Juha Leimu kärsinyt pienistä vaivoista". 28 August 2014.
  6. ^ "Pelicansin harjoitusotteluissa väläytellyt kaksikko viikoiksi sivuun". September 2014.
  7. ^ "Pelicansin kapteeni telakalle".
  8. ^ "Kapteeni Juha Leimu jatkaa Pelicansissa | Pelicans". Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-30.
  9. ^ "Pelicansin Juha Leimu iskussa – Hippoksen illassa syntyi hurja ennätys - Kiekko - Keskisuomalainen". www.ksml.fi. Archived from the original on 2015-12-22.
  10. ^ "EHC: Leijonat nimetty Slovakia-otteluihin".


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