Samuel Helenius

Samuel Helenius
Helenius at the 2022 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
Born (2002-11-26) November 26, 2002 (age 21)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Height 199 cm (6 ft 6 in)
Weight 91 kg (201 lb; 14 st 5 lb)
Position Center
Shoots Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams		 Los Angeles Kings
Ontario Reign (AHL)
JYP Jyväskylä
NHL draft 59th overall, 2021
Los Angeles Kings
Playing career 2020–present

Samuel Helenius (born 26 November 2002) is a Finnish-American professional ice hockey forward who currently plays for the Ontario Reign in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Los Angeles Kings in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Kings in the second-round, 59th overall, of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Helenius as a youth played in his native Finland within the Jokerit development system. Moving to fellow Finnish club, JYP Jyväskylä, Helenius made his professional debut in the Liiga during the 2020–21 season.

In his first full season in the Liiga, Helenius collected 7 goals and 14 points in 54 games with JYP. With his large physical frame and promising development, Helenius was selected at the 2021 NHL Entry Draft in the second-round, 58th overall, by the Los Angeles Kings who traded a third and fourth round pick to the Carolina Hurricanes in order to move back into the second-round.

On 13 August 2021, Helenius was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Kings.[1]

Continuing his development in the Liiga with KalPa in the 2021–22 season, Helenius was named an alternate captain and posted 3 goals and 9 points in 48 games. On 28 March 2022, Helenius left Finland and moved to North America, assigned by the Kings to primary AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, for the remainder of the season.[2]

Personal

Born in Dallas, Texas when his father was a member of the Dallas Stars, Samuel is the son of former NHL defenseman and enforcer, Sami Helenius.[3] He is a dual citizen of Finland and the U.S.[4]

Medal record
Representing  Finland
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Silver medal – second place 2022 Canada
Bronze medal – third place 2021 Canada

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2019–20 Jokerit Jr. A 51 13 11 24 40 1 0 0 0 0
2020–21 JYP Jyväskylä Liiga 54 7 7 14 61 — — — — —
2021–22 JYP Jyväskylä Liiga 48 3 6 9 76 — — — — —
2021–22 JYP Jyväskylä Jr. A 1 0 1 1 0 — — — — —
2021–22 Ontario Reign AHL 12 1 0 1 6 — — — — —
2022–23 Ontario Reign AHL 61 2 12 14 59 — — — — —
2023–24 Ontario Reign AHL 69 8 11 19 53 8 0 1 1 14
Liiga totals 102 10 13 23 137 — — — — —

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2021 Finland WJC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 7 2 2 4 18
2022 Finland WJC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 6 1 0 1 2
Junior totals 13 3 2 5 20

References

  1. ^ "Kings sign Samuel Helenius to a three-year, entry-level contract". Los Angeles Kings. 14 August 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Hrenak And Lee, Along With Kim Nouisianen and Samuel Helenius Will Join Ontario Reign". Los Angeles Kings. 28 March 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  3. ^ "Samuel Helenius on Elite Prospects".
  4. ^ Lindeman, Tero (20 March 2022). "Samuel Helenius lähtee rymistelemään AHL:ään JYPin kauden päätyttyä – "Pienessä kaukalossa iso mies kerkeää paremmin"". Jatkoaika.com [fi] (in Finnish). Retrieved 25 January 2023. syntyi Dallasissa ... Minulla on kaksoiskansalaisuus. Vanha Amerikan passini