Sami Helenius
Encyclopedia
Sami "Helge" Helenius is a Finnish professional ice hockey
defenceman
currently in a dual player and coaching role with HC Keski Uusimaa of the Suomi-sarja
.
as their fifth-round pick, 102nd overall, in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft
. He started his professional career in Jokerit
in the Finnish SM-liiga
in 1992, and made his way to North America for the 1994-95 season, and after spending five years mostly in the minor leagues, Helenius took his place as an NHL
defenceman
, playing for several teams. Helenius is one of the few Europeans to play in an enforcer role in North-American hockey leagues.
In 2003 he returned to Finland to play in the SM-liiga
again. After a year with Jokerit
where he served as team captain, Helenius represented both Ilves
and Pelicans before returning to Jokerit after the 2006–07 season.
After three seasons with Jokerit and during the 2009–10
season, Helenius rejoined previous club Pelicans on November 13, 2009. After finishing the season out with Pelicans, Helenius agreed to join HC Keski-Uusimaa as a player-coach for the 2010–11 season on August 4, 2010.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
currently in a dual player and coaching role with HC Keski Uusimaa of the Suomi-sarja
Suomi-sarja
The Suomi-sarja is Finland's third-highest ice hockey league. Suomi-sarja has 4 divisions. Suomi-sarja has been played since the 1999-2000 season. Prior to this, Finland's third league had been Division II since 1975 and before that the Provincial Series since 1947. During the 1990s the series also...
.
Playing career
Helenius was drafted by the Calgary FlamesCalgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
as their fifth-round pick, 102nd overall, in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft
1992 NHL Entry Draft
The 1992 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 20 at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. A total of 264 players were drafted.-Selections by round:Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:...
. He started his professional career in Jokerit
Jokerit
Jokerit is an ice-hockey team from Helsinki, Finland, playing in the Finnish Elite League, SM-liiga. The team has won 6 league championships...
in the Finnish SM-liiga
SM-liiga
The SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice...
in 1992, and made his way to North America for the 1994-95 season, and after spending five years mostly in the minor leagues, Helenius took his place as an NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
, playing for several teams. Helenius is one of the few Europeans to play in an enforcer role in North-American hockey leagues.
In 2003 he returned to Finland to play in the SM-liiga
SM-liiga
The SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice...
again. After a year with Jokerit
Jokerit
Jokerit is an ice-hockey team from Helsinki, Finland, playing in the Finnish Elite League, SM-liiga. The team has won 6 league championships...
where he served as team captain, Helenius represented both Ilves
Ilves
Ilves is a Finnish sports club nowadays mostly known for their youth work. The ice hockey team plays in the SM-liiga at the Tampereen jäähalli in Hakametsä...
and Pelicans before returning to Jokerit after the 2006–07 season.
After three seasons with Jokerit and during the 2009–10
2009–10 SM-liiga season
The 2009–10 SM-liiga season the 35th season of the SM-liiga, the top level of ice hockey in Finland, since the league's formation in 1975. TPS won the Kanada-malja and Ilari Filppula from TPS won the Jari Kurri trophy...
season, Helenius rejoined previous club Pelicans on November 13, 2009. After finishing the season out with Pelicans, Helenius agreed to join HC Keski-Uusimaa as a player-coach for the 2010–11 season on August 4, 2010.
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1992–93 | Jokerit Jokerit Jokerit is an ice-hockey team from Helsinki, Finland, playing in the Finnish Elite League, SM-liiga. The team has won 6 league championships... |
SM-l SM-liiga The SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993–94 | Reipas Lahti Pelicans (ice hockey) Pelicans is an ice hockey team playing in the SM-liiga, and formed in 1996. They play in the city of Lahti, Finland at Isku Arena. The team is partially owned by retired NHL goaltender Pasi Nurminen.-Notable players:* Sean Avery* Jason Bonsignore... |
SM-l | 37 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 1994–95 AHL season The 1994–95 AHL season was the 59th season of the American Hockey League. The All-Star Game is revived, with All-Stars grouped into "Team Canada" and "Team USA." Sixteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule... |
Saint John Flames Saint John Flames The Saint John Flames were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League from 1993 to 2003 in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. The Calgary Flames bought and relocated the Utica Devils, to be their AHL affiliate.... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
69 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 217 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995–96 1995–96 AHL season The 1995–96 AHL season was the 60th season of the American Hockey League. The AHL expands by two teams and realigns into two conferences, and four divisions. The Northern Conference includes the North and Atlantic Divisions... |
Saint John Flames | AHL | 68 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 231 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | ||
| 1996–97 1996–97 AHL season The 1996–97 AHL season was the 61st season of the American Hockey League. The league renames its divisions due to relocating teams. The Northern Conferences consists of the Atlantic Division becoming the Canadian Division, and the Central Division becoming the Empire State Division... |
Saint John Flames | AHL | 72 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 218 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1996–97 | Calgary Flames Calgary Flames The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | Las Vegas Thunder Las Vegas Thunder The Las Vegas Thunder were an independent professional ice hockey team competing in the International Hockey League. The team's home rink was at the Thomas & Mack Center. They began play in the 1993–1994 season, folding on April 18, 1999... |
IHL | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | ||
| 1997–98 1997–98 AHL season The 1997–98 AHL season was the 62nd season of the American Hockey League. The AHL shifts teams in their divisions, and the Canadian division reverts to being named Atlantic division. The Northern conference is renamed the Eastern conference, and the Southern conference renamed the Western... |
Saint John Flames | AHL | 63 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 185 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | Las Vegas Thunder | IHL | 42 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 193 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | Chicago Wolves Chicago Wolves The Chicago Wolves are a professional hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois... |
IHL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | Tampa Bay Lightning Tampa Bay Lightning The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the... |
NHL | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 1998–99 AHL season The 1998–99 AHL season was the 63rd season of the American Hockey League. Nineteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Providence Bruins finished first overall in the regular season, and won their first Calder Cup championship.-Team changes:... |
Hershey Bears Hershey Bears The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of... |
AHL | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | ||
| 1999–00 1999–2000 AHL season The 1999–2000 AHL season was the 64th season of the American Hockey League. Nineteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hartford Wolf Pack finished first overall in the regular season, and won their first Calder Cup championship.-Team changes:... |
Hershey Bears | AHL | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 31 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | ||
| 1999–00 | Colorado Avalanche Colorado Avalanche The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise... |
NHL | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Dallas Stars Dallas Stars The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The... |
NHL | 57 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 99 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2001–02 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 39 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 58 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 2002–03 AHL season The 2002–03 AHL season was the 67th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hamilton Bulldogs finished first overall in the regular season... |
Utah Grizzlies Utah Grizzlies The Utah Grizzlies are a professional ice hockey team in the ECHL. They play out of West Valley City, Utah, United States, with their home games at the Maverik Center.- Franchise history :... |
AHL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10... |
NHL | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Jokerit | SM-l | 55 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 103 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | Ilves Ilves Ilves is a Finnish sports club nowadays mostly known for their youth work. The ice hockey team plays in the SM-liiga at the Tampereen jäähalli in Hakametsä... |
SM-l | 53 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 162 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 2005–06 | Pelicans Pelicans (ice hockey) Pelicans is an ice hockey team playing in the SM-liiga, and formed in 1996. They play in the city of Lahti, Finland at Isku Arena. The team is partially owned by retired NHL goaltender Pasi Nurminen.-Notable players:* Sean Avery* Jason Bonsignore... |
SM-l | 53 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 151 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Pelicans | SM-l | 53 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 126 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 2007–08 | Jokerit | SM-l | 49 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 198 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | ||
| 2008–09 | Jokerit | SM-l | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 76 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 2009–10 | Jokerit | SM-l | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | Pelicans | SM-l | 34 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 170 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 155 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 260 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| SM-l totals | 394 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 1052 | 28 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 37 | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Comp | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Finland | EJC | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 |
| 1993 1993 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships The 1993 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships was the 17th edition of the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and was held in Gävle, Sweden. Canada won the gold medal, its sixth championship, while Sweden won silver, and the combined team of the Czech and Slovak Republics won bronze... |
Finland | WJC World Junior Ice Hockey Championships The International Ice Hockey Federation World Under 20 Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-20 ice hockey teams from around the world... |
7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 2003 2003 IIHF World Championship The 2003 Men's Ice Hockey Championships were held between April 26 and May 11, 2003 in Helsinki, Tampere and Turku, Finland.It was the 67th annual event, and was run by the International Ice Hockey Federation .-Qualification Tournament:... |
Finland | WC | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Junior int'l totals | 13 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 28 | ||
| Senior int'l totals | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||