Back in the fifth round of the 2024 NHL Draft, the Jets selected Finnish forward Markus Loponen.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
Around that same time, he was also selected by the Victoria Royals of the WHL. Despite originally being scheduled to play in Finland with Kärpät, he chose to spend his first season as a drafted player with the Royals in the Western Hockey League, where he scored 19 goals and added 25 assists for 44 points in 65 games.
Following the completion of his first season in the WHL, he signed a two-year deal to return home to Finland and play with HPK. In his first season back home, he recorded three goals and three assists for six points in 40 games playing in Finland’s top men’s league.
Five days ago, HPK announced that they had mutually agreed to terminate Loponen’s contract.
It turns out the 6-foot-1 forward will be returning to North America for the 2026-27 season to play for Lake Superior State in the NCAA as per the folks at Elite Prospects. The Lakers are based in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.
The NCAA route gives Loponen another opportunity to further his development in North America as he works toward earning his first NHL contract with the Jets.
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