Joona Luoto
Born (1997-09-26) 26 September 1997
Lempäälä, Finland
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 192 lb (87 kg; 13 st 10 lb)
Position Right wing
Shoots Left
NL team
Former teams		 SC Bern
Tappara
Winnipeg Jets
HIFK
Columbus Blue Jackets
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 2016–present

Joona Luoto (born 26 September 1997) is a Finnish professional ice hockey player who is currently under contract with SC Bern in the National League (NL).

Playing career

Undrafted, he previously played professionally in the Liiga for Tappara.[1] In his rookie season with Tappara he helped the team claim the Liiga title adding 1 goal in 10 post-season games.

In the following two seasons, Luoto established himself as a two-way forward and matched his offensive totals with 16 points in each campaign. On 15 June 2019, Luoto was signed to a three-year, two-way contract with the Winnipeg Jets, joining former junior teammate, Patrik Laine.[2]

After competing in his first training camp with the Winnipeg Jets, on 1 October 2019, Luoto was reassigned to familiarise himself with the North American style to AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose to begin the 2019–20 season.[3] On 7 November 2019, after recording 3 assists in 9 games with the Moose, Luoto received his first recall to NHL by the Jets.[4] The following day Luoto made his NHL debut with the Jets on the fourth-line in a 4–1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks at Bell MTS Place.[5]

Prior to entering the 2021–22 season, Luoto was placed on unconditional waivers and mutually released from the final year of his contract with the Winnipeg Jets on 14 September 2021.[6] As a free agent he returned to his original club, Tappara of the Liiga, agreeing to a one-year contract for the remainder of the season on 8 October 2021.[7] In the 2021–22 season, Luoto added 9 goals and 14 points through 27 regular season games with Tappara. In the post-season, Luoto elevated his game and recording 8 goals and 17 points in just 14 games to lead Tappara to the Championship and was awarded the Jari Kurri Trophy as the playoffs most Valuable player.[8]

On 1 June 2022, Luoto as a free agent returned to the NHL in securing a one-year, two-way contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets.[9]

At the conclusion of his contract with the Blue Jackets, Luoto was unable to gain NHL interest. On 12 September 2023, Luoto agreed to an initial trial contract with Swiss club, SC Bern of the NL, with the option of extending to the length of the 2023–24 season.[10]

International play

During the 2016–17 season, Luoto made his junior international debut in playing for Team Finland at the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships tournament in Montreal. In the tournament, he played 6 games with 10+10=20 in scoring.[11]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2014–15 Tappara Jr. A 17 5 4 9 10 — — — — —
2015–16 Tappara Jr. A 36 20 15 35 26 — — — — —
2016–17 Tappara Jr. A 4 2 4 6 2 — — — — —
2016–17 Tappara Liiga 24 5 1 6 6 10 1 0 1 4
2016–17 LeKi Mestis 24 5 3 8 65 — — — — —
2017–18 Tappara Liiga 47 8 8 16 14 13 0 2 2 2
2018–19 Tappara Liiga 58 8 8 16 32 11 2 2 4 0
2019–20 Manitoba Moose AHL 18 0 4 4 13 — — — — —
2019–20 Winnipeg Jets NHL 16 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
2020–21 HIFK Liiga 19 5 4 9 2 — — — — —
2020–21 Manitoba Moose AHL 11 2 2 4 9 — — — — —
2021–22 Tappara Liiga 27 9 5 14 12 14 8 9 17 2
2022–23 Cleveland Monsters AHL 45 14 11 25 10 — — — — —
2022–23 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 7 1 0 1 0 — — — — —
Liiga totals 175 35 26 61 66 48 11 13 24 8
NHL totals 23 1 0 1 2 — — — — —

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2017 Finland WJC 9th 6 1 1 2 2
Junior totals 6 1 1 2 2

Awards and honours

Award Year
Liiga
Kanada-malja (Tappara) 2017, 2022 [8]
Jari Kurri Trophy 2022 [8]

References

  1. ↑ "Jets sign Finnish forward Joona Luoto to three-year, two-way contract". Sportsnet.ca. June 15, 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Jets sign Joona Luoto to three-year, two-way contract". Winnipeg Jets. 15 June 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  3. ↑ "Jets assign five players to Moose". Winnipeg Jets. 1 October 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  4. ↑ "Jets recall Joona Luoto from the Manitoba Moose". Winnipeg Jets. 7 November 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  5. ↑ "Connor, Jets beat Canucks for 9th straight time". The Sports Network. 8 November 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  6. ↑ "Joona Luoto placed on unconditional waivers". prohockeyrumors.com. 14 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  7. ↑ "Joona Luoto returns home" (in Finnish). Tappara. 8 October 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  8. 1 2 3 "Finnish championship goes to Tappara". International Ice Hockey Federation. 30 April 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  9. ↑ "CBJ sign Joona Luoto to one-year, two-way contract". Columbus Blue Jackets. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  10. ↑ "SC Bern signs Joona Luoto" (in German). SC Bern. 12 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  11. ↑ "Joona Luoto player profile". eliteprospects.com. 14 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
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