HIFK: A shocking news: Jori Lehterä out for a long time - new reinforcements coming

The catastrophic injury situation of HIFK is worsening.

The Helsinki club announces that the team’s top center Jori Lehterä and defenseman Bruno Jalasti will be out for a long time due to injuries. Both players’ injuries require surgical treatment.

Lehterä was injured last Friday in a match against JYP and left the game in the first period. Jalasti, on the other hand, was injured on September 27 in a match against TPS. Lehterä has recorded 0+4 points in nine games this season, while Jalasti has scored two goals in seven games.

HIFK also reports that a medical evaluation is still awaited for forward Sebastian Repo. Repo had recently returned to action after a long injury layoff and had played four games with 0+2 points before getting injured again, missing last week.

– We have two full lines of players injured, including the entire first line, but the situation won’t improve by feeling sorry for ourselves, says HIFK’s sports director Janne Pesonen in the club’s statement.

Pesonen states that HIFK will be making new player acquisitions soon. The club will hold a press conference next Monday, October 13, from 1 PM to 2 PM.

– We will be acquiring reinforcements for our team and will hold a press conference regarding this at the beginning of next week. It is equally important that we continue our daily work so that our players develop, as simply bringing in new players will not turn the course around, says Pesonen.

HIFK’s injury situation:

Arttu Kärki (day-to-day)
Ilari Melart (week-to-week)
Panu Mieho (return week 43)
Otto Somppi (return week 43)
Verneri Arkko (return week 43)
Paavo Kohonen (return weeks 43–45)
Iiro Pakarinen (return in January)
Petteri Lindbohm (return in February)
Bruno Jalasti (situation being evaluated)
Jori Lehterä (situation being evaluated)
Sebastian Repo (situation being evaluated)
Juhani Jasu (situation being evaluated)