The captain of HPK moves to another Liiga team: “At their best when the games get tougher”
Ässät has signed a two-year contract with defender Petteri Nikkilä. Nikkilä represented HPK for the previous three and a half seasons, serving as the team’s captain for the last two seasons.
Nikkilä, 33, is a product of HPK. He represented the club in the Liiga from 2013 to 2020 and returned to the team mid-season in 2022-23. In between, he played one season in the SHL, one season with KooKoo, and half a season in the second tier of German hockey.
During his Liiga career, Nikkilä has played a total of 556 regular season games (44+193=237) and 53 playoff games (9+22=31). He won the Finnish championship with HPK in the spring of 2019.
– Petteri Nikkilä will certainly strengthen our defense with his experience and versatility. He can play both power play and penalty kill and is usually at his best when the games get tougher, Ässät’s sports director Jarno Kultanen commented in the club’s press release.
– I knew there were good conditions here, the possibility to succeed, and a familiar coach. I play well in both directions and try to be tough whenever needed. I see that I fit in quite well here in Pata, Nikkilä said.
Tervetuloa Ässiin Petteri Nikkilä!
Tiedote: assat.com/petteri-nikkil…
#Ässät #Liiga
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