Unbelievable level - here are the League's TOP 5 goalkeepers!

SuomiKiekko anticipates the upcoming Liiga season by listing the best players from each position. This time, the focus is on goalkeepers.

5. Petteri Rimpinen, Kiekko-Espoo

20-year-old Petteri Rimpinen rose to the Liiga two years ago with Kiekko-Espoo and immediately showed what he is made of. Last season, Rimpinen played 35 games with a save percentage of 91.1 and recorded five shutouts. Rimpinen’s workload in recent years has been immense due to the U20 World Championships, which he has also performed impressively in. Rimpinen is a fierce competitor and is on his way to bigger arenas in his career. The success of Kiekko-Espoo in recent seasons is largely due to Rimpinen’s contributions, which they will need in the upcoming super season.

4. Patrik Bartosak, Pelicans

Czech goalkeeper Patrik Bartosak is the main reason why Pelicans made it to the playoffs last season. He played the most games among goalkeepers in the regular season, 45 matches, and recorded a save percentage of 90.8. Additionally, Bartosak achieved an impressive seven shutouts. In the playoffs, Bartosak played eight games with a save percentage of 92.7. Bartosak is his team’s most important individual player and can earn points for Pelicans even in the toughest matches. Furthermore, Bartosak’s style of play includes entertainment elements that do not detract from his performance on the ice.

3. Kim Saarinen, HPK

20-year-old Kim Saarinen had an outstanding season in goal for HPK. He recorded the best save percentage in the entire Liiga, with statistics showing 91.6 after 38 games. In the playoffs, HPK impressively defeated Lukko and reached the quarter-finals thanks to Saarinen’s exceptional performances. He recorded a save percentage of 94.4 in nine playoff games, with an average of 1.68 goals allowed. Saarinen is a contracted player for the Seattle Kraken and has a bright future ahead. In the upcoming season, his goal is to be one of the best goalkeepers in the Liiga.

Kim Saarinen allowed only 2.11 goals per game in the regular season. This is an excellent record for a team like HPK. Photo: All Over Press

2. Eetu Randelin, KooKoo

Only last season, Eetu Randelin rose to the top goalkeeper position in the Liiga with his strong performances. He played 37 regular season games with a save percentage of 90.8 and raised his level in the playoffs, achieving a save percentage of 93.5 after 18 games. Randelin played a huge role in KooKoo’s sensational silver medal finish, and at the end of the season, he was awarded the best goalkeeper prize. Randelin has burst onto the scene as one of the top goalkeepers in the Liiga, as he was not even speculated to be in the same group a year ago. Randelin’s winning percentage of 66.7 was the best in the entire regular season.

1. Christian Heljanko, Tappara

Christian Heljanko has an impressive record in the Liiga: four Finnish championships, three best goalkeeper awards, and one playoff MVP trophy. Last season, Heljanko returned to Tappara and played 42 regular season games with a save percentage of 91.1 and 18 playoff games with a save percentage of 92.9. Heljanko always raises his game even further when heading into the playoffs. He has also proven his mental strength and handles pressure excellently, as his trophy cabinet shows.