Jesper Kotajärvi, a 17-year-old defenseman who plays for Tappara Tampere in Finland, scored his first goal in the Finnish Liiga on Friday. The goal came in the second period to give Tappara a 3-1 lead – Tappara eventually won 3-2 over JYP Jyväskylä, making Kotajärvi’s goal the game-winner.
It was Kotajärvi’s eighth game in the Liiga this season. He also has nine points in 18 games for Tappara in Finland’s top U-20 league.
Kotajärvi was a late cut from the Finnish team ahead of the 2024 IIHF U-18 World Championship but played in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in the summer, recording one assist in four games.
He has never played for the Finnish U-20 national team and was therefore never in consideration to play at this year’s World Juniors. However, he should be a lock for the 2025 U-18 Worlds and is considered a possible first-round pick in next summer’s NHL Entry Draft.
The win puts Tappara back atop the Liiga standings with 64 points in 35 games, one ahead of SaiPa Lappeenranta. Tappara is the Finland’s three-time reigning champion. Its roster includes ex-NHLers Andrej Šustr, Mario Kempe, John Quenneville and Olli Juolevi. Drafted prospects on the team include forwards Oiva Keskinen (Columbus Blue Jackets) and Emil Järventie (Pittsburgh Penguins), while undrafted Benjamin Rautikainen is currently on the Finnish World Junior team in Ottawa.