Calgary's 2022 second-round pick plans to garner a bigger role in SM-Liiga
Topi Ronni’s growth in the past year goes beyond the pair of championship titles he celebrated in Finland.
After missing a couple of months due to a bout with mononucleosis, seeing limited time with the Tappare SM-Liiga squad before joining the junior squad for the playoff run and returning to the top club during its championship — with a trip to the world juniors as well — Ronni takes pride in his development since the Calgary Flames selected him in the second round of the 2022 draft.
“I think I’m just all around more ready, ready to play pro games,” Ronni said while attending Calgary’s summer prospects camp last week. “I think I’m mentally a lot tougher than I was a year ago.
“On the ice, I’m a lot stronger and able to read the play a lot more. I feel more comfortable.”
The 6-foot-2, 185-pound center aspires to take the next step in the coming campaign. Ronni, who is pegged to play at the World Junior Summer Showcase later this month in Michigan as well as the IIHF World Junior championships during the holiday season, expects to take a bigger role for Tappara’s squad in the top loop.
After collecting two goals and five points in 22 SM-Liiga clashes in a limited, fourth-line role last season, Ronni, 19, has a goal of pushing for a third- or even second-line spot.
“I’m putting that on myself,” he said. “I definitely want to make that role and try to be better all around. If I’m not making the third or second line in the start of the season, I just have to grind it out and be as good as I can so I can be that in December.”
Ronni believes the mental toughness gained from paying his dues — along with the confidence boost from a junior stint in which he potted two goals and 10 points in seven games — has him prepared for the next step.
“The main thing to do when you’re going pro and on that fourth line, yeah, you don’t want to make mistakes but you still have to play your own game and trust in your game,” he said. “It’s important to try to do basically the things you can do in junior to take the next step.”