Top Penguins Prospect Named AHL Rookie Of The Month

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins finished January with a 6-4-2 record, partly thanks to Ville Koivunen, the AHL Rookie of the Month.

The 21-year-old forward had nine goals and 14 points in 12 games, including two hat tricks. 

On Jan. 8, against the Toronto Marlies, Koivunen collected his first AHL hat trick and followed it up with a four-goal performance against the Hershey Bears on Jan. 29.

During his first pro hockey season in North America, the native of Oulu, Finland, is second in team scoring behind AHL All-Star Emil Bemström with 15 goals, 21 assists, and 36 points. 

Initially drafted in the second round (51st overall) by the Carolina Hurricanes, Koivunen came to the Penguins last March in the Jake Guentzel trade.

Before joining WBS this season, he played parts of three seasons with Kärpät in Liiga. In 164 games, Koivunen scored 45 goals with 68 assists for 113 points. 

Interestingly, Koivunen is the Penguins' first AHL Rookie of the Month since Daniel Sprong was honored in December 2017. He followed Guentzel, the December 2016 Rookie of the Month. 

The only other WBS skater named Rookie of the Month was John Curry in December 2007.