Finnish hockey players Huttula and Kangasniemi finish in Karlovy Vary

Karlovy Vary, which was eliminated in the preliminary round of the playoffs for the fourth time in a row this year, announced the departure of nine players after the season, including long-time supporter Tomáš Rachůnk. They are now followed by both Finns.

“Joona had his second season in Karlovy Vary better than his first. He played his part, but we would like to replace him with a defender of a different profile, much more active in terms of points. Iikka is a specific player, but unfortunately for a foreign signing, his goal productivity was not what we expected from her. At the moment, we expect that he will not continue in Energia either,” said the club’s executive director and one of its owners, Daniel Tobolka.

Twenty-nine-year-old Kangasniemi collected 21 points (4+17) in 43 games in a single season in Karlovy Vary. His compatriot Huttula, who is two years younger, has been active in the extra league since 2022, first in Hradec Králové and then in Energia, in whose jersey he scored a goal and made three assists last year.

Karlovy Vary will be led by the Olympic champion from Nagano, Pavel Patera, and in recent days the club announced the arrivals of defenders David Moravec and Radim Šalda and forwards Robin Sapousek, Otakar Šik, Jan Šír and Ľubomír Kupč.