Jokerit U20 defenseman Roope Reini has been named the best defenseman of this year’s Junior Club World Cup in Sochi. The 1999 born blueliner finished the tournament with three goals and five points in only three games.
Reini is an offensive-minded defenseman who joined the Jokerit organization from TPS. He had 37 points, including 13 goals, for the U20 team last season. In the previous season, Reini captained TPS’ U18 team and scored 47 points in 43 games. He was named the best defenseman in the Finnish U18 league.
Reini’s biggest strengths are his vision and ability to move the puck up the ice. He can run a power play effectively and possesses a solid, accurate shot from the point. He consistently gets pucks on net. In order to maximize his potential, Reini will need to continue to work on his speed and mobility. However, there’s a lot to like about his offensive game and smarts. Reini could possibly see some ice-time this season with Kiekko-Vantaa which is Jokerit’s affiliate team and plays on the second highest level in Finland.