Born: 2005-04-04
Team: Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
Position: Left Wing
Shoots: Left
Height / Weight: 5-10 / 150
Emil Järventie had a solid 2020-21 season as one of the younger players in the U20 SM-sarja. The 16-year-old winger put up eight goals and 13 points in 20 games. In addition, he played on the power play, and to a lesser extent on the penalty kill. Emil is a strong skater, he shows good lateral mobility and he accelerates quickly when skating backwards. He skates fast both with and without the puck, being able to maintain control of the puck at high speeds. His technical skills were on display when he scored two silky smooth shootout goals. He has good touch, accuracy and firmness on his passes, and he sees openings to move the puck up the ice. Furthermore, he can both finish plays and set up his teammates for scoring chances. In his own end, he knows when to pressure the puck carrier and be aggressive to take away time and space. His effort and intensity are noteworthy, as he works at both ends of the ice, and shows good habits when playing without the puck. Järventie was selected by the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the USHL Phase 1 Draft in May 2021. He’s likely staying with Ilves U20, but if he chooses the USHL route, he could eventually be an impact player in that league. (June 2021)