Born: 2001-03-13
Team: Hermes (Mestis)
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Right
Height / Weight: 5-11 / 185
REPORT: HERMES @ K-VANTAA (MESTIS), JANUARY 4, 2019
Loponen had the second most ice-time on his team (22:05) in a 4-3 win. He recorded an assist in the second period as he jumped into the play and took a wrist shot that generated a rebound. The 17-year-old defenseman was very active and consistently joined the attack. He also moved the puck well out of the zone. An agile skater, he showed nimble footwork and strong straight-ahead speed. He was quick to put pressure on the opposing forwards and he maintained good gap control. He had a strong physical presence, he was competitive and tough to play against. In one of his best plays of the game, he separated an opponent off the puck in the defensive end. Loponen may not be the most dynamic defenseman but he played a well-rounded game.