Born: 2003-03-22
Team: Kärpät U18
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Height / Weight: 5-8 / 143
REPORT: KÄRPÄT @ HIFK U18, OCTOBER 25, 2020
Kinnunen had a very strong game as Kärpät U18 beat HIFK 5-1. He played on the first line alongside Iivari Heikkinen and Veeti Löytynoja and he was heavily relied upon on the power play as well. He scored a goal in the first period after a HIFK turnover. He got the puck under control quickly off his skates and made no mistake with a quick short-side wrist shot. He supported his teammates low in the defensive zone and he was strong in stick battles. Without the puck he was able to find open space and present targets to receive passes. He protected the puck well and he could both operate in traffic and escape from traffic. Kinnunen was at his best on the power play: puck poise and passing skills stood out. He is a smooth skater with a good glide, but lacked separation speed in this game. He’s one of the top players in the league: his game should translate to the next level.
REPORT: KÄRPÄT @ HIFK U18, SEPTEMBER 21, 2019
Kinnunen centered Kärpät U18 third line against HIFK, playing alongside 2003 born Otto Mykrä and 2004 born Lauri Raiman. The smallish center was the driving force of the line. Kinnunen is a proficient playmaker with magnificent puck skills, he can handle the puck in a phone booth and maintain possession when having limited time and space. He was tough to contain along the boards and made shifty moves under pressure to evade checks and create room for himself. He made a clever wraparound attempt after one of his zone entries. He doesn’t have blazing speed but he showcased some nice agility and good edge control in tight spaces. Kinnunen was committed to the defensive game, he skated back to his own end quickly and didn’t quit on plays.