Veini Vehviläinen

Veini Vehviläinen (born 13 February 1997) is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender. He is currently playing as a prospect to the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the sixth round, 173rd overall, by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.
==Playing career==
Vehviläinen began playing as a youth within JYP Jyväskylä, playing in the junior ranks, he impressively backstopped the under 20 team in the Jr. A SM-liiga as a 16-year old in the 2013–14 season.
Vehviläinen mades his professional debut in the Mestis with JYP-Akatemia in the 2014–15 season, before stepping up to the Liiga with JYP in the following 2015–16 season.
On 18 April 2017, Vehviläinen left JYP and secured a two-year contract with Oulun Kärpät.
Establishing himself as the youngest starting goaltender in the Liiga, Vehviläinen quick ascension as the Liiga's best goaltender was realised in the 2017–18 season with Kärpät. He finished second in goals against average and save percentage, finishing with 20 wins in 35 games. He helped Kärpät capture the Kanada-malja championship, posting 11 wins and 3 shutouts in 17 playoff games. He was named to the Liiga All-Star Team and captured the Urpo Ylönen trophy as the league's best goaltender.
After his selection by the Columbus Blue Jackets, 173rd overall, in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, Vehviläinen returned to play with Oulun Kärpät for the 2018–19 season. In backstopping the league leading Oulun Kärpät, Vehviläinen continued his stellar play leading the league in GAA and SV% while also posting a Liiga best 25 wins and 6 shutouts. He helped Oulun return to the Championship finals, leading all goaltender with a 1.47 GAA and 4 shutouts. He finished with a 11–6 record before falling to HPK.
On 4 June 2019, Vehviläinen at the conclusion of his contract with Kärpät agreed to a two-year, entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
==International play==
Vehviläinen represented Finland at the 2015 IIHF World U18 Championships, where played seven games, posting a 1.65 goals against average and a .949 save percentage, to backstop Team Finland to a silver medal. He was named to the 2015 IIHF World U18 Championship All-Star Team as the tournament's best goaltender.
At the 2019 IIHF World Championship Vehviläinen played one game against United States in the group stage. Finland went on to win the tournament earning Vehviläinen the gold medal.
==Career statistics==
===Regular season and playoffs===
 	 	 		Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season		Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs
Season 	Team 	League 		GP 	W 	L 	OT 	MIN 	GA 	SO 	GAA 	SV% 		GP 	W 	L 	MIN 	GA 	SO 	GAA 	SV%
2012–13 	JYP Jyväskylä 	Jr. A 		1 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	3.23 	.933 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2013–14 	JYP Jyväskylä 	Jr. A 		29 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	2.89 	.919 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2014–15 	JYP Jyväskylä 	Jr. A 		17 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	3.09 	.918 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2014–15 	JYP-Akatemia 	Mestis 		26 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	2.57 	.917 		4 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	2.56 	.922
2015–16 	JYP Jyväskylä 	Liiga 		28 	15 	7 	4 	1649 	56 	3 	2.04 	.925 		3 	0 	2 	146 	9 	0 	3.70 	.796
2015–16 	JYP-Akatemia 	Mestis 		7 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	2.92 	.925 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2016–17 	JYP Jyväskylä 	Liiga 		9 	2 	5 	2 	499 	19 	0 	2.29 	.912 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2016–17 	JYP-Akatemia 	Mestis 		7 	2 	4 	1 	393 	16 	0 	2.45 	.904 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2016–17 	Vaasan Sport 	Liiga 		9 	2 	5 	2 	538 	19 	0 	2.12 	.923 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2017–18 	Oulun Kärpät 	Liiga 		35 	20 	5 	8 	2030 	64 	4 	1.89 	.925 		17 	11 	4 	364 	26 	3 	1.57 	.933
2018–19 	Oulun Kärpät 	Liiga 		38 	25 	8 	5 	2290 	60 	6 	1.58 	.933 		17 	11 	6 	1057 	25 	4 	1.47 	.939
2019–20 	Cleveland Monsters	AHL 		33 	10 	18 	4 	1915 	88 	3 	2.76 	.901 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
Liiga totals	Liiga totals 	Liiga totals		119 	64 	30 	21 	7,006 	218 	13 	1.87 	.926 		37 	22 	12 	2,198 	60 	7 	1.64 	.929
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
===International===
Year 	Team 	Event 	Result 		GP	W 	L	OT	MIN 	GA	SO	GAA 	SV%
2014 	Finland 	IH18 	5th 		2 	1 	1	0 	120 	11	0 	5.50	.841
2015 	Finland 	U18 	 		7 	5 	1	1 	437 	12	1 	1.65	.949
2016 	Finland 	WJC 	 		4 	2 	1	0 	206 	13	1 	3.79	.838
2017 	Finland 	WJC 	9th 		6 	3 	2	0 	318 	8 	1 	1.51	.931
2019 	Finland 	WC 	 		1 	0 	0	1 	64 	3 	0 	2.82	.897
Junior totals	Junior totals	Junior totals	Junior totals		19	11	5	1 	1081	44	3 	2.44	.922
Senior totals	Senior totals	Senior totals	Senior totals		1 	0 	0	1 	64 	3 	0 	2.82	.897
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==Awards and honours==
Award 	Year 	
Liiga 	Liiga 	Liiga
All-Star Team 	2018 	
Urpo Ylönen trophy 	2018 	
Kanada-malja (Oulun Kärpät)	2018 	
Best GAA (1.58) 	2019 	
Best SVS% (.923) 	2019 	
International 	International	International
WJC18 Silver Medal 	2015 	
WJC18 All-Star Team 	2015 	
==References==
==External links==
* 
Category:1997 births
Category:Cleveland Monsters players
Category:Columbus Blue Jackets draft picks
Category:Finnish ice hockey goaltenders
Category:JYP-Akatemia players
Category:JYP Jyväskylä players
Category:Oulun Kärpät players
Category:Vaasan Sport players