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mcculloughgulch · 03-11-2016, 12:43 AM

[Ready for Grading]

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<div align="center">SMJHL Draft Profile: Ilmari Määttä

[Image: 6fa6ff4654ab4d67ac03ba3e61ca4168.jpg]

Quick Look:
Position: Defenseman
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 198
Birthday: March 12, 1997
Birthplace: Rovaniemi, Finland
Strengths: Passing, Defense, Endurance
Weaknesses: Scoring

Profile</div>

At nineteen, Ilmari Määttä is a little older than some junior prospects out there, but he’s proud of that fact.

“I got my year of military service out of the way already,” he tells us when we met up with him for a quick one on one before training. “So now I can just focus on hockey.”

Growing up in northern Finland, Määttä spent more time playing outside on the pond than he did inside at the rink. He spent much of his spare time reading. He’s a big Harry Potter fan, he says, and often passes his time in the gym listening to audiobooks, to which he credits much of his English language ability. Määttä is also fond of trail running, and says some summer days he’ll pound out eight or ten miles in the woods.

“Growing up, I was always pretty stocky. At first I didn’t have to spend time in the gym building muscle when the other guys were so much skinnier than me.” Määttä laughs. “Of course I eventually did have to join them. But before that, I thought maybe running would help me balance out my strength. When I’m training, I have to be careful, because I enjoy it too much and I want to run more than I probably should.”

His childhood regimens of long hours on the pond or running in the woods are reflected in his impressive endurance, though he still has that stocky frame he mentioned. He’s proud of being able to play almost thirty minutes a game and not feel like he’s about to keel over, and he’s no slouch, able to set up plays at both ends of the ice. At 5’11” and 198 pounds, Määttä is sturdier than many prospects his age, but he feels it’s to his benefit.

“I’m not the tallest, but I’m heavier,” he says. “I think at my age it makes me more willing to go into the tougher areas on the ice. I’m not afraid to lay hits on people bigger than me, especially guys taller than me, because I’ve always been a little bit shorter than everyone else, and I know I’m just as strong as they are.”

While Määttä enjoys the physical aspects of being a blueliner, even going so far as to tell us he didn’t mind blocking shots, his ability to read opponents’ plays and then get in the middle of them and regain possession of the puck is truly impressive. For Määttä, defenseman was the only choice, and he backs that up by telling us that as a seven-year-old, he once got the puck on a breakaway and promptly burst into tears.

“I got okay at scoring for a while there,” Määttä says, specifically referring to a couple of seasons in youth hockey where he put up over a hundred points. “But it’s never been my strong suit. I’d rather take the puck away from the opposition and get it to someone who likes to put the puck in the net. It’s definitely something in my mindset and skillset both I have to work on.” And sure enough, when we left him to get back to training, he was going to work on his slapshot.

<div align="center"> [Image: 34d7d179-83e3-4c33-ac31-62d0d40db15f_zpsvpkueifb.jpg]

[Image: 34d7d179-83e3-4c33-ac31-62d0d40db15f_zpsvpkueifb.jpg]

Background </div>

While Määttä is the first in his family to come to North America for hockey, his family has been skating his whole life. His father, Esa, never played professionally, but his mother, Lumi, played a brief stint with the Finnish Women’s National Team, including at the ‘95 and ‘96 European Championships, before retiring in 1996. He has two younger sisters: Aino, who plays on the national women’s U-18 team, and Virpi, an aspiring artist. Both played forward, and Määttä alleges that they are a ferocious three-on-three team on the pond.

<div align="center"> [Image: 635680382001_993090131001_Miikka-Salomak...5680382001]

[Image: 635680382001_993090131001_Miikka-Salomak...5680382001]

Scouting Report</div>

Likely because of his pond hockey experience, Määttä is very good at managing open-ice collisions and plays. He has an uncanny ability to come away from open-ice interactions with the puck. However, he has spent a lot of time working to develop his skill along the boards as well, and again, his ability to take the puck away from his opponents is impressive. After that, or once he’s entered the offensive zone, he’s more likely to dish the puck to another player, even if he’s in the better position to shoot. His puckhandling skills are decent, but he doesn't seem to have much faith in them, nor does he focus specifically on improving them, which is something a future team may have to address. He is valuable on the penalty kill and is a capable passer who can quarterback the power play despite his difficulties scoring.

Thanks everyone for your questions! Ilmari can also be contacted on twitter @ilmari_maatta14!

We've been getting a lot of Finnish players coming over to play in the SMJHL and SHL the last few seasons. Have you played with any of them on your national or local teams in the past? Anyone in particular you're hoping to be reunited with after the draft?

Well, I played with Bennett Jones in U-18, so that was a couple years ago! But I'm very excited to see a former teammate go first overall in the SHL draft. I'm definitely excited to be able to follow his rookie season.

I also have more recently played with Mikael Talo for Finland, and it would be wonderful to play with him in the SMJHL! He's a great talent and a lot of fun. Smile

But if we end up on separate teams, I won't have any problem checking him. He's beaten me in MarioKart too many times.

Which Harry Potter character do you identify with most?

Oh, this is a good question! Well, it has to be a Quidditch player, right? Beaters and Seekers have the best position if you ask me, but I'm more like Ron when it comes to the main characters.

What do you think will be the hardest thing about converting to North American hockey?

Honestly, the ice size is going to be a challenge. I like the open space of Europe and and Olympic size rinks and I already know I have some adjustments to make to move to a smaller rink. There's more play along the boards and that's something I'll have to work on.

Skittles or Smarties?

Absolutely Skittles! Chocolate is all right, but I prefer fruit flavored candy.

Which team are you most interested in currently?

I'm keeping my options open right now. I think Vancouver would be interesting because the weather is very different from where I'm from, but I also really like the St. Louis logo (maybe that's a little shallow? Tongue

). And going to a team like Montreal, or Colorado, someplace that has recently had regular season and playoff success, is appealing too.

Where do you think you'll go in the draft?

For me, I think it's a bit early to tell. I've only played in two games in the prospect showcase and feel pretty good about my play, but I want to see how I do on the North American ice a little more before I form an opinion! I'd love to go high in the draft, of course, and I know I have a lot to offer any team, so hopefully the GMs will think I do too.

Coming in so close to the draft puts you at a bit of a disadvantage training-wise. What do you plan to do to get on GMs' radars?

I'm hoping my play in the prospect showcase over the next few days will help make a good impression, even though I'll be playing in fewer games. I've been going out of my way to express interest in a few teams as well. I'm happy to talk with any interested GMs as well!

In your opinion, which SMJHL teams have the best logos?

The St. Louis Scarecrows for sure! But I also really like the Mammoth's.

prettyburn · 03-11-2016, 12:59 AM

We've been getting a lot of Finnish players coming over to play in the SMJHL and SHL the last few seasons. Have you played with any of them on your national or local teams in the past? Anyone in particular you're hoping to be reunited with after the draft?

Jenny · 03-11-2016, 12:59 AM

Which Harry Potter character do you identify with most?

What do you think will be the hardest thing about converting to North American hockey?

Jepox · 03-11-2016, 01:00 AM

Skittles or Smarties?

Interview

Which team are you most interested in currently?

Interview

Where do you think you'll go in the draft?

rrireal · 03-11-2016, 01:09 AM

Are you nervous about the transition to North America?

Interview

You're coming into the league right around the same time as fellow Finn Mikael Talo, do the two of you have a relationship coming into this? Friends, rivals?

Interview

Coming in so close to the draft puts you at a bit of a disadvantage training-wise. What do you plan to do to get on GMs' radars?

Interview

In your opinion, which SMJHL teams have the best logos?

Dangles13 · 03-11-2016, 02:23 AM

How are you finding everything so far?
Have you been contacted by any teams yet?
Have you reached out to any GMs yet?

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