6th round - 171st overall: Flames take G Joni Ortio

[Freeway]

With their 6th round selection, the Flames have chosen G Joni Ortio from TPS Jr. in Finland

http://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospects/5763

[snowdude]

6 20 171 CGY JONI ORTIO Apr 16, 1991 TURKU FI 6' 1" 181 FINLAND-JR. TPS JR. G

[Swayze11]

Kipper version 2.0

[icarus]

Interesting. Plays for TPS Turku jr... isn't Turku Kipper's team too?

[Reggie Dunlop]

Cool!

[Freeway]

Good showing at World Under-18s. More or less replaces Kevin Lalande as the long-term project goalie. Interesting that McLennan gets the gig as goalie coach (given his longstanding relationship with Kipper) and then the Flames draft a goalie that he can visit when he stops in Finland over the summer to see Miikka.

[Ziggy Lidstrom]

^^ he's from TPS turku like kipper and has similar size to kipper. If it quacks like a duck...

I wanted Haula with that pick but this one is just as shrewd. Ortio could be a steal.

[Freeway]

On another note, Brandon Kozun just got nabbed by the Kings.

[kekkone]

Finally Finnish after all these Swedes and I really this pick. I have never seen him play though but have heard a lot of good things about him.

I will dig for more info.

[hixxes]

Originally Posted by Freeway

On another note, Brandon Kozun just got nabbed by the Kings.

Nice to hear. I like Kozun, hopefully he can carve out a decent career whether in the NHL or elsewhere.

[Azure]

Can't have enough Finns in your system!

[snowdude]

Hm. Button said McLennan saw him last summer when he visited Kipper and suggested the team keep an eye on.

Also starting goalie for Finland's U-18 team last year.

[Blixa]

There is legendary finnish goalie coach Urpo Ylönen. Who has coached lot finnish NHL goalies. Like Kipper, Antero Niittymäki, Jani Hurme, Fredrik Norrena. So Joni will receive very coaching.

[Smell My Finger]

It can't hurt having a Kipper light in the system.

[HPLovecraft]

I like these types of picks this late in the draft. Goalies are so often diamonds in the rough. I will keep an eye on this one.

[Smell My Finger]

Profole on Joni Oritio

Talent Analysis


The latest goaltending prospect to come from the goalie hotbed of Turku, Ortio has shown flashes of being a top flight goalie – both at the A junior level with TPS and playing for the surprising bronze medal-winning Finnish under-18 squad. At 6-1, 181, he has the prototypical size that scouts look for and is capable of making outstanding stops. Perhaps his biggest strength is his level-headedness, and an ability to never get too flustered or frustrated at early struggles. His biggest challenge will be increasing his physical strength, quickness, and lateral movement as he adjusts from junior to professional shooters. Like many Finnish goalies, is strong on breakaways/penalty shots. Still developing his game with regards to positioning and rebound control.

[Henry Fool]

Found a couple of comments from Jori in Finnish. Nothing that interesting. Feel free to google translate.
http://yle.fi/urheilu/lajit/jaakiekk...ta_151736.html

Some lazy translations:

The player coordinator for TPS says Ortio is a very promising and talented player, and that TPS can expect a lot from him in the future.

He's excited about being selected and says it will give him a lot of motivation. He didn't really expect it, even though there have been some talks about it.

He knows Flames a bit because he's been following Kiprusoff. He had been in contact with the organisation before.

His immediate plans don't change. He plans on playing for a men's league next season, and possibly some games on the elite level as well (that would be TPS). Says he will have to invest even more in hockey from now on.

That's about it. I notice he's on facebook, so should be easy to contact if CP wants to talk to him at some point in the future.

[Reggie Dunlop]

He is a Finn without a disproportionate number of vowels in his name. I like that.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by HPLovecraft

I like these types of picks this late in the draft. Goalies are so often diamonds in the rough. I will keep an eye on this one.

agreed. even the most recent goaltender to get taken at #1 overall is still a work in progress (though admittedly a league champion work in progress). goaltenders are best suited to be taken in the later rounds, since they are the hardest to project for NHL success

[keenan87]

Finnish goalies seem to work for Calgary. Great thinking by Sutter