Defenseman Santeri Airola’s injury requires surgery, and he will need 6–8 months to recover. Goalie Marek Langhamer, who was injured in Lahti against the Pelicans, will be sidelined for 8–12 weeks. Ilves will have goalie Roope Taponen on loan from HIFK until the break when the national team plays, after which the situation will be assessed again.
Roope Taponen, 20, is originally from the club Nummelan Palloseura, and he played for Jokerit Helsinki and HIFK in his junior years. In 2020, the talented goalie signed a 1+1-year deal with HIFK but played the season on loan for Kiekko-Espoo in Mestis, the second highest level in Finland. There his goals against average was 2.30, the best in the whole Mestis. During the current season Taponen has also played on loan for Kiekko-Espoo, where he has played seven games with a good save percentage of 92.8%.
– We want to thank Roope and HIFK for great cooperation, and we are happy that we were able to work things out this quickly, said Ilves’ Sports Director Timo Koskela.
Roope Taponen will wear the number 60 in Ilves.
