Antti Saarela

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| image = Antti Saarela Ilves.jpg

| caption =

| image_size =

| alt =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|2001|6|27|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Laitila, Finland

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 11

| weight_lb = 183

| position = Winger

| shoots = Left

| team = Chicago Blackhawks

| league = NHL

| prospect_team = Lukko

| prospect_league = Liiga

| former_teams = Ilves

| ntl_team =

| draft = 123rd overall

| draft_year = 2019

| draft_team = Chicago Blackhawks

| career_start = 2018

| career_end =

}}

Antti Saarela (born June 27, 2001) is a Finnish professional ice hockey winger currently playing with Lukko in the Liiga on loan as a prospect for the Chicago Blackhawks in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 123rd overall by the Blackhawks in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.{{cite web| url = https://www.secondcityhockey.com/2019/6/22/18713707/2019-nhl-draft-results-chicago-blackhawks-select-antti-saarela-number-123-pick-fourth-round-profile | title = 2019 NHL Draft: Blackhawks select Antti Saarela with No. 123 pick in 4th round | publisher = secondcityhockey.com | date = 22 June 2019 | accessdate = 22 June 2019}}

Playing career

Saarela made his Liiga debut for Lukko, playing one game during the 2017–18 Liiga season. He followed up by playing in twenty-four regular season games for Lukko during the 2018–19 Liiga season, scoring two goals and eight assists for ten points.[http://www.eurohockey.com/player/582153-antti-saarela.html Antti Saarela profile - eurohockey.com]{{cite web| url = https://liiga.fi/fi/pelaajat/30687613/saarela-antti | title = Antti Saarela player profile | publisher = Liiga | language = Finnish | date = 4 November 2019 | accessdate = 4 November 2019}} On April 3, 2019, Saarela signed an optional three-year contract for fellow Liiga club, Ilves.{{cite web| url = https://www.ilves.com/ilvekselle-kuusi-uutta-pelaajasopimusta/ | title = Ilvekselle kuusi uutta pelaajasopimusta | language = Finnish | date = 3 April 2019 | accessdate = 3 April 2019 | publisher = Ilves}}

At the conclusion of his contract with Ilves, Saarela returned to his original club, Lukko, agreeing to a one-year contract on 30 April 2022.{{cite web| url = https://www.raumanlukko.fi/uutiset/antti-saarela-palaa-sinikeltaisiin-kyl-lukko-o-aina-lukko | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220430060104/https://www.raumanlukko.fi/uutiset/antti-saarela-palaa-sinikeltaisiin-kyl-lukko-o-aina-lukko | url-status = usurped | archive-date = April 30, 2022 | title = Antti Saarela returns to blue and yellow | publisher = Lukko | date = 30 April 2022 | accessdate = 4 January 2023 | language = Finnish}}

Following the conclusion of the 2022–23 season with Lukko, Saarela was signed by the Chicago Blackhawks to a two-year, entry-level contract on 28 March 2023.{{citeweb | url = https://www.nhl.com/blackhawks/news/release-blackhawks-sign-saarela-to-entry-level-contract/c-342810780 | title = Blackhawks sign Saarela to entry-level contract | publisher = Chicago Blackhawks | date = 28 March 2023 | accessdate = 28 March 2023 }}

In the 2023–24 season, Saarela moved to North America and played exclusively with the Blackhawks AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. With the campaign blighted with injury, he posted 5 goals and 6 points through just 27 appearances.

On 18 July 2024, Saarela was loaned by the Blackhawks to return to former club Lukko of the Liiga to continue his development for the 2024–25 season.{{citeweb| url = https://www.raumanlukko.fi/uutiset/antti-saarela-palaa-sinikeltaisiin | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240718134536/https://www.raumanlukko.fi/uutiset/antti-saarela-palaa-sinikeltaisiin | url-status = usurped | archive-date = July 18, 2024 | title = Chicago Blackhawks loan Antti Saarela to the blue and yellows | publisher = Lukko | date = 18 July 2024 | accessdate = 18 July 2024 | language = Finnish }}

Personal

His father, Pasi Saarela, was a professional hockey player who enjoyed a lengthy career in the SM-liiga, most notably as a star player for local club, Lukko.{{cite web| url = https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/1692/pasi-saarela | title = Pasi Saarela player profile | publisher = eliteprospects.com | date = 23 March 2020 | accessdate = 23 March 2020}} Antti was also coached through his junior career by Pasi at Lukko. His older brother Aleksi is also a professional hockey player currently playing with the Florida Panthers in the National Hockey League.