Jere Innala
{{Short description|Finnish ice hockey player (born 1998)}}
{{Infobox ice hockey player
| name = Jere Innala
| image = 2022-09-08 Eisbären Berlin gegen Frölunda HC (Champions Hockey League 2022-23) by Sandro Halank–101.jpg
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|3|17|df=y}}
| birth_place = Hämeenlinna, Finland
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 9
| weight_lbs = 183
| position = Left wing
| shoots = Left
| league = SHL
| team = Frölunda HC
| prospect_league =
| prospect_team =
| former_teams = HPK
HIFK
Colorado Avalanche
| ntl_team = FIN
| draft = Undrafted
| career_start = 2017
| career_end =
}}
Jere Innala (born 17 March 1998) is a Finnish professional ice hockey player for Frölunda HC in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) and the Finnish national team.{{Cite web|url=http://www.leijonat.fi/index.php/maajoukkueet/a-maajoukkue/2020-21/mm2021/item/41289-leijonien-mm-joukkue-valittu-mm-kisat-alkavat-ensi-perjantaina#446e00a1|title=Leijonien MM-joukkue valittu – MM-kisat alkavat ensi perjantaina|publisher=leijonat.fi|date=15 May 2021|language=fi}}
Playing career
On 7 May 2022, Innala left the Finnish Liiga after six seasons between HPK and HIFK to join Swedish club, Frölunda HC of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), on a two-year contract.{{cite web| publisher = Frölunda HC | url = https://www.frolundahockey.com/article/g487al2so-24601/femman-fran-finland | title = Innala from Finland signs with Frolunda | date = 7 May 2022 | access-date = 7 May 2022 | language = Swedish}}
In the 2022–23 season, Innala made an immediate impact with the Indians, contributing offensively with 10 goals and 26 points through 52 regular-season games. In helping Frölunda return to the playoffs, Innala collected 5 points through 10 postseason games.
Returning for his second year with Frölunda in 2023–24, Innala initially increased his scoring pace, collecting 8 points through the first 8 games before suffering an injury. He was re-signed to an improved two-year contract extension on 9 November 2023, and in returning to the lineup, posted 16 goals and 28 points through 42 regular-season games.{{cite web| url = https://www.frolundahockey.com/article/zrmas3u-24601/view | title = Yay, Jere stops! | publisher = Frölunda HC | date = 9 November 2023 | access-date = 9 November 2023 | language = Swedish }} In 14 playoff games, Innala added 15 points to lead the SHL skaters in goals and points before the Indians fell in Game 7 of the SHL semifinals to eventual champions Skellefteå AIK.
On 13 June 2024, Innala activated an NHL out-clause in his contract with Frölunda HC, after securing his first contract in North America by signing a one-year, entry-level contract with the Colorado Avalanche.{{cite web | url = https://www.nhl.com/avalanche/news/avalanche-sign-innala | title = Avalanche sign Innala | publisher = Colorado Avalanche | date = 13 June 2024 | access-date = 13 June 2024 }} After attending his first training camp in North America, Innala was re-assigned by the Avalanche to begin the {{nhly|2024}} season with AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles. Innala was later recalled and made his NHL debut on December 21, during Colorado's 4–2 win over the Anaheim Ducks.{{cite news |last=Curtis |first=Bailey |title=Avalanche Prospect Makes NHL Debut in Mighty Win Against the Ducks |url=https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/latest-news/avalanche-prospect-makes-nhl-debut-in-mighty-win-against-the-ducks |work=The Hockey News |publisher=Sports Illustrated |date=December 21, 2024 |access-date=December 23, 2024}} Throughout the season, Innala in a limited fourth-line role went scoreless through 17 games with the Avalanche.
On 5 June 2025, as a pending restricted free agent with the Avalanche, Innala opted to resume his European career by agreeing to return to his former club, Frölunda HC of the SHL, on a one-year deal.{{citeweb| url = https://www.frolundahockey.com/article/5vcasxc-24601/view | title = Jere, oh my! | publisher = Frölunda HC | date = 5 June 2025 | accessdate = 5 June 2025 | language = Swedish }}
International play
{{MedalTableTop|name=}}
{{MedalCountry|{{ih|FIN}}}}
{{MedalSport|Ice hockey}}
{{MedalCompetition|World Championships}}
{{MedalGold|2022 Finland|}}
{{MedalSilver|2021 Latvia|}}
{{MedalBottom}}
Innala represented Finland at the 2021, 2022 and 2024 IIHF World Championship.{{Cite web|url=https://stats.iihf.com/Hydra/748/IHM7480FIN_33_1_0_FIN.pdf|title=Team Roster Finland|publisher=iihf.com|date=15 August 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://stats.iihf.com/Hydra/748/IHM7480FIN_83_10_0_FIN.pdf|title=Player Statistics Finland|publisher=iihf.com|date=15 August 2021}}
Career statistics
=Regular season and playoffs=
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em;" |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Regular season ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Playoffs |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Season ! Team ! League ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM |
| 2015–16
| HPK | Jr. A | 40 | 18 | 17 | 35 | 20 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2016–17 | HPK | Jr. A | 32 | 17 | 14 | 31 | 24 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 |
| 2016–17
| HPK | Liiga | 29 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2016–17 | LeKi | Mestis | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2017–18
| HPK | Liiga | 48 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2017–18 | LeKi | Mestis | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2017–18
| HPK | Jr. A | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2018–19 | HPK | Liiga | 60 | 24 | 21 | 45 | 16 | 18 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 4 |
| 2019–20
| HPK | Liiga | 57 | 17 | 18 | 35 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2020–21 | HPK | Liiga | 42 | 20 | 17 | 37 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021–22
| HIFK | Liiga | 54 | 18 | 30 | 48 | 30 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 2 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2022–23 | SHL | 52 | 10 | 16 | 26 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| 2023–24
| Frölunda HC | SHL | 42 | 16 | 12 | 28 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 4 | 15 | 8 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2024–25 | AHL | 43 | 17 | 11 | 28 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2024–25
| NHL | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3"|Liiga totals ! 290 ! 86 ! 95 ! 181 ! 112 ! 25 ! 5 ! 14 ! 19 ! 6 |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3"|SHL totals ! 94 ! 26 ! 28 ! 54 ! 28 ! 24 ! 13 ! 7 ! 20 ! 8 |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3"|NHL totals ! 17 ! 0 ! 0 ! 0 ! 2 ! — ! — ! — ! — ! — |
=International=
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em" |
| ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Year ! Team ! Event ! Result ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM |
| 2018
| Finland | WJC | 6th | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2021 | Finland | WC | {{silver2}} | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 |
| 2022
| Finland | WC | {{gold1}} | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2024 | Finland | WC | 8th | 8 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="4" | Junior totals ! 5 ! 0 ! 0 ! 0 ! 0 |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="4" | Senior totals ! 22 ! 4 ! 7 ! 11 ! 4 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Icehockeystats}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Innala, Jere}}
Category:21st-century Finnish sportsmen
Category:Colorado Avalanche players
Category:Colorado Eagles players
Category:Finnish ice hockey left wingers
Category:Ice hockey people from Hämeenlinna
Category:HIFK (ice hockey) players