Joel Kiviranta

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| name = Joel Kiviranta

| image = 12-01-20-yog-1149.jpg

| image_size = 230px

| caption = Kiviranta with Finland in 2012

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|03|23}}

| birth_place = Vantaa, Finland

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 11

| weight_lb = 185

| position = Forward

| shoots = Left

| league = NHL

| team = Colorado Avalanche

| prospect_league = AHL

| prospect_team =

| former_teams = Jokerit
Vaasan Sport
Dallas Stars

| ntl_team = FIN

| draft = Undrafted

| career_start = 2013

| career_end =

}}

Joel Kiviranta (born March 23, 1996) is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career

On 12 November 2013, Kiviranta made his Liiga debut playing with Jokerit against the Espoo Blues during the 2013–14 Liiga season.{{cite web|url=http://www.jatkoaika.com/SM-LIIGA/Tilastot/Jokerit-Blues/147926 |title=OTTELUTILASTOT - 12.11.2013 - Jokerit - Blues - LIIGA |trans-title=Game summary - 12.11.2013 - Jokerit - Blues - LIIGA |website=Jatkoaika |language=Finnish |date=2013-11-12 |access-date=2014-05-06}}

In the 2018–19 Liiga season, his fifth year with Vaasan Sport, Kiviranta tallied 31 points in 48 games. His 16 goals were third on the team however he was unable to propel Sport to the post-season.

Undrafted, Kiviranta used his NHL-out clause with Sport to sign a two-year, entry-level contract with the Dallas Stars on 1 June 2019.{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/stars/news/dallas-stars-sign-forward-joel-kiviranta-to-a-two-year-entry-level-contract/c-307627942 |title=Stars sign Forward Joel Kiviranta |publisher=Dallas Stars |website=NHL.com |date=2019-06-01 |access-date=2019-06-01}} His first NHL goal was an even strength goal against the New Jersey Devils on 1 February 2020, against the goaltender Louis Domingue to give the Dallas Stars a 2–1 lead, and they went on to win the game in overtime 3–2.{{cite web |title=Pavelski scores in OT to lift Stars over Devils 3-2 |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap/_/gameId/401145838 |website=ESPN |access-date=December 22, 2022 |date=February 1, 2020}}

On 4 September 2020, Kiviranta, who was called up as a Black Ace for the Stars, substituted in for injured Stars forward Andrew Cogliano in the seventh and decisive game of the Second Round of the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Colorado Avalanche. He helped send the Stars into the Conference Finals by scoring a hat-trick, including the game-winning overtime goal.{{cite web |last=O'Brien |first=James |title=Stars win Game 7 OT thriller vs. Avalanche; Joel Kiviranta unlikely hat trick hero |url=https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2020/09/04/stars-beat-avalanche-in-game-7-joel-kiviranta-unlikely-hat-trick-hero-in-ot/ |website=NBC Sports |date=2020-09-04 |access-date=2020-09-04}}

On 31 July 2021, the Stars re-signed Kiviranta to a two-year, $2.1 million contract extension.{{cite web|title=Stars sign forward Joel Kiviranta to two-year, $2.1M contract |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/stars-sign-forward-joel-kiviranta-two-year-2-1m-contract/ |date=2021-07-31 |access-date=2021-08-01 |website=Sportsnet.ca}}

On 28 August 2023, Kiviranta agreed to a professional tryout with the Avalanche to attend their 2023 training camp.{{cite web |title=Avalanche's Joel Kiviranta: Agrees to professional tryout |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/avalanches-joel-kiviranta-agrees-to-professional-tryout/ |website=CBS Sports |date=August 28, 2023 |access-date=28 August 2023}} He was released from the agreement on 5 October, but was invited to attend the training camp of the Avalanche's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Colorado Eagles.{{cite web |title=Joel Kiviranta: Released by Colorado |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/joel-kiviranta-released-by-colorado/#:~:text=Kiviranta%20was%20released%20from%20the,join%20camp%20for%20AHL%20Colorado. |website=CBS Sports |access-date=5 October 2023}} On 11 October, the Eagles signed Kiviranta to a one-year contract.{{cite web |title=COLORADO EAGLES ADD FORWARDS KIVIRANTA, HOLLAND |url=https://www.coloradoeagles.com/news/detail/colorado-eagles-add-forwards-kiviranta-holland |website=Colorado Eagles |access-date=11 October 2023}} He began the 2023–24 season with six points in ten games. On 12 November, the Avalanche signed Kiviranta to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000.{{cite web |title=Avalanche Sign Forward Joel Kiviranta |url=https://www.nhl.com/avalanche/news/avalanche-sign-forward-joel-kiviranta#:~:text=The%20Colorado%20Avalanche%20Hockey%20Club,the%20Colorado%20Eagles%20(AHL). |website=Colorado Avalanche | date=November 12, 2023 |access-date=12 November 2023}} He made his debut for the team on 15 November, recording one goal and two assists in an 8-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks.{{cite web |last1=Boulding |first1=Ryan |title=Avalanche pull away, score 8 in win against Ducks |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/game-recaps/anaheim-ducks-colorado-avalanche-game-recap-november-15 |website=National Hockey League |access-date=16 November 2023}} Despite the initial offensive outburst, Kiviranta settled into a fourth-line utility role, and continued with the Avalanche for the remainder of the season, finishing with 3 goals and 9 points through 56 regular season appearances. In the playoffs, Kiviranta was originally slated to be a healthy scratch, however was inserted into the lineup through injury to Jonathan Drouin. Known to elevate his game in the post-season, he added a goal and assist through the first-round series win over the Winnipeg Jets. He finished with 8 appearances as the Avalanche fell to former club, the Dallas Stars, in the second-round.{{citeweb| url = https://www.denverpost.com/2024/04/26/avalanche-joel-kiviranta-playoffs-depth/ | title = Once an Avalanche killer, Joel Kiviranta is showing his value as a depth player | publisher = The Denver Post | date = 26 April 2024 | accessdate = 26 April 2024 }}

As a pending free agent, Kiviranta was re-signed by the Avalanche to a one-year, $775,000 contract for the {{nhly|2024}} season on 1 July 2024.{{citeweb| url = https://www.nhl.com/avalanche/news/avalanche-signs-joel-kiviranta | title = Avalanche signs Joel Kiviranta | publisher = Colorado Avalanche | date = 1 July 2024 | accessdate = 1 July 2024 }}

International play

{{MedalCountry|{{ih|FIN}}}}

Kiviranta was selected to make his senior international debut with Finland at the 2019 IIHF World Championship held in Bratislava, Slovakia.{{cite web|url=http://leijonat.fi/index.php/maajoukkueet/a-maajoukkue/2018-19/mm2019/item/32812-miesten-mm-kisat-kayntiin-perjantaina-suomen-mm-joukkue-valittu |title=Miesten MM-kisat käyntiin perjantaina - Suomen MM-joukkue valittu |trans-title=Men's World Cup kicks off on Friday - Finnish World Championship team selected |website=leijonat.fi |language=Finnish |date=2019-05-05 |access-date=2019-05-05}} He finished with 2 goals and 3 points in 9 games to help Finland claim the gold medal in a victory over Canada on May 26, 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/marko-anttila-scores-twice-as-finland-upsets-canada-for-gold-1.1312015 |title=Finland defeats Canada for Gold Medal at World Championship |publisher=The Sports Network |date=2019-05-26 |access-date=2019-05-26}}

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

2011–12

| Jokerit

| FIN U18

| 10

| 2

| 4

| 6

| 0

| 4

| 2

| 0

| 2

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2011–12

| Jokerit

| FIN U20

| 20

| 4

| 1

| 5

| 4

| —

2012–13

| Jokerit

| FIN U18

| 1

| 0

| 1

| 2

| 10

| 4

| 2

| 6

| 2

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2012–13

| Jokerit

| FIN U20

| 40

| 7

| 13

| 20

| 35

| —

2013–14

| Jokerit

| FIN U18

| 2

| 1

| 2

| 3

| 0

| 9

| 2

| 6

| 8

| 12

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2013–14

| Jokerit

| FIN U20

| 38

| 18

| 19

| 37

| 40

| 4

| 0

2013–14

| Jokerit

| Liiga

| 1

| 0

| 2

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2014–15

| Sport

| FIN U20

| 6

| 5

| 0

| 5

| 6

| —

2014–15

| Sport

| Liiga

| 47

| 8

| 5

| 13

| 10

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2015–16

| Sport

| FIN U20

| 1

| 2

| 0

| —

2015–16

| Sport

| Liiga

| 48

| 6

| 12

| 22

| 2

| 0

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2015–16

| Hermes

| Mestis

| 1

| 0

| 1

| 2

| —

2016–17

| Sport

| Liiga

| 58

| 11

| 10

| 21

| 20

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2017–18

| Sport

| Liiga

| 59

| 19

| 18

| 37

| 24

| —

2018–19

| Sport

| Liiga

| 48

| 16

| 15

| 31

| 18

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2019–20

| Texas Stars

| AHL

| 48

| 12

| 11

| 23

| 25

| —

2019–20

| Dallas Stars

| NHL

| 11

| 1

| 0

| 1

| 4

| 14

| 5

| 1

| 6

| 4

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2020–21

| Dallas Stars

| NHL

| 26

| 6

| 5

| 11

| 6

| —

2021–22

| Dallas Stars

| NHL

| 56

| 1

| 6

| 7

| 10

| 7

| 0

| 1

| 4

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2022–23

| Dallas Stars

| NHL

| 70

| 8

| 1

| 9

| 40

| 15

| 1

| 4

| 5

| 2

2023–24

| Colorado Eagles

| AHL

| 10

| 2

| 4

| 6

| 8

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2023–24

| Colorado Avalanche

| NHL

| 56

| 3

| 6

| 9

| 12

| 8

| 1

| 2

| 4

2024–25

| Colorado Avalanche

| NHL

| 79

| 16

| 7

| 23

| 20

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" | Liiga totals

! 261

! 60

! 54

! 114

! 96

! 2

! 0

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" | NHL totals

! 298

! 35

! 25

! 60

! 92

! 44

! 7

! 14

=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

2012

| Finland

| IH18

| {{silver2}}

| 5

| 0

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2013

| Finland

| U17

| 7th

| 5

| 2

| 4

| 0

2013

| Finland

| WJC18

| {{bronze3}}

| 7

| 0

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2013

| Finland

| IH18

| 5th

| 4

| 2

| 1

| 3

| 4

2014

| Finland

| WJC18

| 6th

| 5

| 1

| 0

| 1

| 18

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2019

| Finland

| WC

| {{gold1}}

| 9

| 2

| 1

| 3

| 0

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="4" | Junior totals

! 26

! 5

! 3

! 8

! 22

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="4" | Senior totals

! 9

! 2

! 1

! 3

! 0

References

External links

{{Ice hockey stats}}

Category:1996 births

Category:Living people

Category:Colorado Avalanche players

Category:Colorado Eagles players

Category:Dallas Stars players

Category:Finnish ice hockey forwards

Category:Ice hockey people from Vantaa

Category:Ice hockey players at the 2012 Winter Youth Olympics

Category:Jokerit players

Category:Kokkolan Hermes players

Category:Texas Stars players

Category:Undrafted National Hockey League players

Category:Vaasan Sport players

Category:Youth Olympic gold medalists for Finland

Category:21st-century Finnish sportsmen