Helenius, Riku

Seattle Thunderbirds 9 @ Spokane Chiefs 7
G Riku Helenius, SEA: Did not play.

DeSerres got the start for Seattle, who apparently signed Seahawks kicker Josh Brown and got 3 field goals for the win. If this was the case, though, a football team named the Chiefs would be capable of scoring a touchdown, so this obviously is fictional.

The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Thomas McCollum of the Guelph Storm and Lightning prospect Riku Helenius of the Seattle Thunderbirds were both named ADT CHL Goaltender of the Week after posting practically identical numbers last week.

McCollum was 2-0-0-0 with a 0.50 goals against average and .987 save percentage in two games while Helenius was 2-0-0-0 with a 0.50 goals against average and .980 save percentage in two games.

Helenius stopped 27 of the 28 shots faced as the Thunderbirds downed the Prince Albert Raiders 3-1 on Wednesday and he stopped all 22 shots faced as the Thunderbirds shut-out the Portland Winter Hawks 4-0 on Saturday. Helenius, a 19-year-old from Ilves-Tampere, Finland, improved to 15-9-5-1 this season with a 2.37 goals against average and .917 save percentage in 30 games as a WHL rookie.

Fellow Lightning prospect Torrie Jung won the ADT CHL Goaltender of the Week Award January 8.

The Czech Republic dominated Finland 5-1 today in the 5th place game of the U20 World Junior Championships to end Finland's tournament in disappointing fashion. Lightning prospect Riku Helenius went the distance allowing 4 goals on 25 shots for the loss.

Helenius, who missed almost the entire 2006-2007 season with shoulder surgery, finished the tournament 2-2-0 with 1 shutout, a 3.36 GAA, and a slightly horrific .864 save percentage.

Team USA scored 5 unanswered goals before surrendering a 3 spot in garbage time but still cruising to a 5-3 win over Team Finland in both teams' final game of the round robin at the U20 World Junior Championships.

Lightning prospect netminder Riku Helenius allowed all 5 goals on 20 shots before being pulled midway through the game for backup Harri Sateri who stopped 9 of 9 shots the rest of the way. Helenius drops to 2-1-0 on the tournament with a 3.11 GAA, 1 shutout, and .873 save percentage.

Finland faces the hard test of a quarterfinal matchup with Team Canada on Wednesday to try to keep their medal hopes alive.

Riku Helenius improved to 2-0-0 in this year's U20 World Junior Championships Saturday as Finland shut out Kazakhstan 5-0. Helenius made 15 saves in the win. He was named the best player in the match for the Finns.

Finland now sits in 3rd place on their group's table with a matchup against Team USA coming up on Monday to complete round robin play. Team USA clinched the Group B today with a win over Russia.

To this point Helenius is 2-0-0 with 1 shutout, a 1.44 GAA, and a .930 save percentage.