Ville Heinola

Ville Heinola (born 2 March 2001) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL).^[1] He was ranked as one of the top international skaters eligible for the 2019 NHL entry draft.^[2][3] Heinola was drafted 20th overall by the Jets.

Ville Heinola
Heinola in 2022
Born	(2001-03-02) 2 March 2001 (age 24) Honkajoki, Finland
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	176 lb (80 kg; 12 st 8 lb)
Position	Defence
Shoots	Left
NHL team Former teams	Winnipeg Jets Lukko
NHL draft	20th overall, 2019 Winnipeg Jets
Playing career	2018–present

Playing career

On 15 July 2019, Heinola was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Winnipeg Jets.^[4]

Heinola impressively made the Jets roster out of training camp. He became the first player of the 2019 NHL entry draft to register an NHL point during the Jets first game of the 2019–20 season against the New York Rangers on 3 October 2019. Heinola scored his first career NHL goal on 8 October against Matt Murray of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Heinola posted 5 points through 8 games before he was re-assigned to AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose. After appearing in 3 games with the Moose, Heinola was loaned to continue development with his Finnish club Lukko for the remainder of the season on 8 November.^[5]

International play

Heinola competed with Team Finland at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in 2019, 2020, and 2021, winning the Gold Medal in 2019 and the Bronze Medal in 2021.^[6][7] He was one of two defensemen named to the Media All-Star Team after the end of the 2021 tournament.^[8]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2017–18	Ässät	Jr. A		33	3	14	17	12		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Lukko	Jr. A		9	1	8	9	2		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Lukko	Liiga		34	2	12	14	26		7	1	3	4	2
2019–20	Winnipeg Jets	NHL		8	1	4	5	4		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Manitoba Moose	AHL		3	0	1	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Lukko	Liiga		29	0	7	7	12		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Lukko	Liiga		19	1	13	14	4		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Winnipeg Jets	NHL		5	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Manitoba Moose	AHL		19	4	7	11	4		—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Manitoba Moose	AHL		41	5	21	26	18		5	1	4	5	0
2021–22	Winnipeg Jets	NHL		12	0	5	5	10		—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	Manitoba Moose	AHL		48	4	33	37	46		4	0	1	1	4
2022–23	Winnipeg Jets	NHL		10	0	1	1	2		—	—	—	—	—
2023–24	Manitoba Moose	AHL		41	10	17	27	24		2	0	2	2	4
2024–25	Manitoba Moose	AHL		2	0	1	1	2		—	—	—	—	—
2024–25	Winnipeg Jets	NHL		18	0	1	1	4		—	—	—	—	—
Liiga totals				82	3	32	35	42		7	1	3	4	2
NHL totals				53	1	11	12	22		—	—	—	—	—

Medal record
Representing  Finland
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
	2019 Canada
	2021 Canada

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2018	Finland	HG18	7th		4	0	2	2	0
2019	Finland	WJC			5	1	1	2	2
2020	Finland	WJC	4th		7	0	5	5	8
2021	Finland	WJC			7	0	4	4	4
Junior totals					23	1	12	13	14