| Position: | Defense |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 1 |
| Weight Lb: | 190 |
| Played For: | Tappara Pelicans Ilves |
| Ntl Team: | FIN |
| Birth Date: | 30 January 1983 |
| Birth Place: | Tampere, Finland |
| Draft: | undrafted |
| Career Start: | 2003 |
| Career End: | 2019 |
Juha Leimu (born January 30, 1983, in Tampere, Finland) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey defenceman.
Leimu made his SM-liiga debut in 2009–10 when he was offered an eight-game trial period with Tappara having spent the start of the season in Lempäälän Kisa. After the tryout his contract was extended for the rest of the season.[1] Leimu recorded 24 points in 36 games and was awarded a three-year extension in May 2010.[2] In 2010–11 Leimu had his career season with 12 goals and 31 points in 50 games.
After his contract with Tappara expired, Pelicans signed Leimu to a two-year contract on April 26, 2013.[3] During his opening season in Lahti Leimu led all Pelicans defencemen in goals scored with 10. In the 2013–14 playoffs Leimu scored the overtime goal in Game 2 that eliminated HIFK in the opening round.[4]
Prior the 2014–15 season Leimu was named the team captain.[5] Leimu was sidelined on multiple occasions during the season due to injuries[6] [7] and recorded 16 points in 40 games. On November 20, 2014, he signed a two-year contract extension with Pelicans.[8]
Leimu holds the Liiga record for the fastest hat-trick after scoring three power-play goals in just 44 seconds in a 5–6 overtime loss against JYP Jyväskylä on December 15, 2015.[9] Leimu's 16 goals in 2015–16 season were a league high for defensemen.
Leimu played for Finland national team in a friendly games against Slovakia in 2011.[10]
| Team | League | GP | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | Ilves U16 | U16 SM-sarja | 29 | 28 | 22 | 50 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1999–00 | Ilves U18 | U18 SM-sarja | 24 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Ilves U18 | U18 SM-sarja | 36 | 17 | 21 | 38 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | Ilves U20 | U20 SM-liiga | 15 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Ilves U20 | U20 SM-liiga | 4 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Ilves U20 | U20 SM-liiga | 37 | 15 | 12 | 27 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | Koovee | Suomi-sarja | 19 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Koovee | Suomi-sarja | 27 | 9 | 7 | 16 | 12 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 12 | ||
| 2006–07 | LeKi | Suomi-sarja | 34 | 18 | 31 | 49 | 44 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 10 | 6 | ||
| 2007–08 | LeKi | Mestis | 43 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 40 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2008–09 | LeKi | Mestis | 42 | 13 | 16 | 29 | 44 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | ||
| 2009–10 | LeKi | Mestis | 13 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | Tappara | SM-liiga | 36 | 7 | 17 | 24 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | ||
| 2010–11 | Tappara | SM-liiga | 50 | 12 | 19 | 31 | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | Tappara | SM-liiga | 24 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | LeKi | Mestis | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Tappara | SM-liiga | 57 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 55 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | ||
| 2013–14 | Lahti Pelicans | Liiga | 48 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 32 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | ||
| 2014–15 | Lahti Pelicans | Liiga | 40 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Lahti Pelicans | Liiga | 51 | 16 | 18 | 34 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2016–17 | Lahti Pelicans | Liiga | 31 | 11 | 6 | 17 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 2017–18 | Lahti Pelicans | Liiga | 43 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 28 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 2018–19 | Ilves | Liiga | 38 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 22 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Liiga totals | 418 | 75 | 112 | 187 | 263 | 51 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 20 | ||||