Otto Somppi Explained

Otto Somppi
Birth Date:12 January 1998
Birth Place:Helsinki, Finland
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lbs:192
Position:Centre
Shoots:Left
League:Liiga
Team:Lukko
Former Teams:Syracuse Crunch
Lahti Pelicans
Draft:206th overall
Draft Year:2016
Draft Team:Tampa Bay Lightning
Career Start:2018

Otto Somppi (born 12 January 1998) is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward for Lukko in the Liiga. He was drafted 206th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the seventh round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Junior

Somppi played junior hockey for Jokerit in the U20 SM-sarja before getting drafted 18th overall by the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in the first round of the 2015 CHL Import Draft.[1] [2]

On 11 September 2015, Somppi made his QMJHL debut and scored first QMJHL goal in a three point effort against a 4–3 loss to the Charlottetown Islanders.[3] Overall, he played 59 games with 13 goals and 33 assists in the 2015–16 QMJHL season and was selected to the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.[4] The following season, he played 60 games with 17 goals and 24 assists. In his final QMJHL season, he was selected as alternate captain of the Halifax Mooseheads, making 28 goals and 55 assists in 59 games played.[5] [6]

Professional

After being drafted 206th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the seventh round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Somppi signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Lightning on 19 April 2018.[7]

On 3 May 2018, Somppi made his professional debut for the Lightning's AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, in a 6–4 loss against the Toronto Marlies.[8] He was reassigned to the Orlando Solar Bears in the ECHL after breaking his finger early in the 2018–19 season.[9] On 12 December 2018, he scored his first AHL goal in a 8–1 win against the Marlies.[10] In the 2019–20 AHL season, he appeared in 45 games with five goals and 13 assists. The following season, he was briefly loaned to the Lahti Pelicans in Liiga, appearing in nine games with one goal and two assists, before getting recalled back to the Syracuse Crunch for the rest of the 2020–21 season, where he made 12 goals and 14 assists in 32 games.[11] [12]

On 27 July 2021, the Lightning signed Somppi to a one-year two-way contract extension.[13] [14]

Following the conclusion of the 2021–22 season with the Crunch, Somppi as an impending restricted free agent left the Lightning after five seasons within the organization and returned to the Finnish Liiga after agreeing to a one-year contract with Lukko on 6 June 2022.[15]

International play

Somppi represented Finland men's national under-17 ice hockey team at the 2014 World U-17 Hockey Challenge and at the 2015 European Youth Olympic Festival.[16] [17] He was selected to Finland men's national under-18 ice hockey team for the 2015 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and the 2016 IIHF World U18 Championships, winning a gold medal at the latter.[18] [19]

Personal life

His favourite ice hockey player is Valtteri Filppula, a Finnish former NHL forward. His older brother, Juho, is also an ice hockey player.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2014–15JokeritJr. A3867131020000
2015–16Halifax MooseheadsQMJHL5913334625
2016–17Halifax MooseheadsQMJHL601724413040112
2017–18Halifax MooseheadsQMJHL592855832820110
2017–18Syracuse CrunchAHL30000
2018–19Syracuse CrunchAHL2722410
2018–19Orlando Solar BearsECHL21121224830006
2019–20Syracuse CrunchAHL455131824
2020–21Lahti PelicansLiiga91230
2020–21Syracuse CrunchAHL3212142622
2021–22Syracuse CrunchAHL50518231430000
AHL totals1542447717060000

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2014FinlandU174th63362
2015FinlandIH184th512314
2016FinlandU1871122
Junior totals18561118

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lampinen. Jouni. 25 April 2016. "Unelmien täyttymys, että pojat tulevat mitalit kaulassa kotiin". 5 December 2021. Sipoon Sanomat. fi.
  2. Web site: 12 September 2015. Big debut for Otto Somppi as the Moose pick up one point. 5 December 2021. Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
  3. Web site: 11 September 2015. Game summary: Halifax Mooseheads – Charlottetown Islanders, September 11, 2015. 5 December 2021. Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
  4. Web site: 7 January 2016. Somppi heading to top prospects game. 5 December 2021. Halifax Mooseheads.
  5. Web site: 26 September 2017. Mooseheads name Alternate Captains. 5 December 2021. Halifax Mooseheads.
  6. Web site: Otto Somppi at eliteprospects.com. 2021-12-06. www.eliteprospects.com. en.
  7. Web site: 19 April 2018. Lightning sign forward Otto Somppi to entry-level contract. 5 December 2021. National Hockey League.
  8. Web site: 3 May 2018. Game summary: Syracuse Crunch – Toronto Marlies, May 3, 2018. 5 December 2021. American Hockey League.
  9. Web site: Lahtinen. Miikka. 4 November 2018. Ikävä tilanne! Tampa Bay Lightningin suomalaislupauksen sormi murtui – kausi yhä avaamatta. 5 December 2021. Leijonat. fi.
  10. Web site: 12 December 2018. Game summary: Syracuse Crunch – Toronto Marlies, December 12, 2018. 5 December 2021. American Hockey League.
  11. Web site: 21 September 2020. Lightning's Otto Somppi: Joins Finnish club. 5 December 2021. CBS Sports.
  12. Web site: Degerlund. Toni. 12 January 2021. Otto Somppi palasi takaisin Pohjois-Amerikkaan Lahdesta – Pelicans oli tyytyväinen keskushyökkääjän peleihin vaikka kauden alkua varjosti loukkaantuminen. Otto Somppi returned back to North America from Lahti - Pelicans were happy with the centre's performances even though the start of the season was marred by injury. 5 December 2021. Uusimaa. fi.
  13. Web site: Highsmith. Jordan. 27 July 2021. Lightning sign Otto Somppi to one-year contract. 5 December 2021. WTSP.
  14. Web site: Pulkkinen. Aki-Petteri. 28 July 2021. Hallitseva Stanley Cup -mestari solmi jatkosopimuksen suomalaishyökkääjänsä kanssa. The reigning Stanley Cup champions sign a contract extension with their Finnish forward. 5 December 2021. Iltalehti. fi.
  15. Web site: Center Otto Somppi in blue! . . 6 June 2022 . 6 June 2022 . Finnish.
  16. Web site: 2 November 2014. 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge Game Summary: Finland – Canada White, November 2, 2014. 5 December 2021. Hockey Canada.
  17. Web site: 13 January 2015. Olympiakomitea nimesi joukkueen EYOF-kisoihin. Olympic Committee names team for EYOF. 5 December 2021. Suomi Urheilu. fi.
  18. Web site: Burns. Bryan. 25 June 2016. Lightning select Otto Somppi at No. 206 at NHL Draft. 5 December 2021. National Hockey League.
  19. Web site: Aykroyd. Lucas. 6 May 2021. Reliving the golden goals. 5 December 2021. International Ice Hockey Federation.