Sebastian Aho (ice hockey, born 1996) explained

Sebastian Aho
Birth Date:17 February 1996
Birth Place:Umeå, Sweden
Height Ft:5
Height In:11
Weight Lb:177
Position:Defence
Shoots:Left
Team:Pittsburgh Penguins
Former Teams:Skellefteå AIK
New York Islanders
Draft:139th overall
Draft Year:2017
Draft Team:New York Islanders
Career Start:2013

Sebastian Johannes Aho[1] (born 17 February 1996) is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Aho was drafted by the New York Islanders, 139th overall, in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

SHL

Aho played as a youth with IF Björklöven before moving the fellow Swedish club Skellefteå AIK. Aho made his Elitserien debut on the blueline in 1 game with Skellefteå AIK during the 2012–13 season.[2] He was signed to a new four-year contract with the club on Tuesday, 28 May 2013.[3]

After helping Skellefteå AIK claim a second straight championship, Aho was rated amongst the top 10 European skaters for the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.[4] Despite this, Aho was passed over due to his diminutive size and returned to continue with Skellefteå AIK. After his first full SHL season in 2014–15, helping the club return to the finals for the third-consecutive season with 9 points in 41 games, Aho was again rated amongst the top 15 skaters for the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.[5]

New York Islanders

Aho was eventually drafted in his fourth eligible draft as an average prospect by the New York Islanders in the fifth round, 139th overall, of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft on 24 June 2017. He agreed to a three-year entry-level contract with the Islanders on 5 July 2017.[6] Aho was assigned to the Islanders' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers to begin the 2017–18 season after attending training camp.[7] He was recalled to the NHL on 28 December,[8] and played his first NHL game in a 6–1 loss against the Colorado Avalanche on 31 December.[9] He scored his first NHL goal in a 5–4 win over the New Jersey Devils on 7 January 2018.[10]

After attending the Islanders training camp prior to the 2018–19 season, Aho was assigned to the Sound Tigers.[11] On 3 January 2019, Aho and teammate Michael Dal Colle were selected to represent the Sound Tigers at the 2019 AHL All-Star Classic.[12]

Pittsburgh Penguins

Following seven seasons within the Islanders organization, Aho left as a free agent and was signed to a two-year, $1.55 million contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 2, 2024.[13]

Personal life

He is of Finnish descent through his father.[14] Finnish coach Tuomas Tuokkola and Finnish goaltender Pekka Tuokkola are his cousins.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2010–11IF BjörklövenJ182036912
2010–11IF BjörklövenJ18 Allsv70004
2011–12Skellefteå AIKJ1816112132
2011–12Skellefteå AIKJ18 Allsv173251070222
2012–13Skellefteå AIKJ18 Allsv2022030112
2012–13Skellefteå AIKJ2038111121440000
2012–13Skellefteå AIKSEL10000
2013–14Skellefteå AIKJ20277162318
2013–14Skellefteå AIKSHL211452130000
2014–15Skellefteå AIKJ2040224
2014–15Skellefteå AIKSHL4118914131348
2015–16Skellefteå AIKSHL393131612163476
2016–17Skellefteå AIKSHL501020301070220
2017–18Bridgeport Sound TigersAHL409202920
2017–18New York IslandersNHL221346
2018–19Bridgeport Sound TigersAHL67937463650226
2019–20Bridgeport Sound TigersAHL493273018
2020–21New York IslandersNHL31122
2021–22New York IslandersNHL362101210
2022–23New York IslandersNHL71518232260112
2023–24New York IslandersNHL5827912
SHL totals1521545603849491314
NHL totals1901139505260112

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2013SwedenU17604414
2013SwedenWJC185th50004
2013SwedenIH187th20000
2014SwedenWJC184th42028
2015SwedenWJC4th71342
Junior totals24371028

Awards and honors

AwardYear
SHL
Le Mat Trophy champion2014
AHL
All-Star Game2018, 2019, 2020[15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Prewitt. Alex. For the NHL's Two Sebastian Ahos, the Similarities Run Deeper Than Their Name. si.com. Sports Illustrated. 25 February 2018. 21 February 2018.
  2. Web site: Skellefteå AIK. Elite Prospects. 13 May 2013.
  3. Web site: Lindgren. Tobias. Sebastian Aho klar för Skellefteå AIK. Skellefteå AIK. 17 October 2016. sv. 28 May 2013.
  4. News: NHL CSS 2014 International skaters final rankings. NHL.com. 17 October 2016.
  5. News: NHL CSS 2015 International skaters final rankings. NHL.com. 17 October 2016.
  6. Web site: Aho agrees to entry-level deal . . 5 July 2017 . 5 July 2017.
  7. Web site: Islanders Trim Training Camp Roster To 31 . NHL.com . 12 November 2018 . 23 September 2017.
  8. Web site: Islanders place Boychuk on IR, recall Aho from Bridgeport . sportsnet.ca . 12 November 2018 . 28 December 2017.
  9. Web site: Staple. Arthur. Islanders defenseman Sebastian Aho makes his NHL debut vs. Avalanche. newsday.com. 2 January 2017. 31 December 2017.
  10. Web site: The Canadian Press. Nelson lifts Islanders over Devils in shootout. TSN.ca. TSN. 7 January 2018. New York. 7 January 2018.
  11. Web site: Islanders Trim Training Camp Roster . soundtigers.com . 12 November 2018 . 24 September 2018.
  12. Web site: Aho and Dal Colle Selected to 2019 All-Star Classic . NHL.com . 6 March 2019 . 3 January 2019.
  13. Web site: Penguins sign Defenseman Sebastian Aho to a two-year contract . . July 2, 2024 . July 3, 2024 .
  14. Web site: Lahtinen . Miikka . 4 July 2017 . Todella harvinaista! NHL:ssä nähtäneen ensi kaudella peräti kaksi Sebastian Ahoa . 10 February 2019 . Leijonat . fi-FI.
  15. Web site: Bracco, Liljegren added to All-Star roster . . 2020-02-01 . 2020-01-26.