Played For: | Lahti Pelicans JYP Jyväskylä Luleå HF HIFK ERC Ingolstadt Schwenninger Wild Wings Lukko |
Position: | Right wing |
Birth Date: | 21 October 1987 |
Birth Place: | Valkeala, Finland |
Height Ft: | 6 |
Height In: | 3 |
Weight Lb: | 209 |
Shoots: | Right |
Draft: | 177th overall |
Draft Year: | 2007 |
Career Start: | 2006 |
Career End: | 2020 |
Vili Sopanen (born October 21, 1987) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player. He last played for Lukko in the Liiga. He was drafted by the New Jersey Devils, 177th overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Sopanen has previously played in the top tier Finnish Liiga with Lahti Pelicans, JYP Jyväskylä and HIFK.[1]
On June 11, 2018, Sopanen left his native Finland for the second time through his 12-year professional career, agreeing to a one-year deal with German outfit, ERC Ingolstadt of the DEL.[2] During the 2018–19 season, Sopanen played in 14 games with Ingolstadt before transferring to Schwenninger Wild Wings. Sopanen played a further 17 games for 7 points in the DEL before leaving to return to his native Finland, agreeing to an optional three-year deal with Lukko of the Liiga on February 3, 2019.[3]