Sampo Ranta (born 31 May 2000) is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward currently playing with Modo Hockey of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). He played college ice hockey at Minnesota.

Sampo Ranta
Born (2000-05-31) 31 May 2000 (age 23)
Naantali, Finland
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position Left wing
Shoots Left
SHL team
Former teams
Modo Hockey
Colorado Avalanche
NHL Draft 78th overall, 2018
Colorado Avalanche
Playing career 2021–present

Playing career edit

Collegiate edit

Ranta began his collegiate career for the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the 2018–19 season. During his junior year in the 2020–21 season, Ranta recorded 19 goals and 12 assists in 31 games for the Gophers. Following an outstanding season, he was named to the All-Big Ten First Team and named an AHCA First Team All-American. He finished his career at Minnesota with 37 goals and 30 assists in 102 games.[1][2]

Professional edit

On 3 April 2021, Ranta signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Colorado Avalanche.[3] He made his professional debut for the Colorado Eagles on 10 April 2021. He recorded his first professional goal in his second game on 14 April 2021. He recorded four goals and three assists in 14 AHL games. He was called up by the Avalanche during the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs.[4] He made his NHL debut during Game 1 of Colorado's second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights.[5]

Following the conclusion of his entry-level contract with the Avalanche, Ranta as an impending restricted free agent opted to halt his North American career by agreeing to a two-year contract with newly promoted Swedish club, Modo Hockey of the SHL, on 25 May 2023.[6]

International play edit

Medal record
Representing   Finland
Ice hockey
World U18 Championships
  2018 Russia

Ranta represented Finland at the 2018 IIHF World U18 Championships where he recorded one goal and one assist in seven games and won a gold medal. He represented Finland at the 2020 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[7]

Career statistics edit

Regular season and playoffs edit

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2016–17 Sioux City Musketeers USHL 30 6 3 9 4 1 0 0 0 0
2017–18 Sioux City Musketeers USHL 53 23 14 37 24
2018–19 University of Minnesota B1G 36 6 10 16 29
2019–20 University of Minnesota B1G 35 12 8 20 10
2020–21 University of Minnesota B1G 31 19 12 31 10
2020–21 Colorado Eagles AHL 14 4 3 7 0 2 1 1 2 0
2020–21 Colorado Avalanche NHL 2 0 0 0 0
2021–22 Colorado Avalanche NHL 10 0 0 0 2
2021–22 Colorado Eagles AHL 38 7 7 14 27 5 0 0 0 4
2022–23 Colorado Eagles AHL 58 11 11 22 22 5 0 0 0 2
2022–23 Colorado Avalanche NHL 6 0 0 0 4
2023–24 Modo Hockey SHL 50 17 14 31 10
NHL totals 16 0 0 0 6 2 0 0 0 0
SHL totals 50 17 14 31 10

International edit

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2018 Finland U18   7 1 1 2 4
2020 Finland WJC 4th 7 0 2 2 14
Junior totals 14 1 3 4 18

Awards and honors edit

Award Year
College
All-Big Ten First Team 2021 [2]
AHCA West First Team All-American 2021 [1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Boston College, Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin lead way with three All-American college hockey players apiece for '20-21 season". USCHO.com. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Hockey Postseason Honors Announced". Big Ten. 16 March 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  3. ^ "Avalanche Signs Sampo Ranta". NHL.com. 3 April 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  4. ^ Ardebili, Niki (10 September 2021). "Rookie Rewind: Sampo Ranta". NHL.com. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  5. ^ "Ranta to Make NHL Debut in Stanley Cup Playoffs". gophersports.com. 30 May 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  6. ^ "Sampo Ranta new forward in Modo!" (in Swedish). Modo Hockey. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  7. ^ "Ranta Set for World Junior Championship". gophersports.com. 26 December 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2021.

External links edit