Olli Määttä | |||
---|---|---|---|
Määttä with the Pittsburgh Penguins
|
|||
Born |
Jyväskylä, Finland |
22 August 1994 ||
Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | ||
Weight | 206 lb (93 kg; 14 st 10 lb) | ||
Position | Defenseman | ||
Shoots | Left | ||
NHL team | Pittsburgh Penguins | ||
National team | Finland | ||
NHL Draft | 22nd overall, 2012 Pittsburgh Penguins |
||
Playing career | 2009–present |
Medal record | ||
---|---|---|
Ice hockey | ||
Representing Finland | ||
Winter Olympics | ||
2014 Sochi |
Olli Määttä (born 22 August 1994) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Penguins in the first round, 22nd overall, in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
Määttä was the first overall selection in the 2011 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft, and played for the Finnish junior team at the 2011 IIHF World U18 Championships and the 2011, 2012 and 2013 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. Known for his shot-blocking ability and hockey IQ, Määttä was named to Finland's roster for the 2014 Winter Olympics as a 19-year-old.
Määttä began his junior career playing for his home-town team's under-16 program. As a 14-year-old, he played one game for JYP U16 in the Jr. C SM-sarja classification. The next year, 2009–10, Määttä scored 19 points in seven games to help the JYP U16 squad to a 4–2–2 record in the qualifiers, enough to avoid relegation. Once the full season started, Määttä was named an assistant captain and played at a point-per-game pace, finishing the season with 22 points in 21 games (including nine goals), third for team scoring and first among defencemen. Määttä's play was strong enough for him to receive a two-game call-up to JYP's under-18 team in the Jr. B division. Määttä then played one game playing for JYP's under-20 team in their relegation round, helping save the team from dropping out of the Jr. A SM-Liiga. Amongst all the recognition, Määttä also found himself on Finland's national under-16 team, posting 13 points in 13 games.