Former national team goalkeeper Joni Ortio signed a good two-month contract with Ässie.
Ice hockey goalie Joni Ortio has signed a contract with Pori Ässie, who play in the SM league, until the end of November. Aces got Ortio, 33, to beat the Swedish keeper Niklas Rubiniawho was injured in the series opener last week.
– We believe that Niklas Rubin will fully recover from his injury and defend at his usual top level for the rest of the season. The league’s match schedule is tight and we needed an experienced top goalkeeper to join our crew. We are extremely satisfied when we got Joni Ortio attached. He brings a lot of international experience to our team, Ässie’s sports director Janne Vuorinen commented in the announcement.
The previous employer of Orti, who played 18 A national matches in his career, is the Swedish main league club HV71, whose goal the Finnish keeper saved the last two seasons. Previously, he has also played in the NHL, KHL and the Swiss League. In Finland, Ortio last played league hockey for HIFK in the 2012–13 season.
According to Ässi’s press release, Ortio will be seen in the Pori club’s lineup for the first time in the weekend’s matches.