Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (born 9 March 1999) is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL) Luukkonen has formerly played for HPK of the Liiga and for LeKi of Mestis. After playing for HPK's U20 team, he was drafted by the Sabres, 54th overall, in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. On 12 April 2019, Luukkonen signed an amateur tryout contract with the Rochester Americans, the AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. On 14 April 2019, Luukkonen made his professional hockey debut with Rochester, earning a victory in a 4–2 win over the Belleville Senators. Luukkonen played for Finland in the U18 and U20 World Junior Championships. He won a gold medal at the U18 World Juniors in 2016, stepping in as starter when Leevi Laakso got sick and the silver medal in 2017. He won the gold again at the 2019 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in a 3–2 victory over Team USA and was named the media's pick for best goaltender of the tournament On July 24, 2024 he signed a five year deal with Buffalo.