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Sat 13 Jun 2026 - 12:00PM

LOWDOWN: THE RETURN OF JAAKKO NISKALA

LOWDOWN: THE RETURN OF JAAKKO NISKALA Top Image

By Jono Bullard

The latest addition to Panthers 2026/27 roster is no stranger to the club as 27-year-old Finnish defenceman Jaakko Niskala returns to the team where he won a Playoff Championship in 2024/25.

The Finn spent the 2025/26 season in the Asia League with Japanese side Nikko Icebucks, playing 43 games, scoring two goals and 13 assists for 15 points overall with 32 penalty minutes and a plus/minus record of +16, helping the team to a third-place finish in the regular season and the semi-finals of the playoffs.

Back in 2024/25, he was the first Panthers defenceman to find the net when he scored the opening goal in a 3-2 overtime victory over Belfast Giants on 23rd November 2024.

Niskala won many plaudits in his previous stint at the Motorpoint Arena for his smooth skating style and defensive ability.

He finished the 2024/25 season having played 63 games in all competitions, scoring three goals and 13 assists with 42 penalty minutes and a plus/minus record of +30.

As already mentioned, he was part of the team that won the playoff title against the Cardiff Devils in April 2025.

It was with his hometown team of Rovaniemen Kiekko that Niskala started his hockey career, coming through their junior ranks.

After a spell in the junior system of Oulun Kärpät, Niskala made his pro debut with Kiekko in the second-tier Finnish Mestis in 2018/19.

The following season he iced in the top-tier Finnish Liiga, playing 10 games for Kärpät and scoring one goal.

Over the next three seasons he continued to play in the Liiga for Kärpät, but was also loaned out to fellow Liiga teams Hämeenlinnan Pallokerho (HPK) and Kalevan Pallo (KalPa).

As well as spells with HPK and KalPa, Niskala had two loan spells with Mestis team Kokkolan Hermes.

He played a total of 103 games in Liiga, scoring seven points ,in addition to 14 games in Mestis, also scoring seven points.

In 2023, Niskala moved away from Finland for the first time, signing for Amiens of the French Ligue Magnus.

He played 50 games in all competitions for the Gothiques, scoring one goal and 16 assists for 17 points overall, along with 21 penalty minutes and a plus/minus rating of +18 as Amiens secured a sixth-place finish.

So it is a warm hello and welcome back to Jaakko Niskala, another excellent addition to Panthers blueline where he joins Joe Hazeldine and Zsombot Garát for the 2026/27 season.