Finnish Maple League kicks off
the Maple League kicks off its 2022 season with seven teams vying for the title that the Kuopio Steelers have won for the past two seasons.
Perennial title contenders, the Helsinki Roosters head the list of challengers followed by the Porvoon Butchers, Seinäjoki Crocodiles, Helsinki Wolverines, United Newland Crusaders and the newcomers to the Maple Leaguethe Kotka Eagles.
Kuopio Steelers – (2021: 9-1 – Finnish Champions)
Head Coach: Pekka Utriainen
Quarterback (returning): Joey Bradley (University of New Haven, NCAA Div II),
Key roster additions: LB Cody Leonard (Quincy University, NCAA Div II), DB Iiro Pekkarinen, DB/WR Tino Ndongo
Key returning players: RB Le’Anthony Reasnover (Eureka, NCAA Div III), DL Ikeem Allen, OL Elmeri Saastamoinen
Helsinki Roosters – (2021: 7-3 – Finished 2nd)
Head Coach: Juha Hakala
Quarterback (new): Bryce Stancombe (University of Indianapolis, NCAA Div II)
Key roster additions: DL Kaleb Wezdenko (Grand View University, NAIA), WR Aymeric Nicault, (French national team), OL Niilo Ojansivu, (Finnish national team player).
Key returning players: OT Samuli Vehkomaki, WR Johannes Jauhiain, DT Christer Berg
Porvoon Butchers – (2021: 5-4 – Finished 3rd)
Head coach: Richard Bachand
Quarterback (returning): Brandon Gwinner (Morrisville State, NCAA DIII)
Key roster additions: RB Dante Edwards (Leeds Beckett University, Benedictine College, NAIA), Dana Plantt, OL Asovaara twins
Key returning players: Timi Nuikka, Jussi Mäkelä, and Väinö Pääkkönen
Seinäjoki Crocodiles – (2021 record: 4-5 – Finished 4th)
Head Coach: Andy Bezaire
Quarterback (new): Zachary Whitehead (King’s College, NCAA Div III)
Key roster additions: Akseli Syrjanen DB Jyvaskyla Jaguaarit, WR Anttoni Lampivuo, Aleksi Hirvonen RB Jyvaskyla Jaguaarit
Key returning players: DL Filip Zacok, LB Juhani Koivumaki, DB Heikki Toivola
Helsinki Wolverines – (2021 record: 3-5, Finished 5th)
Head coach: Michael Mattingly
Quarterback (new/returning): Jabari Harris
Key roster additions: Martin Emos, WR RJ Long, DL Ville Valasti
Key returning players: Curtis Slater, Eric Irvin, Jonathan El Ouacef
United Newland Crusaders – (2021 record: 2-6 Finished 6th)
Head coach: Tuomas Heikkinen
Quarterbacks: Shay Netter (Ohio University, Eastern Kentucky, NCAA Div. I)
Key roster additions: WR Miles Corpening, Mikko Rajala, Matias Castagno
Key returning players: WR Nolan Corpening, Cedric Johnson, Teemu Rehmonen
Kotka Eagles – (2021 record: DNP. Won promotion from Div. 1)
Head coach: Charlie Ovey
Quarterbacks: Chris Forcier (Furman University, NCAA Div. I)
Key roster additions: WR Peter Anderson, (Colorado Mesa College, NCAA Div II), DL Jamarcus Henderson (Newberry College, NCAA Div II), OL Eemil Raudas, Joonas Santala, Marnol Raudver.
Key returning players: Niko Hannula, Roy Kamppi, and Waltteri Puustinen