Luukkonen is Bellevue University/ECHL Alumnus of the Month

Action photo of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen of the Buffalo Sabres

Former Cincinnati Cyclones’ goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen of the Buffalo Sabres is the Bellevue University ECHL Alumnus of the Month for January.

The 23-year-old was named National Hockey League Rookie of the Month for January after going 6-2-1 in nine appearances with a 3.05 goals-against average and a save percentage of .907. He made at least 30 saves in five of his nine appearances, including a 39-save victory over Minnesota on Jan. 7.

A second-round selection (54th overall) of the Sabres in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Luukkonen appeared in 23 games for the Cyclones during the 2019-20 season posting a record of 12-7-3 with three shutouts and finishing third in the ECHL with a 2.24 goals-against average and 10th with a .912 save percentage. He represented Cincinnati at the 2020 ECHL All-Star Classic in Wichita.

Luukkonen has appeared in 34 career NHL games with Buffalo with an overall record of 16-14-4 with a 3.22 goals-against average and a save percentage of .905.

There have been 734 players who have played in the NHL after playing in the ECHL including seven who have made their debut in 2022-23. The ECHL has had 542 players reach the NHL since 2002-03 when it changed its focus to become the primary developmental league for the NHL and the AHL. The ECHL had 97 players reach the NHL in its first 10 seasons and 215 in the first 15 years. There have been 478 ECHL players who have played their first game in the last 18 seasons for an average of more than 26 per year.