Kaapo Kakko’s incredible season has been rewarded with the Jarmo Wasama memorial trophy for rookie of the year. It’s the 2nd straight year, a TPS player wins the award after Petrus Palmu in 2018. The now 18 year old Kakko broke the single season record for goals by an u18 player with 22, 1 more than Sasha Barkov in 2012-13.
Aleksi Heponiemi was another candidate for the award but his post season struggles likely cost him the award. Kakko has a busy schedule ahead of him. On June 12th, his team TPS will honor their 2 World Champions Mikko Lehtonen and Kaapo Kakko.