Oliwer Kaski

Oliwer Kaski (born 4 September 1995) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for Kölner Haie of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). Before turning professional, Kaski became the first Finnish-born player to play for the Western Michigan Broncos. His father Olli was also a professional ice hockey player for fifteen years, eleven of them with the Liiga's Ässät. He has been part of the Detroit Red Wings and Carolina Hurricanes organizations.

Playing career Kaski played for Western Michigan University for two seasons, becoming the first player born in Finland to play for Western Michigan. In November 2016, his sophomore year at Western Michigan, Kaski signed with HIFK of the Finnish Elite League (Liiga).

During the 2018–19 season, Kaski had a breakout year. He recorded 19 goals and 32 assists in 59 games, leading the Pelicans in scoring. Kaski was awarded the Lasse Oksanen trophy as the league's best player.

On 28 May 2019, Kaski signed as an undrafted free agent to a one-year, entry-level contract with the Detroit Red Wings.

After attending the Red Wings training camp, Kaski was assigned to begin the 2019–20 season with AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins. In his first North American professional season, Kaski contributed with 2 goals and 5 points through 19 games before on 12 December 2019, Kaski was traded by the Red Wings to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Kyle Wood. Kaski found his scoring touch with AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, registering 11 goals in just 35 games from the blueline.

As an impending restricted free agent with the Hurricanes, Kaski opted to leave North America in agreeing to a one-year contract with Russian club Avangard Omsk of the KHL on 18 June 2020.

In March 2022, Kaski left Avangard Omsk during playoffs due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

As a free agent, Kaski moved to Switzerland in the off-season, signing a two-year contract with Swiss club HC Lugano of the National League (NL) on 25 May 2022. In the 2022–23 season, Kaski struggled to adapt with Lugano, registering just 4 assists through 20 games. On 13 December 2022, Kaski opted to leave Switzerland to immediately join HV71 of the SHL on a two-year deal.

After an injury blighted third season with HV71 in 2024–25 resulting in shoulder surgery, Kaski left Sweden as a free agent and was signed to a one-year contract with German club, Kölner Haie of the DEL, on 10 June 2025.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2013–14 Ässät Jr. A 37 10 7 17 10 7 1 1 2 0 2014–15 Ässät Jr. A 48 10 27 37 12 4 0 1 1 0 2015–16 Western Michigan University NCHC 31 4 8 12 4 — — — — — 2016–17 Western Michigan University NCHC 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2016–17 HIFK Liiga 36 2 4 6 0 12 1 1 2 0 2016–17 HIFK Jr. A 3 3 2 5 2 — — — — — 2016–17 Kiekko-Vantaa Mestis 3 0 1 1 2 — — — — — 2017–18 HIFK Liiga 49 9 7 16 10 13 3 4 7 0 2018–19 Lahti Pelicans Liiga 59 19 32 51 10 6 2 2 4 0 2019–20 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 19 2 3 5 12 — — — — — 2019–20 Charlotte Checkers AHL 35 11 9 20 2 — — — — — 2020–21 Avangard Omsk KHL 58 13 21 34 14 24 3 7 10 8 2021–22 Avangard Omsk KHL 47 13 20 33 12 2 0 1 1 0 2022–23 HC Lugano NL 20 0 4 4 2 — — — — — 2022–23 HV71 SHL 20 4 6 10 0 — — — — — 2023–24 HV71 SHL 39 8 12 20 4 — — — — — 2024–25 HV71 SHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —Liiga totals 144 30 43 73 20 31 6 7 13 0KHL totals 105 26 41 67 26 26 3 8 11 8

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2019 Finland WC 10 0 2 2 4 2021 Finland WC 10 0 3 3 2 2024 Finland WC 8th 8 0 5 5 0 Senior totals 28 0 10 10 6

Awards and honours Award Year Liiga Juha Rantasila Trophy 2019 Lasse Oksanen Trophy 2019 KHL Gagarin Cup (Avangard Omsk) 2021