ECHL: Matias Rajaniemi Heads Back Home

Originally posted on Inside The Rink
By Armand Klisivitch | Last updated Sep 29, 2025 10:35 AM ET

Worcester Railers defenseman Matias Rajaniemi is heading home to Finland to join HIFK (Liiga) after one season in North America. Rajaniemi, 23, spent last season in the New York Islanders organization after being drafted by the Islanders in the sixth round of the 2020 NHL Draft. Despite being on an AHL deal with the Bridgeport Islanders, Rajaniemi spent the majority of last season in the ECHL with the Worcester Railers. In 61 games with Worcester, he put up five goals and five assists for 10 points. Three of his ten points came in the final five games of the season. He played four games at the AHL level at the end of January before being reassigned to the Railers. Rajaniemi becomes the seventh player from the Railers who took the overseas route after the 2024-25 season. ‘

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The Finnish defenseman spent parts of his first five professional seasons playing in Liiga. He spent parts of his first four seasons with the Pelicans, where he put up four goals and six assists for 20 points in 122 games. In three playoff games with the Pelicans, he put up a goal. The 6’4 defenseman also spent his junior days in the Pelicans organization. Before coming to North America, he spent parts of two seasons with SiaPa, putting up 10 assists in 78 games. Rajaniemi won two medals with Finland at the U20 World Junior Championships, taking Bronze in 2021 and Silver in 2022. Over the course of the two tournaments, he had one assist in 12 games.

This article first appeared on Inside The Rink and was syndicated with permission.

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