Blackhawks goalie prospect Wouter Peeters joined Tappara in Liiga, Finland’s top division, on a tryout agreement Wednesday.
Peeters, who turns 21 in July, posted a .908 save percentage in eight games for JHT in Suomi-sarja, Finland’s third division, after a three-game stint with the Lincoln Stars in the USHL. The 2016 third-round pick dealt with injuries this past season and finished the 2018-19 campaign playing for Belgium in the Division II World Championship tournament.
The only other goaltender listed on Tappara’s roster is 22-year-old Christian Heljanko, who had a .903 save percentage in 47 Liiga games with the club last season as they finished third in the playoffs.
The Blackhawks hold the rights to the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Peeters until June 2020.
Työnteko jatkuu💪 Pari aika ujoa rankkaria tänään sentterillä😍#Tappara #Tampere #Liiga pic.twitter.com/tk6BsK9xMg
— Tappara Official (@Tapparaofficial) June 12, 2019
Other Chicago prospects in Liiga
The Blackhawks had two Finnish players compete last season in Liiga with HIFK winger Niklas Nordgren (2018 third rounder) and HPK defenseman Roope Laavainen (2017 fourth rounder). Czech-born defenseman Jakub Galvas (2017 fifth rounder) will join Jukurit next season. HPK and Tappara will also compete in next season’s Champions Hockey League.