SUNDAY FEATURE: Järventie Begins Adjustment To Pro Hockey In North America

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BELLEVILLE, ONT - Since the franchise's inaugural season in 2017-18, the Belleville Senators have had a rookie skater top the team in scoring. A first-year American Hockey League (AHL) forward has led the club in scoring for the last four years. This distinguished group includes the likes of Filip Chalpik, Drake Batherson, Josh Norris, and most recently, Egor Sokolov.

Head coach Troy Mann is well aware of this trend and does not mind giving his top offensive newcomers the ice time needed to generate good offensive totals.

"At the end of the day, our prospects and draft picks are going to drive the engine of this bus for us [if we are] to have any success this season, if we're going to make a push for the playoffs come April," the Senators' bench boss said.

Will a rookie pro lead the AHL Senators in points for the fifth year in a row? More to the point, who could accomplish this feat?

Now you can queue Roby Järventie.

Mann believes the 6-foot-3, 198-pound left-winger has the potential and skill to finish atop most of Belleville's offensive statistical categories this season. The coaching staff has so much faith in the 19-year-old from Tampere, Finland they started him on the team's top power play with the likes of four-time AHL all-star Andrew Agozzino, Egor Sokolov, Pontus Aberg and Erik Brannstrom.

"He's a skilled guy that's able to put the puck in the back of the net at important times. That's what those types of guys do, even if they're not on their A-game. They're able to be difference makers on the score-sheet." Mann continued, "Let's not forget he just turned 19-years-old in August. He might be the youngest player to play in the AHL this year. He's going to play in the NHL at some point, but obviously, we're looking forward to big things from him. [He is] another guy that's going to be a huge contributor offensively for us to have success."

Järventie is confident as well but wants to work on his game and conditioning to improve continuously.

"We have a good coaching staff here, and they are giving me good tips," the highly regarded prospect said. "I have a lot to learn about our systems, Ben Sexton (assistant coach) shows me video [footage] every day, and I'm learning from that. I need to get more strength and work on a little bit of everything. I'll get to play here a lot, improve my game and know the North American style. That's the biggest point."

Järventie, who Ottawa selected with the first pick of the 2nd round (33rd overall) in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, was able to appear in four games with the B-Sens in May, collecting three points (two goals) after finishing an entire season in the SM-liiga with Ilves Tampere.

While Järventie is focused on what he needs to learn, Mann believes his latest protégé will become a dominant offensive force within the Ottawa organization.

"It's just a matter of time before the points start to come for him."

He tallied his first point of 2021-22, a primary assist on a power play goal by Lassi Thompson, in Belleville's second game of the season on home ice against Laval Saturday night - perhaps a sign of things to come.

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