El Paso goalie Lehti makes NCAA DI commitment

The El Paso Rhinos of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) are pleased to announce that goaltender Lassi Lehti has committed to play NCAA Division I hockey for the University of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks.

Lehti, 20, is in his first season playing in the NAHL and second season of playing junior hockey. The 6’4/210 lbs. native of Espoo, Finland, has a save percentage of .920, a goals against average of 2.89, and 10 wins so far during the 2021-22 season.

“Lassi is a tremendous competitor, and a tireless worker, who is going to make an immediate impact on the Nanooks program. In addition to his strong play in the crease, he brings the leadership and mindset that every coach seeks in a starting goaltender. We are so excited to watch Lassi and his success in the future with UAF,” Rhino Goaltending Coach Ed Fritz said.

Playing independently, the UAF hockey program competes against teams across the country including the University of Minnesota, Arizona State University, the University of Denver, and Cornell University. Last Saturday, the Nanooks claimed a 3-0 win when they shut out the University of Vermont.

Lehti now joins teammates Matt Johnson (University of Alaska-Anchorage), Jan Olenginski (St. Lawrence University), and Jacob Zacharewicz (Brown University) in becoming college 2022-23 commits.

Click here for an updated NAHL to NCAA commitment list