Position Goaltender National team Australia Name Aleksi Toivonen Height 1.80 m | Catches Left Website AIHL profile Role Ice hockey player Weight 70 kg | |
Born 12 December 1995 (age 28)
Canberra, ACT, Australia ( 1995-12-12 ) AIHL team
Former teams CBR Brave
HCIK
TuTo Turku Current team CBR Brave (#69 / Goaltender) | ||
Aleksi Toivonen - save vs Melbourne Mustangs 04/06/2015 | CBR Brave
Aleksi Toivonen (born 12 December 1995) is an Australian / Finnish ice hockey player who plays as a Goaltender for the CBR Brave in the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL).
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Club career
Toivonen had an extensive youth career in Finland. Playing through the youth ranks (U16-20) with Finnish Mestis club TuTo Turku.
In his final season with the club, Aleksi was promoted to the senior squad at TuTo in the Mestis league after impressing for the U18 and U20 squads. However, Toivonen failed to make a single appearance for the senior team.
In 2014/15 season Toivonen moved to HCIK in the Finnish third division, Suomi-sarja, as the youngster searched for senior game time. But again Aleksi failed to make an appearance and when an opportunity arose in 2015 for a move to Australia where his father played ice hockey, he jumped at the chance.
During the middle of the 2015 AIHL season, Aleksi Toivonen signed for the CBR Brave as backup goaltender to first choice Josh Unice. He would provide competition along with Stuart Woodall. It was a dream come true for the 19 year old Aleksi to sign for the Brave and trace the footsteps of his father from Finland to Australia.
Shortly after Aleksi’s arrival. The Brave experienced a coaching change that saw the club part company with Brad Hunt and replace him with Josh Unice and Aaron Clayworth. Toivonen was promoted to first choice net minder for the Brave as a result, replacing Josh Unice.
Toivonen played in all ten of the remaining 2015 regular season matches for the Brave, assisting the club in securing seven wins to lead the team to a top four finish and qualification for the AIHL Finals Weekend. Aleksi starred in the semi-final match between the CBR Brave and Newcastle North Stars, ending the match with the second star with 34 saves from 38 shots. However the Brave lost the match 4-3 after giving up a three goal lead. Ending Toivonen’s rookie season with the Brave at the semi-final stage of the Finals weekend.
Personal life
Aleksi Toivonen was born on 12 December 1995 in Canberra, ACT. Despite being borne in Canberra, Akeksi grew up in Finland. Toivonen’s father, Harri, also played ice hockey in Canberra, Australia as he took to the ice for the now defunct Canberra Knights in the mid 1990’s before the AIHL era.