| Jouni Loponen | |
| Position | right defenceman |
| Shot | left |
| Height Weight |
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 178 lb (81 kg) |
| Teams | Spokane Chiefs (WHL) Kärpät Oulu (Jr. A SM-Liiga) JYP Jyväskylä (SM-Liiga) HV 71 (Elitserien) TPS Turku (SM-Liiga) Kärpät Oulu (SM-Liiga) Herning IK (Danish Hockey League) |
| Nationality |  Finnish
|
| Born | July 1st 1971, Oulu, Finland |
| Pro Career | 1994 – 2008 |
Jouni Loponen (b. July 1st 1971 in Oulu, Finland) is a retired professional defenceman.
After playing eight games with the Spokane Chiefs of the WHL in 1988-89, Loponen returned to his home country to play for the junior and B squad of Kärpät Oulu. In 1994-95, Loponen made his pro debuts with JYP Jyväskylä of the SM-Liiga.
After two seasons in Jyväskylä and two others with HV 71 of the Elitserien, Loponen joined TPS Turku in 1998-99. It turned out to be an excellent move, since that's where he enjoyed his best seasons. In 2000-01, he posted a league-high +28, while being named the league's best defenceman and to the all-star team. He was SM-Liiga Player of the Month of March 2001.
Following this stellar season, Loponen returned to HV 71 where he spent 4 seasons. He joined Kärpät Oulu in 2005 and the Herning Blue Foxes in 2007-08. He retired after the season.
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This article is part of the Finnish hockey portal |