HELSINKI, FINLAND – HIFK, Helsinki, has announced that it has reached an agreement with forward Janne Pesonen. Pesonen, 29, played in the KHL for Ak Bars Kazan last season and was a member of the Finnish World Championship team.

Pesonen joins HIFK after he failed to claim a place on the Winnipeg Jets roster. Pesonen signed a professional try out contract with the Jets in the summer and was released from his contract at the end of the pre-season. Pesonen was also a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins organisation in 2008-2009 when he played seven games with the Penguins NHL roster without registering a point. In the AHL, Pesonen scored 32 goals and 50 assists for 80 points in 70 games.

Pesonen broke into the SM-Liiga with Oulun Karpat in the 2003-2004 season. During his five full seasons with the Karpat side, Pesonen became known as a natural goal scorer. His career high season came in 2007-2008 when he scored 34 goals and 78 points in 58 games.

Pesonen brings a powerful addition to the HIFK forward lines, that already boasts names like Ville Peltonen, Mikael Granlund, HIFK Icon Kimmo Kuhta and Eero Somervuori.

Pesonen’s contract will cover the remainder of the 2011-2012 season. He will not be ready to play for HIFK in tonight’s match against Ilves.