Who Is Sami Valimaki’s Fierce NHL Cousin? Meet Juuso Valimaki the Dynamic Defenceman

Sami Valimaki earned his chance to play Stateside last season. Thanks to a late playoff victory at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters last October, the Finnish International moved up to the fifth spot in the Race to Dubai Rankings. That got him the PGA Tour card, tying his future to the other side of the pond. 

He, however, was following in the footsteps of a family member who had moved stateside a few years ago. His cousin, Juuso Valimaki, shows the chops not on the Bermuda grass but rather on the hockey rink. As Sami Valimaki took the second-round lead in the Mexico Open, here is what we know about his NHL star cousin.

Juuso Valimaki has earned his place among Coyotes fans’ hearts

Valimaki was first drafted 16th overall in 2017 for the Calgary Flames. Valimaki played there for three seasons before moving to his current team, the Arizona Coyotes. In his three-year stint with the Flames, the Finnish international scored three goals and netted 11 assists. 

The Tampere native was signed by the Coyotes on a two-year contract for a reported fee of $1.55 million. His best season, too, came in 2022, in his first year in the Arizona desert. In his 78 outings, the defenseman scored four goals and bagged a whopping 30 assists. 

Currently, Valimaki has 8 assists and 7 goals so far this season from his 42 appearances. Last November, the 25-year-old had to go through mouth surgery after taking a puck to the mouth during their match against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Notably, the Coyotes signed a one-year contract extension with Valimaki last year for a reported fee of $1 million. 

Now that both cousins play on Stateside, do they get to see each other much? Not very often. But the PGA Tour Pro’s presence at the WM Phoenix Open offered a rare opportunity for a get-together. 

Sami Valimaki played with his cousin

When Sami Valimaki finally landed in Arizona, Jusso was joyous. Speaking to the Hockey News, he said, “It’s really cool, He’s playing, kind of got in last minute, but it’s awesome. I’ve seen him the last couple of days and overall it’s cool, him getting the PGA card… He is here for a little bit now and for me and for him it’s been awesome to spend some time…” They even played a few rounds together as well.

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What did he feel about his game? The Coyote defenseman had a rather unusual take. Adding further, the 25-year-old said, “

It’s remarkable how easy the game looks when you look through a professional’s eyes, Yeah, it’s crazy, but I guess that’s how it’s supposed to be. They’ll probably watch us on the hockey rink and say it looks easy. So I guess that’s how it’s supposed to be, but yeah, it’s pretty crazy to see him up close and play with him.” Sami Valimaki tied for the 41st spot in the WM Phoenix Open.Read More: Mystery Illness Strikes the PGA Tour Yet Again; Mexico Open Witnesses 3 Abrupt WDs Mere Days After Riviera Scare