Jesse Nurmi records a point in his first OHL game after leaving NY Islanders training camp

Jesse Nurmi record his first point in North America

2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft - Rounds 2-7
2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft - Rounds 2-7 / Bruce Bennett/GettyImages

It wasn't a long training camp for Jesse Nurmi with the NY Islanders, as the 19-year-old didn't participate in rookie camp, joining the team with the regulars.

Nurmi didn't play in any of the Islanders' four preseason games and was sent back to the London Knights before last nights matchup with the NJ Devils.

Nurmi rejoined the Knights last night, not even needing to cross the border into Canada as he played in the Knights Friday night matchup against the Flint Firebirds.

The defending OHL champion Knights dropped their first game of the season, 7-4, but Nurmi recorded his first-ever point in North America.

The goal came in garbage time as the Knights trailed by four goals with under two minutes remaining as they received a power play opportunity. Nurmi corralled the puck behind the Firebirds' net, spinning to his backhand where he threw a puck toward the top of the crease for Winnipeg Jets' prospect Jacob Julien to slam it home.

Nurmi was a fourth round pick of the Islanders in 2023, playing his entire life in Finland before joining the OHL this season.

"I was thinking about the place [London] and think that's the best place for junior hockey in the world," Nurmi said at Islanders training camp. "Just how many guys they have put into the NHL from there, and just a great organization."

Playing in the OHL instead of Finland should allow Nurmi to become more familiar with the smalller ice and physicality of the North American game.

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