The Fife Flyers Ice Hockey Club are delighted to announce the signing of Finnish defenceman Joona Vainio for the 2026/27 Elite Ice Hockey League season, subject to the completion of all necessary clearances.

The 28-year-old arrives in Fife following an extensive professional career in Finland, most recently with Mestis side Hermes, where he served as captain, bringing leadership, reliability and a strong presence to the team

Prior to captaining Hermes, Vainio wore an alternate captain’s ‘A’ with both Kiekko-Vantaa and FPS between 2022 and 2025, underlining his reputation as a respected leader on and off the ice.

Born in Hämeenlinna, Finland, Vainio progressed through the HPK development system before establishing himself as a dependable presence in Finland’s professional ranks.

Speaking on the signing, Head Coach Tim Wallace said “Joona is a strong defenceman who plays a heavy game. He skates well, plays hard, and has the skill to chip in offensively.”

“When Joona is at his best, he is hard to play against. He wins his battles, makes good decisions with the puck, and has the tools to be a really effective defenceman for us. I’m excited to work with him and see where his game can go.”

Please join us in welcoming Joona to Fife!