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DALLAS — It’s a long way from Vaasa, Finland, to American Airlines Center, but Emil Hemming can be forgiven if the Dallas Stars arena reminds him a bit of home.

After being chosen as the 29th pick in the 2024 NHL Draft by the Dallas team, the forward prospect, an 18-year-old from Finland, aspires to join the Stars roster and become the newest player from his home country.

Three prominent Dallas players also made their way to North America from Finland — first-line center Roope Hintz and the first defense pair of Esa Lindell and Miro Heiskanen.

Stars general manager Jim Nill expressed his admiration for him during the draft, stating, “We have a genuine fondness for him. His style of play aligns perfectly with ours, making him an ideal addition to our Finnish Mafia. We already have a solid group of players from Finland, and he will fit right in. He possesses excellent skills on both ends of the ice, with a strong focus on shooting. His approach to the game is commendable, as he embodies the right way to play.”

During the previous season, Hemming divided his time between TPS U20 in Finland’s junior league and TPS in Liiga, which is the country’s premier professional league. Upon his promotion, he managed to accumulate a total of 11 points (consisting of seven goals and four assists) in 40 games, ranking ninth among rookie scorers in the league.

In the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship, Hemming showcased his skills by scoring four goals and accumulating six points in five games, making him the leading scorer for Team Finland. Additionally, Hemming also participated in the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, contributing two assists throughout the course of seven games.

Hemming’s one-timer and wrist shot were recognized by the Stars as abilities that could be successfully applied in the NHL.

During Dallas’ development camp earlier this month, Hemming emphasized that one of the key facets of his game is his exceptional ability to shoot from close angles and aim at the defender’s feet. Hemming has dedicated significant practice time both on and off the ice to perfecting this technique. He believes that surprising goalies with these unexpected shots is an effective strategy that he particularly enjoys implementing.

Neil Graham, coach of the American Hockey League’s Texas team and overseer of the Stars development camp, quickly recognized that particular aspect.

Graham praised his exceptional shooting ability, which stands out not only among his peers but also among some of the more experienced players. He acknowledged that the player’s release and instinct for scoring demonstrate that he has effectively honed this skill throughout his years of practice.

He has made a remarkable first impression. Upon his arrival, he has shown pleasantness, friendliness towards his teammates, and attentiveness to all the intricate tasks. It’s quite evident why he was chosen in the draft at that specific position. Watching him closely in the upcoming year will undoubtedly be an enjoyable experience in order to see how everything unfolds.

Hemming’s chance to showcase his skills on North American ice may come sooner than expected. Shortly after the NHL Draft, he was chosen as the 15th pick by Barrie in the Ontario Hockey League import draft. Despite having a year remaining on his contract with TPS, Hemming expressed his willingness to explore opportunities for further development in major junior hockey.

He expressed, “The game here is considerably faster, and the ice surface is notably smaller. Therefore, I believe it would greatly benefit me to adapt to this style of play.”

Getting to know the ice and the pace brings us one step closer to the NHL.