Joel Kiviranta
A Finnish forward whose clutch playoff goals for Dallas cemented his place in modern NHL lore.
Born 1996 (age 30)·Finnish ice hockey player·Birthday: March 23·Millennials
Biography
Joel Kiviranta's journey from undrafted free agent to playoff hero reads like a hockey fairy tale. The Joensuu native honed his craft in Finland's Liiga with HPK and the national team before catching the eye of Dallas Stars scouts. His North American arrival in 2019 was quiet, but his impact was seismic during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs in the Edmonton bubble. Thrust into the lineup due to injury, Kiviranta displayed a scorer's touch that belied his rookie status. While his regular-season contributions have been steady, it is that single, unforgettable playoff run that defines his early career—a testament to seizing the moment when the spotlight finds you. Kiviranta represents the heart of the modern NHL's depth, where any player on any night can become the headline.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Joel was born in 1996, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Joel Was Born
The biggest hits of 1996
#1 Movie
Independence Day
Best Picture
The English Patient
#1 TV Show
ER
Joel's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1996Born
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2001Started school
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2009Became a teenager
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Could drive
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2014Could vote
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Turned 21
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Turned 30
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored a hat trick, including the series-clinching overtime goal, in Game 7 of the 2020 Second Round against the Colorado Avalanche.
- Won a silver medal with Team Finland at the 2021 IIHF World Championship.
- Played a key role in the Dallas Stars' run to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final.
- Recorded his first NHL point with an assist in his debut game against the Detroit Red Wings in 2019.
Did You Know?
He was signed by Dallas as an undrafted free agent after attending the team's development camp on a tryout basis.
His Game 7 hat-trick against Colorado made him the first rookie in NHL history to score a series-clinching OT goal in a Game 7.
Kiviranta's first language is Finnish, but he is also fluent in English and Swedish.
He wears jersey number 25 in honor of his childhood idol, Finnish NHL player Jere Lehtinen.
“You have to be ready when the chance comes, even if you wait a long time.”
