FALCONS ACQUIRE 6-FOOT-7 FORWARD RONI ALANKO IN TRADE WITH COLUMBUS

FRESNO, Calif. — The Fresno Falcons have acquired 6-foot-7 forward Roni Alanko from the Columbus River Dragons in exchange for goaltender Nick Grabko, adding another intriguing combination of size, skill and offensive upside to the Falcons roster ahead of the 2026-27 season.

Alanko, a 21-year-old native of Helsinki, Finland, immediately becomes one of the biggest forwards on Fresno’s roster. Listed at 6-foot-7 and 251 pounds, the left-shot forward can play both wing and center, but his game goes well beyond his physical dimensions.

For Fresno, that combination is what makes the acquisition particularly intriguing.

Alanko has consistently demonstrated an ability to produce offensively while using his frame to create problems for opposing defenses. His reach allows him to protect pucks, extend possessions and operate in areas that are difficult for defenders to take away, while his scoring history shows a player capable of finishing chances and creating offense rather than simply relying on his size.

During the 2024-25 season with the Vernal Oilers, Alanko exploded for 47 goals and 43 assists for 90 points in just 27 USPHL Premier regular-season games. He followed that performance with another 18 points in nine postseason games, helping Vernal capture the USPHL Premier National Championship.

His production also earned him opportunities at the NCDC level. After being called up during the 2024-25 season, Alanko continued his progression with the Grand Junction River Hawks in 2025-26, recording nine goals and 15 assists for 24 points in 18 NCDC games.

Alanko eventually returned to Vernal for another postseason run, and once again produced when the games mattered most.

He recorded eight goals and 13 assists for 21 points in nine playoff games during the Oilers’ 2026 championship run. Vernal went on to capture its second consecutive USPHL Premier National Championship, with Alanko scoring in the championship game as the Oilers defeated the Fresno Monsters, 6-4.

That history gives Fresno a player who already understands what it takes to contribute to championship-level teams.

SIZE THAT COMES WITH SKILL

At 6-foot-7, Alanko naturally brings an element that cannot be taught.

His size creates matchup problems, particularly below the goal line, along the walls and around the front of the net. His reach gives him the ability to maintain possession through contact, while his frame provides the potential to become a major presence in puck battles and net-front situations.

What separates Alanko, however, is the production attached to that size.

Rather than adding size simply for the sake of becoming a bigger hockey team, Fresno adds a forward who has demonstrated legitimate offensive ability. His 47-goal season with Vernal showed his finishing touch, while his assist totals throughout his junior career demonstrate an ability to distribute the puck and create offense for teammates.

Alanko has been described as a power-forward type with both shooting and playmaking ability, giving Fresno another option who can potentially impact a game in several different ways.

For a Falcons roster already being built with a mixture of speed, skill, experience and physicality, Alanko gives the coaching staff another unique piece heading into camp.

COMPETITION HEADING INTO TRAINING CAMP

The acquisition also comes as Fresno continues preparing for what is expected to be a highly competitive inaugural training camp.

The Falcons plan to bring approximately 25 players into training camp, creating competition throughout the lineup before the club determines its opening-night roster.

That approach has been intentional.

Rather than entering camp with every position predetermined, Fresno continues to accumulate players with different skill sets and backgrounds, giving the coaching staff options as it evaluates chemistry, special-teams combinations, positional depth and how each player fits into the overall identity of the team.

Alanko now enters that competition as one of the most physically unique players in camp.

His addition gives Fresno another big body down the middle or on the wing while increasing the competition among a deep forward group. With a 25-man camp planned, every roster spot will have to be earned as the Falcons move toward their October return to Selland Arena.

ANOTHER DIFFERENT ELEMENT FOR FRESNO

As training camp approaches, the Falcons have continued to emphasize versatility throughout their roster.

Alanko represents another example.

He is young, but already owns significant experience playing in Finland, the United States and Sweden. He has played at multiple junior levels, won consecutive championships and produced at a high rate in postseason situations.

And at 6-foot-7 and 251 pounds, there simply are not many players with his combination of dimensions and offensive ability.

The next challenge will be translating those tools to the professional level.

Fresno will get its first opportunity to evaluate that transition during training camp, where Alanko will compete alongside the rest of the Falcons roster for a place on the team that takes the ice when professional hockey officially returns to Fresno this fall.

The Falcons open the 2026-27 season on Friday, October 9, against Oceanside HC at Selland Arena.