| Veli-Pekka Ketola |
| Veli-Pekka Ketola Center Left-Handed Shot Height: 6' 1", Weight: 238 pounds Born: 3.28.48 Pori, Finalnd |
| How he arrived: Signed as a free agent from Assat Pori (FNL), 7.8.81 How he left: Signed as a free agent with KaiPo Puopio (FNL) after the 81-82 season |
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| Regular Season Statistics with the Franchise Stats in bold signifies team leader. |
Ketola was probably the greatest Finnish player of his generation. He saw a lot of success domestically, both personal and team.
The Rockies wasn't his first go in North America. He played 4 seasons in the WHA, 3 of them with the Winnipeg Jets, winning
the Avco World Trophy with them in 1976.
A common criticism about Ketola was one commonly said about European players: that he had the size to play longer in North
America, specifically the NHL, as the WHA was the more finesse league of the two North American leagues back then, but
didn't use it to his advantage.
Which is why he only played 44 NHL games in his career. He didn't wanna change his style.
He would later coach the Pori team that he played for for all those years before in the mid-90s. He later became their GM,
holding that job until 2000.
The Finnish answer to the Art Ross Trophy is named after Ketola. Himself, Saku Koivu, and former Devil Janne Ojanen has
been amongst the winners of that.
The Rockies wasn't his first go in North America. He played 4 seasons in the WHA, 3 of them with the Winnipeg Jets, winning
the Avco World Trophy with them in 1976.
A common criticism about Ketola was one commonly said about European players: that he had the size to play longer in North
America, specifically the NHL, as the WHA was the more finesse league of the two North American leagues back then, but
didn't use it to his advantage.
Which is why he only played 44 NHL games in his career. He didn't wanna change his style.
He would later coach the Pori team that he played for for all those years before in the mid-90s. He later became their GM,
holding that job until 2000.
The Finnish answer to the Art Ross Trophy is named after Ketola. Himself, Saku Koivu, and former Devil Janne Ojanen has
been amongst the winners of that.
| Entry Draft: None |
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