Juuso Riksman
Encyclopedia
Juuso Riksman is a Finnish professional ice hockey
goaltender.
Riksman played junior hockey in the HIFK
organization, but started his pro career with Hermes of Kokkola
, then in the 1st division. After a visit to Kiruna
in the Swedish
1st division, Riksman returned to HIFK. When Tom Draper
was hired as HIFK's starting goaltender, Riksman signed with MoDo Hockey
in Sweden, and after two seasons in Sweden, a year in Italy
with Alleghe HC and one season with Ilves
, he led Ässät
to a silver medal in 2006 and won the Urpo Ylönen trophy
as the league's best goaltender. Subsequently Riksman was signed by Jokerit
to a two-year contract.
signed Riksman to a contract. He was later sent to the Blues' AHL
affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen
. Riksman appeared in his first and only professional game in North America on November 10th against the Rockford IceHogs
, allowing two goals in only eight minutes of play. He was then pulled and replaced by Marek Schwarz
.
After Peoria's loss to San Antonio on November 17th, Riksman announced that he had quit the team and was returning to Finland, leading to a suspension by Rivermen general manager Kevin McDonald. Since the announcement, Riksman signed first with Färjestad in Swedish Elite League, then Jaroslavl in the Russian Super League before returning to Finland, and Jokerit, Helsinki.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
goaltender.
Riksman played junior hockey in the HIFK
HIFK (ice hockey)
HIFK is an ice hockey team based in Helsinki, Finland. The team plays at Helsinki Ice Hall. It was founded in 1897...
organization, but started his pro career with Hermes of Kokkola
Kokkola
Kokkola is a town and municipality of Finland.The town is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Ostrobothnia region. The town has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is...
, then in the 1st division. After a visit to Kiruna
Kiruna
Kiruna is the northernmost city in Sweden, situated in Lapland province, with 18,154 inhabitants in 2005. It is the seat of Kiruna Municipality Kiruna (Northern Sami: Giron, Finnish: Kiiruna) is the northernmost city in Sweden, situated in Lapland province, with 18,154 inhabitants in 2005. It is...
in the Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
1st division, Riksman returned to HIFK. When Tom Draper
Tom Draper
Thomas Edward Draper is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He was chosen in the eighth round, 165th overall,and the 8th pick by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. On February 28, 1991 the Jets traded Tom to the St. Louis Blues for future considerations...
was hired as HIFK's starting goaltender, Riksman signed with MoDo Hockey
MODO Hockey
Modo Hockey is a professional ice hockey club in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. The club plays in Sweden's premier ice hockey league, the Elitserien. They were founded in 1921 and have won two Elitserien championships; in 1979 and 2007. The team's home arena is the Fjällräven Center since 2006...
in Sweden, and after two seasons in Sweden, a year in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
with Alleghe HC and one season with Ilves
Ilves
Ilves is a Finnish sports club nowadays mostly known for their youth work. The ice hockey team plays in the SM-liiga at the Tampereen jäähalli in Hakametsä...
, he led Ässät
Ässät
Ässät is an ice hockey team in the Finnish elite league, SM-liiga. They play in Pori, Finland at the Porin jäähalli.-Team history:...
to a silver medal in 2006 and won the Urpo Ylönen trophy
Urpo Ylönen trophy
The Urpo Ylönen trophy is an ice hockey award given by the Finnish SM-liiga to the best goalie of the season.Trophy winners:1977-78: Antero Kivelä 1978-79: Jorma Valtonen 1979-80: Jorma Valtonen 1980-81: Hannu Kamppuri...
as the league's best goaltender. Subsequently Riksman was signed by Jokerit
Jokerit
Jokerit is an ice-hockey team from Helsinki, Finland, playing in the Finnish Elite League, SM-liiga. The team has won 6 league championships...
to a two-year contract.
Suspension
In June 2007, the St. Louis Blues of the NHLNational Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
signed Riksman to a contract. He was later sent to the Blues' AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen
Peoria Rivermen
The Peoria Rivermen are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Peoria, Illinois, USA at the Carver Arena.-History:...
. Riksman appeared in his first and only professional game in North America on November 10th against the Rockford IceHogs
Rockford IceHogs
This article is about the former UHL franchise. For the current American Hockey League franchise, see Rockford IceHogs.The Rockford IceHogs were a professional ice hockey team in Rockford, Illinois USA. They were a member of the United Hockey League from 1999 to 2007. The IceHogs played their home...
, allowing two goals in only eight minutes of play. He was then pulled and replaced by Marek Schwarz
Marek Schwarz
Marek Schwarz is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the TPS of the SM-liiga.-Playing career:...
.
After Peoria's loss to San Antonio on November 17th, Riksman announced that he had quit the team and was returning to Finland, leading to a suspension by Rivermen general manager Kevin McDonald. Since the announcement, Riksman signed first with Färjestad in Swedish Elite League, then Jaroslavl in the Russian Super League before returning to Finland, and Jokerit, Helsinki.
Awards
- SM-liiga silver medal with Ässät in 2006
- Urpo Ylönen trophyUrpo Ylönen trophyThe Urpo Ylönen trophy is an ice hockey award given by the Finnish SM-liiga to the best goalie of the season.Trophy winners:1977-78: Antero Kivelä 1978-79: Jorma Valtonen 1979-80: Jorma Valtonen 1980-81: Hannu Kamppuri...
for best goaltender in the SM-liiga in 2006 and 2009 - SM-liiga silver medal with JokeritJokeritJokerit is an ice-hockey team from Helsinki, Finland, playing in the Finnish Elite League, SM-liiga. The team has won 6 league championships...
in 2007 - Kultainen kypäräKultainen kypäräKultainen kypärä is an ice hockey award given to the best player in the Finnish SM-liiga. It is the most appreciated of the awards, as it is voted for by the players. It has been awarded since 1987....
-award for best player in the SM-liiga, 2009 - SM-liiga gold medal with HIFKHIFK (ice hockey)HIFK is an ice hockey team based in Helsinki, Finland. The team plays at Helsinki Ice Hall. It was founded in 1897...
in 2011