Pekka Rautakallio
Encyclopedia
Pekka Rautakallio is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey
defenceman
who played three seasons in the National Hockey League
for the Atlanta Flames
and Calgary Flames
.
in 1970. As a skilled and mobile defenceman, Rautakallio was soon noticed and he played on his first International tournament in 1972.
Rautakallio played twice on the World Championships before he was acquired by WHA
team Phoenix Roadrunners
.
Rautakallio returned to Finland after the 1976–1977 WHA season.
During the two seasons, Rautakallio was selected twice as the best defenceman in SM-liiga and he started to establish a good reputation in Finland as a good defenceman.
in 1979 and quickly made his mark. As a skilled but tough defenceman, Rautakallio fitted well to the North American style of hockey.
In 1982, Rautakallio was selected to the NHL All-Star game as the first ever Finnish player but after the season Rautakallio decided to return to Finland.
, instead of Ässät and served for a while as the captain of HIFK.
Rautakallio retired from playing in 1987.
Rautakallio has served twice as Head Coach, in both occasions he has been the Head Coach for SM-liiga team Blues
. His first term came during the 1998–99 SM-liiga season, when he was replaced mid-season by Hannu Saintula. Rautakallios second term came when he was the replacement for Hannu Virta
, who was sacked during the 2004–05 SM-liiga season. On the 21st of April 2011, it was announced that Rautakallio is the new head coach for the KHL team Dinamo Riga
.
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...
defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
who played three seasons in the National Hockey League
National 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...
for the Atlanta Flames
Atlanta Flames
The Atlanta Flames were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA from 1972 to 1980. The team, a member of the National Hockey League , was relocated to Calgary, Alberta, Canada for the start of the 1980–81 NHL season and were re-named the Calgary Flames. The NHL returned to the...
and Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
.
Early years
Pekka Rautakallio started his ice hockey career in local club of his hometown, ÄssätÄssät
Ässät is an ice hockey team in the Finnish elite league, SM-liiga. They play in Pori, Finland at the Porin jäähalli.-Team history:...
in 1970. As a skilled and mobile defenceman, Rautakallio was soon noticed and he played on his first International tournament in 1972.
Rautakallio played twice on the World Championships before he was acquired by WHA
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
team Phoenix Roadrunners
Phoenix Roadrunners (WHA)
The Phoenix Roadrunners were a team in the now defunct World Hockey Association from 1974 to 1977. They played at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, Arizona...
.
WHA
Rautakallio played in the WHA for two seasons and scored on his first season a total of 50 points in 73 games during the regular season.Rautakallio returned to Finland after the 1976–1977 WHA season.
Brief Homecoming
Rautakallio's return to Finland lasted for two seasons.During the two seasons, Rautakallio was selected twice as the best defenceman in SM-liiga and he started to establish a good reputation in Finland as a good defenceman.
NHL
Rautakallio moved to 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...
in 1979 and quickly made his mark. As a skilled but tough defenceman, Rautakallio fitted well to the North American style of hockey.
In 1982, Rautakallio was selected to the NHL All-Star game as the first ever Finnish player but after the season Rautakallio decided to return to Finland.
Return to Finland
After his NHL career, Pekka Rautakallio stayed as one of the top players of his time. Rautakallio returned to play for 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...
, instead of Ässät and served for a while as the captain of HIFK.
Rautakallio retired from playing in 1987.
Coaching career
After his playing career, Rautakallio started out as Coach.Rautakallio has served twice as Head Coach, in both occasions he has been the Head Coach for SM-liiga team Blues
Espoo Blues
The Blues are an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga. They play in Espoo, Finland at the Barona Areena.-Team history:The club was established in February 1984 as Kiekko-Espoo and played their first season in 1984-1985 in the Finnish Second Division...
. His first term came during the 1998–99 SM-liiga season, when he was replaced mid-season by Hannu Saintula. Rautakallios second term came when he was the replacement for Hannu Virta
Hannu Virta
Hannu Virta is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman. He was named the best defenceman in the Finnish Elite League four times, and was a five-time all-star...
, who was sacked during the 2004–05 SM-liiga season. On the 21st of April 2011, it was announced that Rautakallio is the new head coach for the KHL team Dinamo Riga
Dinamo Riga
Dinamo Riga was an ice hockey club, based in Riga, Latvia. It was founded in 1946 and disestablished in 1995 as Pārdaugava Rīga.-History of Dinamo Riga:...
.
External links
- Pekka Rautakallio on nhlfinns.com