Raimo Summanen
Encyclopedia
Raimo Olavi Summanen is a former professional ice hockey
forward and also a former coach of the Finnish
national team. He was selected by the Edmonton Oilers
in the sixth round of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft
, 125th overall, and spent his NHL career with Edmonton and the Vancouver Canucks
. His last position was the Head Coach of Avangard Omsk
of the Kontinental Hockey League
(KHL).
In 1984 Summanen, who was born in Jyväskylä
, joined the Edmonton Oilers from Europe at the end of the regular season. He played 2 regular season games, and 5 playoff games. Summanen has a 1984 Stanley Cup ring, and is part of Edmonton Oilers first Stanley Cup winning picture. His name was left off the cup, because he did not officially qualify.
Summanen also played extensively in Finland
, both before and after his NHL
days, and in the American Hockey League
. He played on Team Finland
when they won their first Ice Hockey World Championships
gold medal in 1995
.
Summanen coached the Finnish National Team to a 2nd place finish in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey
. However, his reported abrasiveness with players and management led to his dismissal. Even during Finland's successful World Cup performance, defenceman Janne Niinimaa
left the team after "conflicts with the coaching staff." He also had a testy relationship with the national team's manager, Timo Jutila
.
In 2010, Summanen succeeded Igor Nikitin as the head coach of Avangard Omsk
, a leading KHL
side. The team went from strength to strength and ended up as the top team of the regular season (largely due to an impressive 18-game winning streak lasting from December to February). However, some players were reportedly unhappy with Summanen's abrasive coaching methods. He was relieved of his coaching duties before game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, which the team went on to lose. The club cited health issues as an official explanation. However, according to anonymous sources within the team, the real reason behind it was a major conflict with the players. There were reports that Summanen even tried to challenge Avangard's star Jaromír Jágr
to a fight.
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...
forward and also a former coach of the Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
national team. He was selected by the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
in the sixth round of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft
1982 NHL Entry Draft
The 1982 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. The National Hockey League teams selected 252 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1981–82 NHL season and playoff standings. This is the list of those players...
, 125th overall, and spent his NHL career with Edmonton and the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
. His last position was the Head Coach of Avangard Omsk
Avangard Omsk
Avangard Omsk are a professional ice hockey team from Siberia based in the city of Omsk, Russia. They are members of the Chernyshev Division of the Kontinental Hockey League.-Overview:...
of the Kontinental Hockey League
Kontinental Hockey League
The Kontinental Hockey League is an international professional ice hockey league in Eurasia founded in 2008. As of 2009, it is ranked as the strongest hockey league in Europe....
(KHL).
In 1984 Summanen, who was born in Jyväskylä
Jyväskylä
Jyväskylä is the capital of Central Finland and the largest city on the Finnish Lakeland, north-east of Tampere and north of Helsinki, on northern coast of lake Päijänne. The city has been continuously one of the most rapidly growing cities in Finland since World War II. The city is surrounded...
, joined the Edmonton Oilers from Europe at the end of the regular season. He played 2 regular season games, and 5 playoff games. Summanen has a 1984 Stanley Cup ring, and is part of Edmonton Oilers first Stanley Cup winning picture. His name was left off the cup, because he did not officially qualify.
Summanen also played extensively in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, both before and after his NHL
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...
days, and in the American Hockey League
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...
. He played on Team Finland
Finnish national men's ice hockey team
The Finnish men's national ice hockey team, or Leijonat / Lejonen , as it is called in Finland, is governed by the Finnish Ice Hockey Association...
when they won their first Ice Hockey World Championships
Ice Hockey World Championships
The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...
gold medal in 1995
1995 in sports
1995 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Alberto Tomba, Italy** Women's overall season champion: Vreni Schneider, Switzerland-American football:...
.
Summanen coached the Finnish National Team to a 2nd place finish in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey
2004 World Cup of Hockey
The 2004 World Cup of Hockey was an international ice hockey tournament. It was the second installment of the National Hockey League -sanctioned competition eight years after the inaugural 1996 World Cup of Hockey. It was held from August 30 to September 14, 2004, and took place in various venues...
. However, his reported abrasiveness with players and management led to his dismissal. Even during Finland's successful World Cup performance, defenceman Janne Niinimaa
Janne Niinimaa
Janne Niinimaa is a professional ice hockey defenceman who has played over 700 games in the NHL. He was selected in the second round of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft, 36th overall, by the Philadelphia Flyers...
left the team after "conflicts with the coaching staff." He also had a testy relationship with the national team's manager, Timo Jutila
Timo Jutila
Timo Juhani Jutila is a retired Finnish ice hockey defenceman.Jutila was drafted by Buffalo Sabres in 1982 NHL Entry Draft.-Playing career:...
.
In 2010, Summanen succeeded Igor Nikitin as the head coach of Avangard Omsk
Avangard Omsk
Avangard Omsk are a professional ice hockey team from Siberia based in the city of Omsk, Russia. They are members of the Chernyshev Division of the Kontinental Hockey League.-Overview:...
, a leading KHL
Kontinental Hockey League
The Kontinental Hockey League is an international professional ice hockey league in Eurasia founded in 2008. As of 2009, it is ranked as the strongest hockey league in Europe....
side. The team went from strength to strength and ended up as the top team of the regular season (largely due to an impressive 18-game winning streak lasting from December to February). However, some players were reportedly unhappy with Summanen's abrasive coaching methods. He was relieved of his coaching duties before game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, which the team went on to lose. The club cited health issues as an official explanation. However, according to anonymous sources within the team, the real reason behind it was a major conflict with the players. There were reports that Summanen even tried to challenge Avangard's star Jaromír Jágr
Jaromir Jagr
Jaromír Jágr is a Czech professional ice hockey right winger who plays for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League . Jágr formerly played with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, and New York Rangers, serving as captain of the Penguins and the Rangers...
to a fight.
Awards
- Veli-Pekka Ketola trophyVeli-Pekka Ketola trophyThe Veli-Pekka Ketola trophy is an ice hockey trophy awarded by the Finnish SM-liiga to the player who scores the most points during regular season play.To date, Steve Kariya and Martin Kariya are the only two brothers to win the title.Trophy winners:...
for most points scored in the SM-liiga regular season - 1989 and 1990 - Kalevi Numminen trophyKalevi Numminen trophyThe Kalevi Numminen trophy is an ice hockey award given by the Finnish SM-liiga to the best coach of the season. In 2008 it was awarded to Petri Matikainen of Blues.Trophy Winners:1977-78: Kari Mäkinen 1978-79: Veli-Pekka Roiha...
for best coach in the SM-liiga - 2002
Transactions
- March 10, 1987 - Edmonton trades Summanen to Vancouver in exchange for Moe LemayMoe LemayMaurice Lemay is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 317 games in the National Hockey League. He played for the Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, Boston Bruins and Winnipeg Jets...