European trained players in Major Junior before 1989

[nutbar]

Bjørn Skaare - Ottawa 67's 1977-78
Anssi Melametsä - Peterborough Petes 1978-79
Esa Tikkanen - Regina Pats 1981-82
Philippe Bozon - St. Jean Castors 1984-87
Tony Hand - Victoria Cougars 1986-87


Any others??

Click to read more...

 

[nutbar]

Found two more:

Veli-Pekka Kinnunen - Peterborough Petes 1978-79
Jari Korpisalo - Granby Bisons 1985-86

 

[iamjs]

Petr Nedved just misses the cutoff, skating with the Seattle T-birds in 1989-90

 

[JimmyChan9191]

Does Hand really count? He played four games in major junior.

 

[crobro]

Olaf kolzig new westminster bruins?

 

[Sanf]

I have list of 26 Finnish players before 1989.

Esa Tikkanen (only 2 games) is by far the most succesful. Anssi Melametsä was the only other to play in NHL.

Players that represented Finland in WHCs
Esa Tikkanen 81-82 Regina Pats (Oilers 83 #80)
Anssi Melametsä 78-79 Peterborough Petes (Captain in 84 olympics) (Jets 85 #249)
Ari Vuori 81-82 Belleville Bulls/Niagara Falls Flyers
Jari Korpisalo 85-86 Granby Bisons
Heikki Leime 79-80 Montreal Juniors (Sabres 81 #143)

Ones who had more or less notable careers (mostly latter) in Finland/Europe. Some has only few games in NA.
Jari Viitala 76-77 New Westminster Bruins (Rockies 78 #190
Jali Wahlsten 81-82 Montreal Juniors (North Stars 81 #41)
Kari Kanervo 81-82 Montreal Juniors (North Stars 81 #160)
Joni Lehto 88-90 Ottawa 67´s (Islanders 90 #111)
Petri Matikainen 85-87 Oshawa Generals (Sabres 85 #140)
Timo Lehkonen 84-85 Toronto Marlboros (Blackhawks 84 #90)
Mauri Eivola 81-82 Niagara Falls Flyers (Sabres 81 #101)
Jari Lingren 76-77 New Westminster Bruins
Tero Käpynen 76-77 New Wesminster Bruins
Jouni Rokama 81-82 Niagara Falls Flyers
Jouni Loponen 88-89 Spokane Flyers
Veli-Pekka Kinnunen 78-79 Peterborough Petes
Petteri Kanerva 79-80 New Westminster Bruins
Jarmo Vuorinen 80-81 Montreal Juniors
Kari Heikkilä 78-82 Calgary Wranglers/Victoria Cougars

 

[Canadiens1958]

Juha Widing

Finnish born, played in Sweden, then Brandon - junior, pre 1969 formation of the CHL:

http://www.hockey-reference.com/players/w/widinju01.html

 

[Theokritos]

Juha Widing (Sweden) came over in 1964 to play for the Brandon Wheat Kings.

EDIT: Beaten, see above.

Olaf kolzig new westminster bruins?

Not European-trained at all.

 

[nutbar]

Thank you, I had no idea that many Finns came over

 

[nutbar]

Not European-trained at all.

Yes, raised in BC, I believe, but not a Canadian citizen (which is why he couldn't represent Canada at the 1990 WJC).

 

[Sanf]

Thank you, I had no idea that many Finns came over

The first trio (Viitala,Lindgren,Käpynen) got their few game tryout in WHL by first coming to play to Bellingham Blazers in 76-77 (BJCHL). Team had Finnish owner and he brought 11 players and a coach from Finland. Most of them played only one season in North America and Viitala was the only who got drafted later. Though Erkki Lehtonen made succeful career in Finland and is in our "Hall of Fame".

 

[nutbar]

I found another one, Robert Oberrauch from Italy played for Kamloops, Moose Jaw and Seattle in 1985-86.

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=184436&lang=en

 

[Sanf]

Going further back there was Josef Straka and Vladimir Kostka with Ottawa 67s (OHA) in 69-70. They were there with special permission for one year. Mostly they played with junior "B" team. Kostka was only 16 and played (hockeydb) one game. Straka played (hockeydb) 28 with 0+2.. Kostka had nice career after that and represented CSSR once in WHC´s, but from Straka I don´t know anything after that.

Small article about them joining the team.
The Montreal Gazette - Sep 18, 1969
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hJcuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mqEFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2742%2C4518377

edit. But I have to admit that I´m not sure how OHA was counted back then...
edit2. Meaning that I don´t know much about the definitions prior forming CHL... I know that they played Memorial Cup and so on.

 

[Theokritos]

Going further back there was Josef Straka and Vladimir Kostka with Ottawa 67s (OHA) in 69-70. They were there with special permission for one year. Mostly they played with junior "B" team. Kostka was only 16 and played (hockeydb) one game. Straka played (hockeydb) 28 with 0+2.. Kostka had nice career after that and represented CSSR once in WHC´s, but from Straka I don´t know anything after that.

Small article about them joining the team.
The Montreal Gazette - Sep 18, 1969
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hJcuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mqEFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2742%2C4518377

Nice. The article mistakenly says Karel Straka instead of Josef. The father of the other guy was no other than Vladimír Kostka senior who coached the Czechoslovak national team. As for Straka, I don't know anything either - except that he seems to have played for Slavia Prague (tier II) in 1971-72 and then for Litvínov (tier I) in 72-73 and 73-74. Link.

Also interesting that they came over in 1969. Just like Jaroslav Jiřík. Seems the Czechoslovak hockey federation was in the mood for some North American experiments that year.

 

[LeBlondeDemon10]

Nice. The article mistakenly says Karel Straka instead of Josef. The father of the other guy was no other than Vladimír Kostka senior who coached the Czechoslovak national team. As for Straka, I don't know anything either - except that he seems to have played for Slavia Prague (tier II) in 1971-72 and then for Litvínov (tier I) in 72-73 and 73-74. Link.

Also interesting that they came over in 1969. Just like Jaroslav Jiřík. Seems the Czechoslovak hockey federation was in the mood for some North American experiments that year.

It was also the year after the Czech revolution which saw mass emigration after Soviet invasion. So they may have been part of that movement.

 

[Theokritos]

It was also the year after the Czech revolution which saw mass emigration after Soviet invasion. So they may have been part of that movement.

Don't think so. All three of them went with approval of the authorities and all three of them returned home not too long afterwards.

 

[nutbar]

I have list of 26 Finnish players before 1989.

Esa Tikkanen (only 2 games) is by far the most succesful. Anssi Melametsä was the only other to play in NHL.

Players that represented Finland in WHCs
Esa Tikkanen 81-82 Regina Pats (Oilers 83 #80)
Anssi Melametsä 78-79 Peterborough Petes (Captain in 84 olympics) (Jets 85 #249)
Ari Vuori 81-82 Belleville Bulls/Niagara Falls Flyers
Jari Korpisalo 85-86 Granby Bisons
Heikki Leime 79-80 Montreal Juniors (Sabres 81 #143)

Ones who had more or less notable careers (mostly latter) in Finland/Europe. Some has only few games in NA.
Jari Viitala 76-77 New Westminster Bruins (Rockies 78 #190
Jali Wahlsten 81-82 Montreal Juniors (North Stars 81 #41)
Kari Kanervo 81-82 Montreal Juniors (North Stars 81 #160)
Joni Lehto 88-90 Ottawa 67´s (Islanders 90 #111)
Petri Matikainen 85-87 Oshawa Generals (Sabres 85 #140)
Timo Lehkonen 84-85 Toronto Marlboros (Blackhawks 84 #90)
Mauri Eivola 81-82 Niagara Falls Flyers (Sabres 81 #101)
Jari Lingren 76-77 New Westminster Bruins
Tero Käpynen 76-77 New Wesminster Bruins
Jouni Rokama 81-82 Niagara Falls Flyers
Jouni Loponen 88-89 Spokane Flyers
Veli-Pekka Kinnunen 78-79 Peterborough Petes
Petteri Kanerva 79-80 New Westminster Bruins
Jarmo Vuorinen 80-81 Montreal Juniors
Kari Heikkilä 78-82 Calgary Wranglers/Victoria Cougars

Found another Finn: Kimmo Lahtinen 1978-81 Regina Pats, Great Falls Americans, Spokane Flyers

 

[Sanf]

Yep. I listed those who had few seasons in Finland/Europe top tier leagues. There are probably ~10 that I didn´t list. Kimmo Lahtinen actually mixed some rough stuff to his hockey. ~350 pims in ~80 games. Not a real enforcer but still not that common for European at the time.

The Spokesman-Review - Oct 20, 1980

He started playing in the WHL after participating with a Finnish team in tournament in Seatlle two years ago.

Lahtinen said he prefers hockey in North America rather than in Finland.

"Hockey is rougher here than in Finland. I like to play rough. I´m not a fighter but if I have to I´ll fight" he said.

 

[Sanf]

Here are rest of the Finns that I have on the list. There are suprisingly many of them overall, but not many of them played there long enough that it could be said that it´s significant. Also in 70´s and 80´s military service was bigger obstacle than today for leaving abroad at young age.

Mika Pynnönen 84-85 Laval Voisins
Mikko Auranen 88-89 Hull Olmpiques/Verdun Junior Canadiens
Mika Soimakallio 88-90 Chicoutimi Saqueneens
Kimmo Lahtinen 78-81 Regina Pats, Great Falls Americans, Spokane Chiefs
Lasse Lindberg 81-82 Niagara Falls Flyers
Jari Helle 78-79 and 80-81 Regina Pats
Pertti Lehvilä 78-79 Calgary Wranglers
Sampsa Jakonen 86-87 Calgary Wranglers
Mika Hämäläinen 85-86 Victoria Cougars
Juha Mäkinen 78-79 Calgary Wranglers (Likely Finnish but not 100% sure)

 

[decma]

Yes, raised in BC, I believe, but not a Canadian citizen (which is why he couldn't represent Canada at the 1990 WJC).

Kolzig was raised in Dartmouth, N.S., and moved to Washington for major junior (Dartmouth for midget hockey).

 

[crobro]

Kolzig I thought was from Vancouver island somewhere between qualicum beach and Courtney ?

 

[crobro]

Kolzig I thought was from Vancouver island somewhere between qualicum beach and Courtney ?

Also wasn't kolzig biill ranfords back up with the new west bruins

 

[Killion]

Kolzig I thought was from Vancouver island somewhere between qualicum beach and Courtney ?

Born in S.Africa to German parents, the family moved to Canada when he was very young living in Toronto briefly & Halifax.

Also wasn't kolzig biill ranfords back up with the new west bruins

I think they missed each other there by a couple of years or more. Kolzig was one of 3 Goalies for New Westminster & wound up with the Tri-City Americans.

 

[Terry Yake]

Kolzig I thought was from Vancouver island somewhere between qualicum beach and Courtney ?

from what i've heard his family moved around quite a bit when they first moved to canada but he lived in union bay, BC as a teenager

 

[nutbar]

from what i've heard his family moved around quite a bit when they first moved to canada but he lived in union bay, BC as a teenager

Also he played for the Abbotsford Falcons of the BCJHL.