Reijo Ruotsalainen

Reijo Ruotsalainen (born on April 1st 1960 with Oulu in Finland) is a former player of professional Hockey which evolved/moved in the National league of hockey for the Rangers of New York, the Oilers d' Edmonton and the Devils of the New Jersey.

Career

Player with the small gauge, Ruotsalainen was especially recognized for his striking down speed. The former trainer of Rangers Herb Brooks did not hesitate to say of him that he was the best skater of the LNH at his time. He gained twice the Coupe Stanley with Oilers, in 1987 and 1990.

He began his career in the LNH while being chosen with Rangers during the Repêchage of entry in the LNH 1980 in sixth round (119e choice). He played then for the Kärpät Oulu in the championship of Finland (Sm-liiga), championship which he gained with his club in 1981. After its North-American career, it signed with the CP Bern and gained twice the title of champion of Switzerland in 1991 and 1992.

To the international plan, it carried 122 times the shirt of the team of Finland, in particular gaining the money medal to the Winter Olympics of 1988 with Calgary.

Today, Ruotsalainen is trainer-chief of the Jukurit Mikkeli of the Mestis (the second Finnish division).

Personal honors

It twice gains (1981 and 1982) the Trophée Pekka Rautakallio as better a defender of Sm-liiga.

See too

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