Hannu Virta
Encyclopedia
Hannu Virta is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey
defenceman
. He was named the best defenceman in the Finnish Elite League (SM-liiga)
four times, and was a five-time all-star. He also won the Jarmo Wasama memorial trophy
as rookie of the year in 1981-82.
in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft
. He played 245 National Hockey League
games with the Sabres over five seasons, scoring 25 goals and adding 101 assists. He also appeared in 17 playoff games with Buffalo, scoring one goal and tallying three assists.
He returned to the SM-liiga in Finland in 1986, where he played for TPS Turku
until 1994, as well as in 1996-97. He helped his team win the league championship three consecutive years beginning in 1988-89. In 461 league games, he scored 68 goals and 213 assists for 281 points. He also played in Switzerland, in the Swiss B League with the GCK Lions
from 1994 to 1996 and in the Swiss A League with the ZSC Lions
in 1997-98.
Internationally, Virta won a bronze medal at the Under-20 World Junior Championships in 1982. As an adult, he won a bronze medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics
playing for Finland's national ice hockey team
. He played at seven IIHF World Championships, winning gold in 1995 and silver in 1994, and leading the tournament in assists in 1996. He also played in the 1987 Canada Cup
and 1996 World Cup of Hockey
.
Virta's number 23 was retired by TPS Turku
.
from 2003–04, and as of 2008, he coaches for his old team TPS., on 12 January 2009 signs a contract as Head Coach from Hockey Club Lugano
.
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...
. He was named the best defenceman in the Finnish Elite League (SM-liiga)
SM-liiga
The SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice...
four times, and was a five-time all-star. He also won the Jarmo Wasama memorial trophy
Jarmo Wasama memorial trophy
The Jarmo Wasama memorial trophy is an ice hockey award given by the Finnish SM-liiga to the best rookie of the season. The trophy is named in honor of Jarmo Wasama, a young Finnish defenseman who was killed in an automobile accident in 1966Trophy Winners:...
as rookie of the year in 1981-82.
Career
Virta was drafted in the second round, 38th overall, by the Buffalo SabresBuffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft
1981 NHL Entry Draft
The 1981 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. The National Hockey League teams selected 211 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1980–81 NHL season and playoff standings. This is the list of those players...
. He played 245 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...
games with the Sabres over five seasons, scoring 25 goals and adding 101 assists. He also appeared in 17 playoff games with Buffalo, scoring one goal and tallying three assists.
He returned to the SM-liiga in Finland in 1986, where he played for TPS Turku
TPS (ice hockey)
TPS or Turun Palloseura is an ice hockey team and 11-time champion of SM-liiga. They play in Turku, Finland at the HK Arena. In terms of championships, TPS is the most successful team in SM-liiga history.-Team history:...
until 1994, as well as in 1996-97. He helped his team win the league championship three consecutive years beginning in 1988-89. In 461 league games, he scored 68 goals and 213 assists for 281 points. He also played in Switzerland, in the Swiss B League with the GCK Lions
GCK Lions
GCK Lions is a Swiss professional ice hockey team founded in 1932. They are currently in the National League B, Switzerland's second tier ice hockey division. The home arena is Eishalle Küsnacht . The team has won one Swiss Championships, in 1966, as well as two championships in the Swiss second...
from 1994 to 1996 and in the Swiss A League with the ZSC Lions
ZSC Lions
The Zürcher Schlittschuh Club Lions are a professional ice hockey team located in Zürich, Switzerland, playing in the National League A. The home arena, the 10,700 seat Hallenstadion, is in the Zürich district of Oerlikon...
in 1997-98.
Internationally, Virta won a bronze medal at the Under-20 World Junior Championships in 1982. As an adult, he won a bronze medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics
1994 Winter Olympics
The 1994 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 12 to 27 February 1994 in and around Lillehammer, Norway. Lillehammer failed to win the bid for the 1992 event. Lillehammer was awarded the games in 1988, after having beat...
playing for Finland's national ice hockey team
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...
. He played at seven IIHF World Championships, winning gold in 1995 and silver in 1994, and leading the tournament in assists in 1996. He also played in the 1987 Canada Cup
1987 Canada Cup
The 1987 Canada Cup was a professional international ice hockey tournament held from August 28 to September 15, 1987. The finals took place in Montreal on September 11 and Hamilton, Ontario, on September 13 and September 15, and were won by Team Canada....
and 1996 World Cup of Hockey
1996 World Cup of Hockey
The first World Cup of Hockey , or 1996 World Cup of Hockey, replaced the Canada Cup as one of the premier championships for professional ice hockey ....
.
Virta's number 23 was retired by TPS Turku
TPS (ice hockey)
TPS or Turun Palloseura is an ice hockey team and 11-time champion of SM-liiga. They play in Turku, Finland at the HK Arena. In terms of championships, TPS is the most successful team in SM-liiga history.-Team history:...
.
Coaching career
He coached in the SM-liiga with the Espoo BluesEspoo 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...
from 2003–04, and as of 2008, he coaches for his old team TPS., on 12 January 2009 signs a contract as Head Coach from Hockey Club Lugano
Hockey Club Lugano
Hockey Club Lugano, often abbreviated to HC Lugano or HCL, is a professional ice hockey club based in Lugano, Switzerland. The team competes in the National League A and has won seven Swiss championships. The team is the twelfth most attended team in Switzerland for the 2010/11 season with 4,060...
.