Toni Rajala
Encyclopedia
Toni Rajala is a Finnish
professional ice hockey
forward
currently playing for Ilves
of the SM-liiga
. He was drafted 101st overall by the Edmonton Oilers
in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft
, and on July 16, 2009, the Oilers signed Rajala to an entry-level contract.
On July 16, 2009, Rajala signed a two-way contract with the Edmonton Oilers
.
Rajala was selected in the first round of the 2009 CHL Import Draft (14th overall) by the Brandon Wheat Kings
of the Western Hockey League
(WHL). He joined the Wheat Kings for the 2009-10 WHL season.
, recording 5 points in 6 games as Finland placed sixth. The next year, he was named to Finland's under-20 team for the 2009 World Junior Championships
in Ottawa
, Canada
, and managed 3 points in 6 games; Finland finished in seventh place. Later that year, in April 2009, Rajala competed for Finland at the 2009 IIHF World U18 Championships
in the United States
. He led the tournament in scoring with 10 goals and 9 assists and broke the previous point record held by Alexander Ovechkin
. Rajala was selected as the best forward in the tournament, and was named to the tournament All-Star Team, helping Finland to a bronze medal. Rajala also represented Finland at the 2010 World Junior Championships
which were held in Saskatchewan
, Canada
.
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...
professional ice hockey
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
Forward (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, a forward is a player position on the ice whose primary responsibility is to score goals. Generally, the forwards try to stay in three different lanes, also known as thirds, of the ice going from goal to goal. It is not mandatory however, to stay in a lane. Staying in a lane aids in...
currently playing for Ilves
Ilves
Ilves is a Finnish sports club nowadays mostly known for their youth work. The ice hockey team plays in the SM-liiga at the Tampereen jäähalli in Hakametsä...
of the 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...
. He was drafted 101st overall 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 2009 NHL Entry Draft
2009 NHL Entry Draft
The 2009 NHL Entry Draft was the 47th Entry Draft. It was held on June 26–27, 2009 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. The Draft was part of the Montreal Canadiens centennial celebrations. National Hockey League teams took turns selecting amateur ice hockey players from junior, collegiate, or...
, and on July 16, 2009, the Oilers signed Rajala to an entry-level contract.
Playing career
Rajala began playing junior hockey with the Ilves Tampere system in 2005–06. By 2007–08, he had worked his way up to the Junior A level of the SM-Liiga, tallying 35 points in 33 games. Rajala turned pro with Ilves Tampere in 2008–09, tallying 5 points in 21 games during his professional rookie season in the SM-Liiga.On July 16, 2009, Rajala signed a two-way contract with 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 ....
.
Rajala was selected in the first round of the 2009 CHL Import Draft (14th overall) by the Brandon Wheat Kings
Brandon Wheat Kings
The Brandon Wheat Kings are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Brandon, Manitoba. They compete in the Western Hockey League, and joined the league in the 1967–68 season. Prior to that they played in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League and were known as the Brandon Elks for a short time in the...
of the Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
(WHL). He joined the Wheat Kings for the 2009-10 WHL season.
International play
Rajala debuted internationally for Finland at the 2008 IIHF World U18 Championships2008 IIHF World U18 Championships
The 2008 IIHF World U18 Championships were held in Kazan, Russia. The championships began on April 13, 2008 and finished on April 24, 2008. Games were played at TatNeft Arena and Arena Kazan in Kazan...
, recording 5 points in 6 games as Finland placed sixth. The next year, he was named to Finland's under-20 team for the 2009 World Junior Championships
2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
- Group B :ScheduleAll times local - Relegation round :The results from matches between teams from the same group in the preliminary round are carried forward to this round.-Schedule:...
in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and managed 3 points in 6 games; Finland finished in seventh place. Later that year, in April 2009, Rajala competed for Finland at the 2009 IIHF World U18 Championships
2009 IIHF World U18 Championships
- Group B :-Relegation round:-Results:Note: The following matches from the preliminary round carry forward to the relegation round:*April 10, 2009: 5-2 *April 14, 2009: 8–3 -Final round:-Quarterfinals:-Semifinals:-Fifth place game:...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He led the tournament in scoring with 10 goals and 9 assists and broke the previous point record held by Alexander Ovechkin
Alexander Ovechkin
Alexander Mikhaylovich Ovechkin is a Russian professional ice hockey left winger and captain of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League...
. Rajala was selected as the best forward in the tournament, and was named to the tournament All-Star Team, helping Finland to a bronze medal. Rajala also represented Finland at the 2010 World Junior Championships
2010 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The 2010 IIHF World U20 Championship, commonly referred to as the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championships , was the 34th edition of World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. The tournament was hosted in Saskatoon and Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, from December 26, 2009 to January 5, 2010...
which were held in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Awards
- Won an IIHF U18IIHF World U18 ChampionshipsThe IIHF World U18 Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-18 ice hockey teams from around the world. The tournament is usually played in April and is organized according to a system similar to Ice Hockey World Championships and World...
bronze medal with Finland in 20092009 IIHF World U18 Championships- Group B :-Relegation round:-Results:Note: The following matches from the preliminary round carry forward to the relegation round:*April 10, 2009: 5-2 *April 14, 2009: 8–3 -Final round:-Quarterfinals:-Semifinals:-Fifth place game:... - Named IIHF U18 Best Forward in 2009
- Named to the IIHF U18 All-Star Team in 2009
- George Parsons TrophyGeorge Parsons TrophyThe George Parsons Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged to be the most sportsmanlike at the Memorial Cup ice hockey tournament. It was first awarded in 1973. The trophy is named for George Parsons, a former OHA and NHL player whose career was ended prematurely in 1939 by an eye...
for most sportsmanlike play at the Memorial CupMemorial CupThe Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
(2010)