Hannu Virta

Hannu Markus Virta (born March 22, 1963 in Turku, Finland) 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.[1]

Hannu Virta
Born (1963-03-22) March 22, 1963
Turku, FIN
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for SM-liiga
TPS
NHL
Buffalo Sabres
Nationalliga A
ZSC Lions
Nationalliga B
Grasshopper Zürich
National team  Finland
NHL Draft 38th overall, 1981
Buffalo Sabres
Playing career 19811998
Medal record
Representing  Finland
Men's ice hockey
World Junior Championships
1982 Canada & USA
World Championships
1995 Sweden
1994 Italy
Winter Olympics
1994 Lillehammer

Career

Virta was drafted in the second round, 38th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres 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.[2]

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.[2]

Virta's number 23 was retired by TPS Turku.

Coaching career

He coached in the SM-liiga with the Espoo Blues from 2003–04, and as of 2008, he coaches for his old team TPS.,[3] on 12 January 2009 signs a contract as Head Coach from Hockey Club Lugano.[4]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1978–79 TPS FIN U18 22 1 9 10 6
1979–80 TPS FIN U20 26 13 8 21 6 5 2 3 5 0
1980–81 TPS FIN U20 29 22 22 44 55
1980–81 TPS SM-l 1 0 1 1 0 4 0 1 1 4
1981–82 TPS SM-l 36 5 12 17 6 7 1 1 2 2
1981–82 Buffalo Sabres NHL 3 0 1 1 4 4 0 1 1 0
1982–83 Buffalo Sabres NHL 74 13 24 37 18 10 1 2 3 4
1983–84 Buffalo Sabres NHL 70 6 30 36 12 3 0 0 0 2
1984–85 Buffalo Sabres NHL 51 1 23 24 16
1985–86 Buffalo Sabres NHL 47 5 23 28 16
1986–87 TPS SM-l 41 13 30 43 20 5 0 3 3 2
1987–88 TPS SM-l 44 10 28 38 20
1988–89 TPS SM-l 43 7 25 32 30 10 1 7 8 0
1989–90 TPS SM-l 41 7 19 26 14 9 0 6 6 10
1990–91 TPS SM-l 43 4 16 20 40 9 4 2 6 4
1991–92 TPS SM-l 43 6 22 28 32 3 1 4 5 0
1992–93 TPS SM-l 39 1 18 19 18 12 2 2 4 14
1993–94 TPS SM-l 47 3 17 20 18 10 0 3 3 6
1994–95 GCK Lions CHE.2 36 12 18 30 14 12 5 9 14 2
1995–96 GCK Lions CHE.2 35 12 26 38 10 10 1 6 7 6
1996–97 TPS SM-l 48 7 14 21 24 12 0 1 1 6
1997–98 ZSC Lions NDA 46 4 25 29 14
SM-l totals 426 63 202 265 222 81 9 30 39 48
NHL totals 245 25 101 126 66 17 1 3 4 6

International

Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM
1981 Finland EJC 5 3 1 4 0
1982 Finland WJC 7 1 7 8 4
1987 Finland WC 8 0 4 4 4
1987 Finland CC 5 0 1 1 0
1989 Finland WC 10 3 5 8 6
1991 Finland WC 7 0 2 2 4
1994 Finland OLY 8 2 1 3 2
1994 Finland WC 8 1 4 5 6
1995 Finland WC 7 1 1 2 8
1996 Finland WC 6 0 6 6 4
1996 Finland WCH 4 1 0 1 6
1997 Finland WC 8 0 3 3 4
Junior totals 12 4 8 12 4
Senior totals 71 8 27 35 44

References

Preceded by
Pekka Rautakallio
Winner of the Pekka Rautakallio trophy
1986–87
Succeeded by
Timo Jutila
Preceded by
Timo Jutila
Winner of the Pekka Rautakallio trophy
1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91
Succeeded by
Harri Laurila
Preceded by
Timo Jutila
Winner of the President's trophy
1995–96
Succeeded by
Jarmo Myllys
Preceded by
Ted Sator
Head Coach of Blues
2003–2004
Succeeded by
Pekka Rautakallio
Preceded by
Hannu Jortikka
Head Coach of TPS
2007—
Succeeded by
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